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The differences between data center engineers and network security 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 security engineer. Additionally, a data center engineer has an average salary of $102,788, which is higher than the $88,322 average annual salary of a network security engineer.
The top three skills for a data center engineer include data centers, troubleshoot and HVAC. The most important skills for a network security engineer are network security, windows, and cisco asa.
| Data Center Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,788 | $88,322 |
| Hourly rate | $49.42 | $42.46 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 178,277 | 91,892 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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 security engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of all the organization's network systems, conducting regular configuration and maintenance to avoid unauthorized access and suspicious activities that may pose risks for the company's integrity. Network security engineers manage security threats and strategize resolutions to mitigate the reoccurrence of security issues. They also develop security enhancement recommendations, update network infrastructure, and monitor system activities. A network security engineer should have excellent communication and technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes.
Data center engineers and network security engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Data Center Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,788 | $88,322 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $147,000 | Between $64,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Knot |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a data center engineer and a network security engineer in terms of educational background:
| Data Center Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between data center engineers' and network security engineers' demographics:
| Data Center Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| 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, 8.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 13.9% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |