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The differences between network security engineers and cyber security engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a network security engineer, becoming a cyber security engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a cyber security engineer has an average salary of $99,492, which is higher than the $88,322 average annual salary of a network security engineer.
The top three skills for a network security engineer include network security, windows and cisco asa. The most important skills for a cyber security engineer are cyber security, python, and linux.
| Network Security Engineer | Cyber Security Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,322 | $99,492 |
| Hourly rate | $42.46 | $47.83 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 91,892 | 73,419 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
A cyber security engineer specializes in designing and establishing security measures to protect a company's network and data from hackers or cyber attacks. Their responsibilities primarily revolve around planning and implementing cyber security systems, responding to any problems or concerns, handling security breaches and emergencies, and troubleshooting to identify any issues or vulnerabilities. Moreover, a cyber security engineer may perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and documentation, creating instructional materials for systems, managing schedules, and coordinating with department managers, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Network security engineers and cyber security engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Network Security Engineer | Cyber Security Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,322 | $99,492 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $120,000 | Between $75,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Knot | Dotdash |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a network security engineer and a cyber security engineer in terms of educational background:
| Network Security Engineer | Cyber Security Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between network security engineers' and cyber security engineers' demographics:
| Network Security Engineer | Cyber Security Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |