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The differences between information assurance engineers and network security engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an information assurance engineer, becoming a network security engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an information assurance engineer has an average salary of $89,291, which is higher than the $88,322 average annual salary of a network security engineer.
The top three skills for an information assurance engineer include RMF, DOD and IAM. The most important skills for a network security engineer are network security, windows, and cisco asa.
| Information Assurance Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,291 | $88,322 |
| Hourly rate | $42.93 | $42.46 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 104,421 | 91,892 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
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.
Information assurance engineers and network security engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Assurance Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Average salary | $89,291 | $88,322 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $117,000 | Between $64,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Clara, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | California |
| Best paying company | Parsons | The Knot |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Retail |
There are a few differences between an information assurance engineer and a network security engineer in terms of educational background:
| Information Assurance Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Information Technology | Computer Science |
| Most common college | - | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between information assurance engineers' and network security engineers' demographics:
| Information Assurance Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.6% Female, 21.4% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| 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, 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% |