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The differences between network engineers and network support analysts 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 a network support analyst. Additionally, a network support analyst has an average salary of $83,921, 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 a network support analyst are troubleshoot, switches, and routers.
| Network Engineer | Network Support Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $83,557 | $83,921 |
| Hourly rate | $40.17 | $40.35 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 72,346 | 118,825 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| 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.
Network support analysts are professionals who provide technical support as well as maintain various network components for an organization's network system. These analysts are responsible for installing and configuring local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), internet systems, and other components of network systems. They are required to monitor the performance of networks and systems and align network use and access by using master consoles. Network support analysts must also organize and deploy security measures for the network so that they can safeguard software, hardware, and data.
Network engineers and network support analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Network Engineer | Network Support Analyst | |
| Average salary | $83,557 | $83,921 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $111,000 | Between $54,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a network engineer and a network support analyst in terms of educational background:
| Network Engineer | Network Support Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between network engineers' and network support analysts' demographics:
| Network Engineer | Network Support Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% | Male, 84.3% Female, 15.7% |
| 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, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 10.9% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |