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The differences between security engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a security engineer and an engineer. Additionally, a security engineer has an average salary of $104,524, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a security engineer include java, cloud security and infrastructure. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Security Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $104,524 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $50.25 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 86,093 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Security engineers are responsible for developing and overseeing data and security software to help prevent data breaches, leaks, and taps related to cybercrime. Other duties and responsibilities include developing new systems to help protect computer networks and assets, configuring firewalls, and conducting penetration testing to pinpoint vulnerabilities. Additionally, security engineers are responsible for investigating attacks and help prevent cybersecurity threat. They are also responsible for creating new processes for authorization, encryption algorithms, and authentication, and analyzing current security policies.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Security engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Security Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $104,524 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $141,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | ICE Mortgage Technology | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a security engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Security Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between security engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Security Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.4% Female, 13.6% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |