Network security specialist vs network manager

The differences between network security specialists and network managers 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 specialist, becoming a network manager takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a network manager has an average salary of $97,578, which is higher than the $82,206 average annual salary of a network security specialist.

The top three skills for a network security specialist include network security, incident response and IDS. The most important skills for a network manager are customer service, fault management, and network infrastructure.

Network security specialist vs network manager overview

	Network Security Specialist	Network Manager
Yearly salary	$82,206	$97,578
Hourly rate	$39.52	$46.91
Growth rate	32%	5%
Number of jobs	82,646	36,831
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	42	43
Years of experience	6	2

What does a network security specialist do?

A Network Security Specialist is a person who oversees computer networks to find security threats or unauthorized users. Their responsibilities include: identifying compromised machines, creating briefs of security measures taken, identifying possible security risks, determining the proper procedure to address the risks, assessing software that security aid, and researching security devices to get proper information on installation, audit-related information, and disaster recovery plans.

What does a network manager do?

A network manager is responsible for monitoring the efficient network connection of the company's technology systems, analyzing system designs, and overseeing installation processes and programs. Network managers inspect the efficiency of existing network management systems, upgrading network data to boost optimal performance and communication transportation. A network manager must have excellent knowledge of technology disciplines and should always be updated with the recent technology trends, guiding the network staff on their tasks and immediately resolving system defects and discrepancies.

Network security specialist vs network manager salary

Network security specialists and network managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Network Security Specialist	Network Manager
Average salary	$82,206	$97,578
Salary range	Between $60,000 And $112,000	Between $71,000 And $132,000
Highest paying City	Sunnyvale, CA	Menlo Park, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	Meta
Best paying industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between network security specialist and network manager education

There are a few differences between a network security specialist and a network manager in terms of educational background:

	Network Security Specialist	Network Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Computer Science	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Stanford University

Network security specialist vs network manager demographics

Here are the differences between network security specialists' and network managers' demographics:

	Network Security Specialist	Network Manager
Average age	42	43
Gender ratio	Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4%	Male, 83.3% Female, 16.7%
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, 9.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.7% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between network security specialist and network manager duties and responsibilities

Network security specialist example responsibilities.

Achieve a reputation as a security and technology leader in the LINUX world, interview profiled by several LINUX publications.
Manage project to maximize available bandwidth and throughput by implementing QOS technologies including compression, traffic shaping and priority/custom queuing.
Install new firewalls, switches and routers contingent on management schedule.
Create encryption policy and technical solutions to protect company mobile computing devices including laptops and smart phones.
Manage project to maximize available bandwidth and throughput by implementing QOS technologies including compression, traffic shaping and priority/custom queuing.
Coordinate efforts in moving data from Novell servers to Microsoft server with total overhaul of file and security group structure.

Network manager example responsibilities.

Negotiate and manage customer SLA's.
Manage a remote nationwide team of database Sr.
Manage vendor for all PBX move add and changes.
Manage environment in support of define CDRL's and SLA's.
Lead the architecture design for PCI (payment card industry) compliance.
Manage iRules and VIP setup on F5's and juniper load balance.

Network security specialist vs network manager skills

Common network security specialist skills

Network Security, 12%
Incident Response, 6%
IDS, 5%
Firewall, 5%
Switches, 4%
Intrusion Detection, 4%

Common network manager skills

Customer Service, 12%
Fault Management, 6%
Network Infrastructure, 5%
Switches, 4%
Network Hardware, 4%
Project Management, 4%

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Network Security Specialist vs Network Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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