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The differences between network operation 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 operation technician and a network engineer. Additionally, a network engineer has an average salary of $83,557, which is higher than the $64,272 average annual salary of a network operation technician.
The top three skills for a network operation technician include troubleshoot, network operations and customer service. The most important skills for a network engineer are switches, troubleshoot, and network infrastructure.
| Network Operation Technician | Network Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $64,272 | $83,557 |
| Hourly rate | $30.90 | $40.17 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 68,874 | 72,346 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A network operation technician is responsible for providing technical assistance with computer network issues. Network operation technicians repair and troubleshoot networks and routers, identifying the source of defects by listening to the customers and determining step-by-step guidelines for resolution. They also configure servers to optimize the network's performance and recommend strategies to improve the system's infrastructure. A network operation technician must have excellent organizational and technical skills, especially in explaining the network problems to the customers and addressing preventive maintenance.
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 operation technicians and network engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Network Operation Technician | Network Engineer | |
| Average salary | $64,272 | $83,557 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $99,000 | Between $62,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Bloomberg | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a network operation technician and a network engineer in terms of educational background:
| Network Operation Technician | Network Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Information Systems | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between network operation technicians' and network engineers' demographics:
| Network Operation Technician | Network Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 8.8% White, 64.4% 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% |