Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between principal network engineers and network support analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a principal network engineer and a network support analyst. Additionally, a principal network engineer has an average salary of $112,094, which is higher than the $83,921 average annual salary of a network support analyst.
The top three skills for a principal network engineer include linux, lan wan and network infrastructure. The most important skills for a network support analyst are troubleshoot, switches, and routers.
| Principal Network Engineer | Network Support Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $112,094 | $83,921 |
| Hourly rate | $53.89 | $40.35 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 107,276 | 118,825 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
In the information technology industry, a principal network engineer specializes in designing and developing networks and systems in adherence to client or company needs. Their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing data, developing standard procedures and test structures, performing installations and upgrades, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing networks, and implementing solutions against its vulnerable areas. They may also conduct regular maintenance checks and repairs, provide technical support to staff, and train junior engineers. Moreover, they must lead and encourage information technology teams to reach goals while enforcing the company's security policies and regulations.
Network support analysts are professionals who provide technical support as well as maintain various network components for an organization's network system. These analysts are responsible for installing and configuring local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), internet systems, and other components of network systems. They are required to monitor the performance of networks and systems and align network use and access by using master consoles. Network support analysts must also organize and deploy security measures for the network so that they can safeguard software, hardware, and data.
Principal network engineers and network support analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Network Engineer | Network Support Analyst | |
| Average salary | $112,094 | $83,921 |
| Salary range | Between $86,000 And $145,000 | Between $54,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Walmart | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a principal network engineer and a network support analyst in terms of educational background:
| Principal Network Engineer | Network Support Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between principal network engineers' and network support analysts' demographics:
| Principal Network Engineer | Network Support Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 84.3% Female, 15.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 11.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 10.9% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |