Network security engineer vs security administrator

The differences between network security engineers and security administrators 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 engineer and a security administrator. Additionally, a network security engineer has an average salary of $88,322, which is higher than the $79,564 average annual salary of a security administrator.

The top three skills for a network security engineer include network security, windows and cisco asa. The most important skills for a security administrator are customer service, troubleshoot, and security procedures.

Network security engineer vs security administrator overview

	Network Security Engineer	Security Administrator
Yearly salary	$88,322	$79,564
Hourly rate	$42.46	$38.25
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	91,892	99,222
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

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.

What does a security administrator do?

A security administrator is in charge of establishing and enforcing security measures over a company's information systems and networks. Their duties typically revolve around installing and maintaining security networks, analyzing existing systems to identify areas needing improvement, conducting regular maintenance checks and upgrades to optimize services and functions, and monitoring overall systems for any suspicious activities or breaches. Furthermore, as a security administrator, it is essential to develop information technology solutions in adherence to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

Network security engineer vs security administrator salary

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

	Network Security Engineer	Security Administrator
Average salary	$88,322	$79,564
Salary range	Between $64,000 And $120,000	Between $54,000 And $115,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	The Knot	Gap Inc.
Best paying industry	Retail	Government

Differences between network security engineer and security administrator education

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

	Network Security Engineer	Security Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common major	Computer Science	Business
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	California State University - Bakersfield

Network security engineer vs security administrator demographics

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

	Network Security Engineer	Security Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3%	Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9%
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, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between network security engineer and security administrator duties and responsibilities

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.

Security administrator example responsibilities.

Manage updates and creation of intranet file.
Create, manage, and maintain corporate LAN.
Manage and monitor various tools and reporting tools relating to security and encryption.
Manage all network objects: computers, users, TCP/IP resources, printers, copier.
Manage staff to implement JCL procedure modifications.
Utilize PowerShell scripts to automate system administrative tasks.

Network security engineer vs security administrator skills

Common network security engineer skills

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

Common security administrator skills

Customer Service, 10%
Troubleshoot, 6%
Security Procedures, 6%
Data Entry, 5%
Security Policies, 5%
SCI, 5%

Network Security Engineer vs. similar jobs

Network Security Engineer related careers

Network Security Engineer related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Computer and Mathematical Industry
Network Security Engineer
Network Security Engineer vs Security Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse computer and mathematical jobs