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The differences between network security administrators 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 security administrator and a network engineer. Additionally, a network engineer has an average salary of $83,557, which is higher than the $82,247 average annual salary of a network security administrator.
The top three skills for a network security administrator include network security, troubleshoot and switches. The most important skills for a network engineer are switches, troubleshoot, and network infrastructure.
| Network Security Administrator | Network Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,247 | $83,557 |
| Hourly rate | $39.54 | $40.17 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 130,342 | 72,346 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Network Security Administrator works to ensure the security of the network systems and data in a company. They are responsible for developing and implementing security programs and protocols, establishing security guidelines, monitoring the networks, keeping an eye for any suspicious activities, or performing interventions to protect networks and data. They also respond to distress and investigates breaches to prevent them from happening again. In some companies, a Network Security Administrator is also in charge of managing network security staff, supervising their performance for an efficient workflow.
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 security administrators and network engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Network Security Administrator | Network Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,247 | $83,557 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $113,000 | Between $62,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Portland General Electric | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a network security administrator and a network engineer in terms of educational background:
| Network Security Administrator | Network Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between network security administrators' and network engineers' demographics:
| Network Security Administrator | Network Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 11.8% White, 61.8% 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% |