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The differences between information security consultants 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 consultant, becoming a network security engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an information security consultant has an average salary of $103,316, which is higher than the $88,322 average annual salary of a network security engineer.
The top three skills for an information security consultant include risk assessments, risk management and SQL. The most important skills for a network security engineer are network security, windows, and cisco asa.
| Information Security Consultant | Network Security Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $103,316 | $88,322 |
| Hourly rate | $49.67 | $42.46 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 113,409 | 91,892 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Information Security Consultants are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for assessing computer and network systems to implement security solutions for the IT needs of an organization. These consultants must prevent unauthorized access to financial and personal information of the organization by assessing its existing infrastructures and systems for weaknesses. They must provide advice and recommendations on the best method to ensure security for their IT system. Information Security Consultants must also perform penetration testing and malware analysis to identify any network weaknesses.
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 consultants and network security engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Security Consultant | Network Security Engineer | |
| Average salary | $103,316 | $88,322 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $138,000 | Between $64,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Carson City, NV | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | California |
| Best paying company | eBay | The Knot |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between an information security consultant and a network security engineer in terms of educational background:
| Information Security Consultant | Network Security Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between information security consultants' and network security engineers' demographics:
| Information Security Consultant | Network Security Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.0% Female, 29.0% | 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% |