Manager, network & security vs senior network engineer

The differences between managers, network & security and senior network engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a manager, network & security, becoming a senior network engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior network engineer has an average salary of $111,707, which is higher than the $110,943 average annual salary of a manager, network & security.

The top three skills for a manager, network & security include firewall, incident response and architecture. The most important skills for a senior network engineer are switches, BGP, and OSPF.

Manager, network & security vs senior network engineer overview

	Manager, Network & Security	Senior Network Engineer
Yearly salary	$110,943	$111,707
Hourly rate	$53.34	$53.71
Growth rate	32%	5%
Number of jobs	83,566	35,428
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age	42	43
Years of experience	6	2

What does a manager, network & security do?

Security and network managers improve computer systems by analyzing all risk factors and accelerate computer management programs by utilizing their expert knowledge. Security and network managers fortify security systems by helping in antivirus installation, evaluating, and ensuring security efficiency. These professionals work hand-in-hand with different departments to assess server operating systems and ensure they operate efficiently. Security and network managers also oversee and put into practice network security processes and keep useful reports for these processes.

What does a senior network engineer do?

A senior network engineer is responsible for managing the organization's network infrastructure, handling advanced network issues, upgrading the system's design for optimization, configuring network features, and ensuring the network's highest security measures to avoid unauthorized access and suspicious activities. Senior network engineers work with network architects to implement network designs, run diagnostic tests, and create network solution reports for review and recovery reference. A senior network engineer must have excellent communication and organization skills and broad knowledge of the technology industry, programming languages, and system codes.

Manager, network & security vs senior network engineer salary

Managers, network & security and senior network engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Manager, Network & Security	Senior Network Engineer
Average salary	$110,943	$111,707
Salary range	Between $77,000 And $159,000	Between $85,000 And $145,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Palo Alto Networks	The Citadel
Best paying industry	Health Care	Finance

Differences between manager, network & security and senior network engineer education

There are a few differences between a manager, network & security and a senior network engineer in terms of educational background:

	Manager, Network & Security	Senior Network Engineer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common major	Computer Science	Electrical Engineering
Most common college	Stanford University	-

Manager, network & security vs senior network engineer demographics

Here are the differences between managers, network & security' and senior network engineers' demographics:

	Manager, Network & Security	Senior Network Engineer
Average age	42	43
Gender ratio	Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%	Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8%
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, 8.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 13.5% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between manager, network & security and senior network engineer duties and responsibilities

Manager, network & security example responsibilities.

Manage vendor relationships, including Cisco, F5, Internap, and Level3.
Design and manage ASN's, DHCP services, and corporate DNS servers.
Provide high-level vendor management, manage VoIP, network, and network circuits for all locations.
Spur planning and delivery of organization's first production storage area network (SAN) in support of virtual infrastructure initiative.
Manage team that provides governance over global network security perimeter controls including firewalls and intrusion prevention systems.
Manage the first and second releases of a highly customize SharePoint portal application focuse on engaging partners and automating business processes.

Senior network engineer example responsibilities.

Manage check point firewall logs using check point tracker and splunk.
Manage network / systems security, implement policies, processes PCI, HIPAA compliance.
Manage the SAN base storage environment consisting of EMC CX3-80's and CX700's.
Design and build Cisco Meraki cloud manage firewall, switch, and wireless access points for new facility of marketing firm.
Manage network security processes using ASA firewalls.
Manage, operate and analyze results from Sourcefire detection systems.

Manager, network & security vs senior network engineer skills

Common manager, network & security skills

Firewall, 9%
Incident Response, 8%
Architecture, 6%
Network Infrastructure, 5%
Troubleshoot, 5%
Project Management, 4%

Common senior network engineer skills

Switches, 7%
BGP, 5%
OSPF, 5%
Troubleshoot, 5%
Network Infrastructure, 4%
Lan Wan, 4%

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Manager, Network & Security
Manager, Network & Security vs Senior Network Engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

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