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The differences between information assurance engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an information assurance engineer and an engineer. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $89,291 average annual salary of an information assurance engineer.
The top three skills for an information assurance engineer include RMF, DOD and IAM. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Information Assurance Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,291 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $42.93 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 104,421 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Information assurance engineers are responsible for protecting an organization's data. They act as a team of security specialists that use their skill in securely operating and keeping data to protect the organization's most essential asset. Their main role is to guarantee the quality, security, and retrievability of the organization's information. Also, they outline security systems that make certain the integrity, confidentiality, and accessibility of data. Additionally, they secure IT infrastructure, maintain hardware and software updated, establish security standards, and monitor threats like breaches.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Information assurance engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Assurance Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $89,291 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $117,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Clara, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Parsons | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an information assurance engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Information Assurance Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Information Technology | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between information assurance engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Information Assurance Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.6% Female, 21.4% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |