Post job

Information systems administrator vs information engineer

The differences between information systems administrators and information engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an information systems administrator and an information engineer. Additionally, an information engineer has an average salary of $105,003, which is higher than the $79,194 average annual salary of an information systems administrator.

The top three skills for an information systems administrator include linux, troubleshoot and OS. The most important skills for an information engineer are customer service, linux, and troubleshoot.

Information systems administrator vs information engineer overview

Information Systems AdministratorInformation Engineer
Yearly salary$79,194$105,003
Hourly rate$38.07$50.48
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs176,724151,357
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4343
Years of experience22

What does an information systems administrator do?

Businesses today are mostly dependent heavily on the internet and computer systems for their daily transactions. The information systems administrator is a person that monitors, configures, and upgrades these systems to adapt to the constant advancement in technology. The information systems administrator maintains networks used inside the company, making access to information efficient and fast. A company with a fast and reliable information system will have an edge against competitive companies.

What does an information engineer do?

An information engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of computer systems and network infrastructure, performing configuration to boost the optimal performance of the technology systems. Information engineers assist end-users in resolving network issues, identifying the source of inconsistencies, and create resolution reports for reference to avoid reoccurrence. They also design new network systems according to business needs and client specifications, running multiple diagnostic tests to ensure effectiveness before the release of final deliverables. An information engineer should have excellent technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes.

Information systems administrator vs information engineer salary

Information systems administrators and information engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Information Systems AdministratorInformation Engineer
Average salary$79,194$105,003
Salary rangeBetween $60,000 And $104,000Between $78,000 And $139,000
Highest paying CityPleasanton, CARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyCadence Design SystemsMayo Clinic
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between information systems administrator and information engineer education

There are a few differences between an information systems administrator and an information engineer in terms of educational background:

Information Systems AdministratorInformation Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Information systems administrator vs information engineer demographics

Here are the differences between information systems administrators' and information engineers' demographics:

Information Systems AdministratorInformation Engineer
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 74.3% Female, 25.7%Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.6% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between information systems administrator and information engineer duties and responsibilities

Information systems administrator example responsibilities.

  • Manage mission critical Linux systems which track all data relating to rotary wing aircraft.
  • Institute, manage, and document procedures for UNIX systems security, maintenance, and backup.
  • Install/Configure managed switches to increase network speed
  • Manage the company Novell network including relate equipment.
  • Manage network infrastructure spanning multiple geographically-distribute sites, including VPN / remote access systems and firewalls.
  • Ensure adequate security protections for proprietary data and intellectual property; manage and configure firewalls and security posture.
  • Show more

Information engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage users VPN access with RSA tokens.
  • Use of Powershell to automate server builds and daily tasks.
  • Use of PowerShell to automate daily tasks, and create reports ..
  • Mentore and lead QA team on best practices of STLC.
  • Manage monthly audits with cloud providers over deterrent, preventive, detective and corrective controls.
  • Create and manage VMware VM templates and OS images base on configuration and security hardening standards.
  • Show more

Information systems administrator vs information engineer skills

Common information systems administrator skills
  • Linux, 13%
  • Troubleshoot, 10%
  • OS, 8%
  • Unix, 7%
  • Virtualization, 6%
  • Java, 4%
Common information engineer skills
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Linux, 6%
  • Troubleshoot, 5%
  • Java, 5%
  • SAN, 4%
  • Azure, 4%

Browse computer and mathematical jobs