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The differences between data center engineers and network engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a data center engineer and a network engineer. Additionally, a data center engineer has an average salary of $102,788, which is higher than the $83,557 average annual salary of a network engineer.
The top three skills for a data center engineer include data centers, troubleshoot and HVAC. The most important skills for a network engineer are switches, troubleshoot, and network infrastructure.
| Data Center Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,788 | $83,557 |
| Hourly rate | $49.42 | $40.17 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 178,277 | 72,346 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A data center engineer is responsible for managing the efficiency and optimal performance of the network data systems of an organization. Data center engineers ensure the safety and security of the database to prevent unauthorized access and suspicious activities within the network that may pose risks for the business. They assess the navigation of the servers, conduct regular maintenance, and perform immediate troubleshooting for glitches to avoid any delays in the operation. A data center engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in writing data resolution for reference and configuration.
A network engineer is responsible for managing a network system, monitoring its performance, and upgrading its features to optimize performance and boost efficiency. Network engineers also create new systems, designing them based on clients' specifications and business needs. They also check network defects, perform troubleshooting, improve data security systems, and install security updates. A network engineer must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a broad understanding of system codes, programming languages, and network configurations.
Data center engineers and network engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Data Center Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,788 | $83,557 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $147,000 | Between $62,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a data center engineer and a network engineer in terms of educational background:
| Data Center Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between data center engineers' and network engineers' demographics:
| Data Center Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 11.0% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.7% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |