Network security specialist vs network technician

The differences between network security specialists and network technicians 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 technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a network security specialist has an average salary of $82,206, which is higher than the $68,938 average annual salary of a network technician.

The top three skills for a network security specialist include network security, incident response and IDS. The most important skills for a network technician are customer service, switches, and troubleshoot.

Network security specialist vs network technician overview

	Network Security Specialist	Network Technician
Yearly salary	$82,206	$68,938
Hourly rate	$39.52	$33.14
Growth rate	32%	5%
Number of jobs	82,646	79,712
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
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 technician do?

A network technician is responsible for system malfunction diagnosis and troubleshooting operations. Network technicians duties' include repairing damaged system components, analyzing computer systems and blueprints, installing network connections, and upgrading accessories for efficient operations. Other duties include assisting customers with technical issues, ensuring computer systems' privacy, creating documents of network issues and resolutions, and suggesting alternative equipment for network backups. A network technician must have a broad knowledge of the technology industry and mechanical processes, plus the ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision.

Network security specialist vs network technician salary

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

	Network Security Specialist	Network Technician
Average salary	$82,206	$68,938
Salary range	Between $60,000 And $112,000	Between $51,000 And $92,000
Highest paying City	Sunnyvale, CA	Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state	California	Hawaii
Best paying company	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	Apple
Best paying industry	Technology	Finance

Differences between network security specialist and network technician education

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

	Network Security Specialist	Network Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common major	Computer Science	Computer Science
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Network security specialist vs network technician demographics

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

	Network Security Specialist	Network Technician
Average age	42	43
Gender ratio	Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4%	Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7%
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, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.4% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between network security specialist and network technician 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 technician example responsibilities.

Install and manage DHCP servers including setting up DHCP scopes, enabling DHCP clients, viewing and managing active leases.
Manage city wide IIS deployment.
Manage Virtualization system, using ESX server/client.
Install, configure and manage Symantec Antivirus on all network computers
Use Symantec BackupExec to manage and maintain all server backups and file restorations.
Manage company Cisco series routers, switches, and ASA firewall integrate into MPLS network.

Network security specialist vs network technician skills

Common network security specialist skills

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

Common network technician skills

Customer Service, 9%
Switches, 6%
Troubleshoot, 6%
Routers, 4%
Lan Wan, 3%
Lan, 3%

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Network Security Specialist vs Network Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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