Network administrator vs security administrator

The differences between network administrators and security administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a network administrator and a security administrator. Additionally, a security administrator has an average salary of $79,564, which is higher than the $71,357 average annual salary of a network administrator.

The top three skills for a network administrator include switches, windows server and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a security administrator are customer service, troubleshoot, and security procedures.

Network administrator vs security administrator overview

	Network Administrator	Security Administrator
Yearly salary	$71,357	$79,564
Hourly rate	$34.31	$38.25
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	106,886	99,222
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

What does a network administrator do?

A network administrator is responsible for managing an organization's computer systems, ensuring its smooth operations and highest efficiency. Network administrators' duties include inspecting network malfunctions, troubleshooting unresponsive programs, improving system processes, analyzing client's specifications, upgrading existing applications, coordinating with the technology department, and creating a report of network issues resolutions. A network administrator should display a strong command of programming languages. Extensive knowledge in the technology industry and analytical and problem-solving skills to manage network problems immediately is also necessary.

What does a security administrator do?

A security administrator is in charge of establishing and enforcing security measures over a company's information systems and networks. Their duties typically revolve around installing and maintaining security networks, analyzing existing systems to identify areas needing improvement, conducting regular maintenance checks and upgrades to optimize services and functions, and monitoring overall systems for any suspicious activities or breaches. Furthermore, as a security administrator, it is essential to develop information technology solutions in adherence to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

Network administrator vs security administrator salary

Network administrators and security administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Network Administrator	Security Administrator
Average salary	$71,357	$79,564
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $90,000	Between $54,000 And $115,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Washington	California
Best paying company	Google	Gap Inc.
Best paying industry	Finance	Government

Differences between network administrator and security administrator education

There are a few differences between a network administrator and a security administrator in terms of educational background:

	Network Administrator	Security Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common major	Computer Science	Business
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	California State University - Bakersfield

Network administrator vs security administrator demographics

Here are the differences between network administrators' and security administrators' demographics:

	Network Administrator	Security Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4%	Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 9.6% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black 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%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between network administrator and security administrator duties and responsibilities

Network administrator example responsibilities.

Lead and manage desktop standards project.
Manage backups using EMC Networker and Avamar.
Manage Solarwinds to monitor servers and networks for all locations.
Manage all provisioning and technical issues for new customer IP blocks.
Deploy and manage storage (windows file servers and NetApp NAS).
Manage all technology: Novell, Microsoft, Cisco, email, library, labs, dorms, programs

Security administrator example responsibilities.

Manage updates and creation of intranet file.
Create, manage, and maintain corporate LAN.
Manage and monitor various tools and reporting tools relating to security and encryption.
Manage all network objects: computers, users, TCP/IP resources, printers, copier.
Manage staff to implement JCL procedure modifications.
Utilize PowerShell scripts to automate system administrative tasks.

Network administrator vs security administrator skills

Common network administrator skills

Switches, 7%
Windows Server, 6%
Troubleshoot, 5%
Network Hardware, 5%
Routers, 4%
Lan Wan, 4%

Common security administrator skills

Customer Service, 10%
Troubleshoot, 6%
Security Procedures, 6%
Data Entry, 5%
Security Policies, 5%
SCI, 5%

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Network Administrator vs Security Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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