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The differences between network security engineers and system technicians 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 system technician. Additionally, a network security engineer has an average salary of $88,322, which is higher than the $43,410 average annual salary of a system technician.
The top three skills for a network security engineer include network security, windows and cisco asa. The most important skills for a system technician are customer service, hand tools, and preventative maintenance.
| Network Security Engineer | System Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $88,322 | $43,410 |
| Hourly rate | $42.46 | $20.87 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 91,892 | 137,121 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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 system technician is an individual responsible for supporting users with issues related to the computer system. System technicians conduct appropriate diagnostics on computer issues and must be able to explain technical issues to clients or team members. They should carry out tests on the system so that they can generate error reports to identify and fix any computer system problems. System technicians also can write and maintain computer programs and work with computers and electronics, including circuit boards, computer hardware and software, and computer processors.
Network security engineers and system technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Network Security Engineer | System Technician | |
| Average salary | $88,322 | $43,410 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $120,000 | Between $27,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Knot | Bristol-Myers Squibb |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Government |
There are a few differences between a network security engineer and a system technician in terms of educational background:
| Network Security Engineer | System Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between network security engineers' and system technicians' demographics:
| Network Security Engineer | System Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| 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, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |