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The differences between infrastructure engineers and network security 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 infrastructure engineer and a network security engineer. Additionally, an infrastructure engineer has an average salary of $106,438, which is higher than the $88,322 average annual salary of a network security engineer.
The top three skills for an infrastructure engineer include python, cloud and linux. The most important skills for a network security engineer are network security, windows, and cisco asa.
| Infrastructure Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $106,438 | $88,322 |
| Hourly rate | $51.17 | $42.46 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 91,845 | 91,892 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
As an infrastructure engineer, they're responsible for designing, deploying, and maintaining the IT infrastructure using the newest technology and ensure all the systems within an organization function seamlessly. They ensure all the IT systems are updated to support the business to function effectively. It is also their job to maintain internet connections, cabling, virtualization platforms, and storage area networks. Moreover, they oversee the IT infrastructure engineer system administration middleware application servers, like Oracle Weblogic server, IBM WebSphere server, and automated workflow tools.
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.
Infrastructure engineers and network security engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Infrastructure Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Average salary | $106,438 | $88,322 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $148,000 | Between $64,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Credit Karma | The Knot |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Retail |
There are a few differences between an infrastructure engineer and a network security engineer in terms of educational background:
| Infrastructure Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between infrastructure engineers' and network security engineers' demographics:
| Infrastructure Engineer | Network Security Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 13.0% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |