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The differences between security engineers and security architects 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 a security architect. Additionally, a security architect has an average salary of $128,636, which is higher than the $104,524 average annual salary of a security engineer.
The top three skills for a security engineer include java, cloud security and infrastructure. The most important skills for a security architect are cloud security, architecture, and cloud.
| Security Engineer | Security Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $104,524 | $128,636 |
| Hourly rate | $50.25 | $61.84 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 86,093 | 127,619 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| 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.
A security architect specializes in designing and establishing security systems and measures to protect a company and its clients from hackers or cyber-attacks. Their responsibilities revolve around reviewing existing security systems to determine areas needing improvement, implementing upgrades, and devising strategies to identify a company's information technology needs. A security architect may also provide instructional materials to employees on utilizing the security systems, respond to inquiries and concerns, and perform maintenance tests as needed. Furthermore, should there be any incidents of breaches, it is essential to conduct a thorough investigation to prevent it from happening again.
Security engineers and security architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Security Engineer | Security Architect | |
| Average salary | $104,524 | $128,636 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $141,000 | Between $92,000 And $179,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | ICE Mortgage Technology | The Knot |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a security engineer and a security architect in terms of educational background:
| Security Engineer | Security Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between security engineers' and security architects' demographics:
| Security Engineer | Security Architect | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.4% Female, 13.6% | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% |
| 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, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |