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Senior security engineer vs network security engineer

The differences between senior security engineers and network security engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a senior security engineer, becoming a network security engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior security engineer has an average salary of $122,480, which is higher than the $88,322 average annual salary of a network security engineer.

The top three skills for a senior security engineer include cloud security, java and linux. The most important skills for a network security engineer are network security, windows, and cisco asa.

Senior security engineer vs network security engineer overview

Senior Security EngineerNetwork Security Engineer
Yearly salary$122,480$88,322
Hourly rate$58.88$42.46
Growth rate32%5%
Number of jobs69,85091,892
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4243
Years of experience62

What does a senior security engineer do?

A senior security engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the organization's systems and network database to prevent unauthorized access and avoid data breaches. Senior security engineers inspect the efficiency of networks, perform system configuration, and increase the optimal performance of complex systems. They also implement policies and procedures for compliance with the proper utilization of information directories. They also conduct regular maintenance of networks, create update reports, and resolve glitches and security threats.

What does a network security engineer do?

A network security engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of all the organization's network systems, conducting regular configuration and maintenance to avoid unauthorized access and suspicious activities that may pose risks for the company's integrity. Network security engineers manage security threats and strategize resolutions to mitigate the reoccurrence of security issues. They also develop security enhancement recommendations, update network infrastructure, and monitor system activities. A network security engineer should have excellent communication and technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes.

Senior security engineer vs network security engineer salary

Senior security engineers and network security engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Security EngineerNetwork Security Engineer
Average salary$122,480$88,322
Salary rangeBetween $90,000 And $164,000Between $64,000 And $120,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyRokuThe Knot
Best paying industryManufacturingRetail

Differences between senior security engineer and network security engineer education

There are a few differences between a senior security engineer and a network security engineer in terms of educational background:

Senior Security EngineerNetwork Security Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Senior security engineer vs network security engineer demographics

Here are the differences between senior security engineers' and network security engineers' demographics:

Senior Security EngineerNetwork Security Engineer
Average age4243
Gender ratioMale, 91.2% Female, 8.8%Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 8.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 13.9% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between senior security engineer and network security engineer duties and responsibilities

Senior security engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage logistics of moving necessary equipment for test across country to newly designed/built NSA certify test facility.
  • Assess cloud providers and products to meet NIST 800-53 for accreditation of applications operating in the cloud.
  • Involve in migrating JBOSS /Fat java applications to RHEL6 upgrade.
  • Conduct vulnerability scans using NESSUS to scan the CMS QIO network infrastructure.
  • Install and maintain security infrastructure, including IPS/IDS, log management, and SIEM systems.
  • Design and implement a plan to upgrade the ACAS infrastructure to include MDA's remote sites.
  • Show more

Network security engineer example responsibilities.

  • Add and manage nodes in SolarWinds for monitoring purposes using SNMP v1/v2/v3.
  • Work with VMware NSX with deployment of greenfield environment and managing and troubleshooting issues with NSX.
  • Interact successfully with both program leads and DoD customer to ensure objectives are completed on time.
  • Experience in managing and troubleshooting Linux or Unix base operating systems.
  • Manage information technology security, including backups, firewalls, and routers.
  • Design and manage information systems security policy, implementation, and management for a globally distribute MPLS infrastructure.
  • Show more

Senior security engineer vs network security engineer skills

Common senior security engineer skills
  • Cloud Security, 8%
  • Java, 8%
  • Linux, 5%
  • Windows, 5%
  • Incident Response, 4%
  • Security Engineering, 4%
Common network security engineer skills
  • Network Security, 10%
  • Windows, 5%
  • Cisco Asa, 4%
  • Switches, 4%
  • Linux, 4%
  • Troubleshoot, 3%

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