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Network communications technician vs network engineer

The differences between network communications technicians and network engineers 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 communications technician and a network engineer. Additionally, a network engineer has an average salary of $83,557, which is higher than the $51,650 average annual salary of a network communications technician.

The top three skills for a network communications technician include regular monitoring, routers and switches. The most important skills for a network engineer are switches, troubleshoot, and network infrastructure.

Network communications technician vs network engineer overview

Network Communications TechnicianNetwork Engineer
Yearly salary$51,650$83,557
Hourly rate$24.83$40.17
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs52,65772,346
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4343
Years of experience22

Network communications technician vs network engineer salary

Network communications technicians and network engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Network Communications TechnicianNetwork Engineer
Average salary$51,650$83,557
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $72,000Between $62,000 And $111,000
Highest paying City-Menlo Park, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-The Citadel
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between network communications technician and network engineer education

There are a few differences between a network communications technician and a network engineer in terms of educational background:

Network Communications TechnicianNetwork Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Network communications technician vs network engineer demographics

Here are the differences between network communications technicians' and network engineers' demographics:

Network Communications TechnicianNetwork Engineer
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 78.2% Female, 21.8%Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.7% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between network communications technician and network engineer duties and responsibilities

Network communications technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain and manage office-wide LAN.
  • Engineer and manage creation of co-registration Java modules for integration with Akamai streaming servers.
  • Help identify customer issues with their switches and routers and provide on solutions.
  • Perform trouble correlation for voice, voip, data and video network problems using ViryNet ticketing system.
  • Install, operate and maintain LAN terminals and cabling.
  • Verify network routers perform and meet engineering standards prior to field installation.
  • Show more

Network engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage UCCE deployments which include CUCM, IPIVR, CVP , 3rd party reporting and CUIC.
  • Manage UNIX's projects to meet project dateline while solving daily network crisis.
  • Perform the tasks of designing, implementing, supporting, and managing networking and telecommunication infrastructure.
  • Manage all domain registrations, SSL certificate management.
  • Create locally manage and centrally manage gateways on checkpoint firewall.
  • Manage and administrate security policy and procedures for all VPN network connectivity and accounts.
  • Show more

Network communications technician vs network engineer skills

Common network communications technician skills
  • Regular Monitoring, 8%
  • Routers, 8%
  • Switches, 8%
  • Windows, 7%
  • Network Equipment, 6%
  • Network Communications, 6%
Common network engineer skills
  • Switches, 7%
  • Troubleshoot, 5%
  • Network Infrastructure, 4%
  • BGP, 4%
  • OSPF, 4%
  • Lan Wan, 4%

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