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The differences between network engineers and information 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 engineer and an information engineer. Additionally, an information engineer has an average salary of $105,003, which is higher than the $83,557 average annual salary of a network engineer.
The top three skills for a network engineer include switches, troubleshoot and network infrastructure. The most important skills for an information engineer are customer service, linux, and troubleshoot.
| Network Engineer | Information Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $83,557 | $105,003 |
| Hourly rate | $40.17 | $50.48 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 72,346 | 151,357 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
An information engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of computer systems and network infrastructure, performing configuration to boost the optimal performance of the technology systems. Information engineers assist end-users in resolving network issues, identifying the source of inconsistencies, and create resolution reports for reference to avoid reoccurrence. They also design new network systems according to business needs and client specifications, running multiple diagnostic tests to ensure effectiveness before the release of final deliverables. An information engineer should have excellent technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes.
Network engineers and information engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Network Engineer | Information Engineer | |
| Average salary | $83,557 | $105,003 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $111,000 | Between $78,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a network engineer and an information engineer in terms of educational background:
| Network Engineer | Information Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between network engineers' and information engineers' demographics:
| Network Engineer | Information Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% | Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.6% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |