Network security analyst vs network security engineer

The differences between network security analysts and network security engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a network security analyst, becoming a network security engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a network security engineer has an average salary of $88,322, which is higher than the $81,623 average annual salary of a network security analyst.

The top three skills for a network security analyst include network security, windows and incident response. The most important skills for a network security engineer are network security, windows, and cisco asa.

Network security analyst vs network security engineer overview

	Network Security Analyst	Network Security Engineer
Yearly salary	$81,623	$88,322
Hourly rate	$39.24	$42.46
Growth rate	32%	5%
Number of jobs	82,954	91,892
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age	42	43
Years of experience	6	2

What does a network security analyst do?

Network security analysts are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for designing and implementing security measures to prevent suspicious or hostile activities on the computer and network systems for an organization. These analysts must install firewalls while working with the IT team to protect their systems against malicious attacks. They are required to perform forensic analysis on those malicious activities so that they can determine the source of the threats. Network security analysts must also communicate the state of information security to the stakeholders as well as suggesting ways to improve system security.

What does a network security engineer do?

A network security engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of all the organization's network systems, conducting regular configuration and maintenance to avoid unauthorized access and suspicious activities that may pose risks for the company's integrity. Network security engineers manage security threats and strategize resolutions to mitigate the reoccurrence of security issues. They also develop security enhancement recommendations, update network infrastructure, and monitor system activities. A network security engineer should have excellent communication and technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes.

Network security analyst vs network security engineer salary

Network security analysts and network security engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Network Security Analyst	Network Security Engineer
Average salary	$81,623	$88,322
Salary range	Between $61,000 And $108,000	Between $64,000 And $120,000
Highest paying City	San Jose, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Bunge	The Knot
Best paying industry	Professional	Retail

Differences between network security analyst and network security engineer education

There are a few differences between a network security analyst and a network security engineer in terms of educational background:

	Network Security Analyst	Network Security Engineer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common major	Computer Science	Computer Science
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Network security analyst vs network security engineer demographics

Here are the differences between network security analysts' and network security engineers' demographics:

	Network Security Analyst	Network Security Engineer
Average age	42	43
Gender ratio	Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1%	Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 13.9% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between network security analyst and network security engineer duties and responsibilities

Network security analyst example responsibilities.

Manage endpoint encryption, antivirus/anti-malware host IPS, process documentation, incident management.
Design and manage information systems security policy, implementation, and management for a globally distribute MPLS infrastructure.
Install and provide upkeep for Linux scanning, storage and group-relate web and network management servers.
Create shell scripts to generate list of all files directories ownership companywide on all UNIX and Linux systems.
Assist with NIST 800-171 compliance initiative.
Utilize ArcSight SIEM to create rules, filters and channels.

Network security engineer example responsibilities.

Add and manage nodes in SolarWinds for monitoring purposes using SNMP v1/v2/v3.
Work with VMware NSX with deployment of greenfield environment and managing and troubleshooting issues with NSX.
Interact successfully with both program leads and DoD customer to ensure objectives are completed on time.
Experience in managing and troubleshooting Linux or Unix base operating systems.
Manage information technology security, including backups, firewalls, and routers.
Design and manage information systems security policy, implementation, and management for a globally distribute MPLS infrastructure.

Network security analyst vs network security engineer skills

Common network security analyst skills

Network Security, 11%
Windows, 5%
Incident Response, 4%
Switches, 3%
Linux, 3%
Tcp Ip, 3%

Common network security engineer skills

Network Security, 10%
Windows, 5%
Cisco Asa, 4%
Switches, 4%
Linux, 4%
Troubleshoot, 3%

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Network Security Analyst vs Network Security Engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

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