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The differences between network contractors 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 contractor and a network engineer. Additionally, a network engineer has an average salary of $83,557, which is higher than the $55,845 average annual salary of a network contractor.
The top three skills for a network contractor include customer service, service calls and provider network. The most important skills for a network engineer are switches, troubleshoot, and network infrastructure.
| Network Contractor | Network Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $55,845 | $83,557 |
| Hourly rate | $26.85 | $40.17 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 45,116 | 72,346 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Network contractors are information technology (IT) professionals who accept contracts from clients to provide materials and labor to perform tasks related to installing and maintaining network systems. These contractors must coordinate network security systems to deliver the efficiency of their clients' network systems. They must develop and maintain business relationships with providers to ensure proper network composition. They need to provide end-user training on network systems to maximize operator efficiency and increase speed. Network contractors should also assist their clients in the operation, restoration, and configuration of computer systems.
A network engineer is responsible for managing a network system, monitoring its performance, and upgrading its features to optimize performance and boost efficiency. Network engineers also create new systems, designing them based on clients' specifications and business needs. They also check network defects, perform troubleshooting, improve data security systems, and install security updates. A network engineer must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a broad understanding of system codes, programming languages, and network configurations.
Network contractors and network engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Network Contractor | Network Engineer | |
| Average salary | $55,845 | $83,557 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $79,000 | Between $62,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a network contractor and a network engineer in terms of educational background:
| Network Contractor | Network Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between network contractors' and network engineers' demographics:
| Network Contractor | Network Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.5% Female, 24.5% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 9% | 9% |