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The differences between information security analysts 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 security analyst, becoming a network security engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an information security analyst has an average salary of $98,144, which is higher than the $88,322 average annual salary of a network security engineer.
The top three skills for an information security analyst include incident response, risk assessments and windows. The most important skills for a network security engineer are network security, windows, and cisco asa.
| Information Security Analyst | Network Security Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,144 | $88,322 |
| Hourly rate | $47.18 | $42.46 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 112,818 | 91,892 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
An information security analyst is an individual who is responsible for carrying out security measures to protect the computer network and systems of an organization. Information security analysts erect firewalls and encrypt data transmissions to protect the organization's data from being inappropriately accessed or used. They must be aware of reports on computer viruses and should share this information with the management or customer. Information security analysts are also required to conduct training for all the organization's employees regarding computer security and information safeguarding.
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 security analysts and network security engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Security Analyst | Network Security Engineer | |
| Average salary | $98,144 | $88,322 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $135,000 | Between $64,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Walt Disney Company | The Knot |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Retail |
There are a few differences between an information security analyst and a network security engineer in terms of educational background:
| Information Security Analyst | Network Security Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between information security analysts' and network security engineers' demographics:
| Information Security Analyst | Network Security Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% | 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% |