Post job

Specialist network engineer vs network administrator

The differences between specialist network engineers and network administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a specialist network engineer and a network administrator. Additionally, a specialist network engineer has an average salary of $90,468, which is higher than the $71,357 average annual salary of a network administrator.

The top three skills for a specialist network engineer include technical support, database and voip. The most important skills for a network administrator are switches, windows server, and troubleshoot.

Specialist network engineer vs network administrator overview

Specialist Network EngineerNetwork Administrator
Yearly salary$90,468$71,357
Hourly rate$43.49$34.31
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs38,297106,886
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4343
Years of experience22

Specialist network engineer vs network administrator salary

Specialist network engineers and network administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Specialist Network EngineerNetwork Administrator
Average salary$90,468$71,357
Salary rangeBetween $69,000 And $116,000Between $56,000 And $90,000
Highest paying CityPost Falls, IDSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandWashington
Best paying companyValero EnergyGoogle
Best paying industryTelecommunicationFinance

Differences between specialist network engineer and network administrator education

There are a few differences between a specialist network engineer and a network administrator in terms of educational background:

Specialist Network EngineerNetwork Administrator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Specialist network engineer vs network administrator demographics

Here are the differences between specialist network engineers' and network administrators' demographics:

Specialist Network EngineerNetwork Administrator
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 81.3% Female, 18.7%Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 11.9% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 9.6% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between specialist network engineer and network administrator duties and responsibilities

Specialist network engineer example responsibilities.

  • Utilize advanced encryption devices to secure communications between all locations manage by the department.
  • Design and implement first LAN/WAN environment including installing and configuring routers, switches, servers, and workstations.
  • Support MPLS backbone, including QOS.
  • WAN network design and implementation using Cisco ISR routers.
  • Experience include multiple routing protocols including IGRP, EIGRP, BGP, and IPX.
  • Direct installation of digital servers, routers and network computing systems in all associate airports and facilities nationwide.
  • Show more

Network administrator example responsibilities.

  • Lead and manage desktop standards project.
  • Manage backups using EMC Networker and Avamar.
  • Manage Solarwinds to monitor servers and networks for all locations.
  • Manage all provisioning and technical issues for new customer IP blocks.
  • Deploy and manage storage (windows file servers and NetApp NAS).
  • Manage all technology: Novell, Microsoft, Cisco, email, library, labs, dorms, programs
  • Show more

Specialist network engineer vs network administrator skills

Common specialist network engineer skills
  • Technical Support, 8%
  • Database, 7%
  • VoIP, 7%
  • PC, 6%
  • Switches, 4%
  • Broadband, 4%
Common network administrator skills
  • Switches, 7%
  • Windows Server, 6%
  • Troubleshoot, 5%
  • Network Hardware, 5%
  • Routers, 4%
  • Lan Wan, 4%

Browse computer and mathematical jobs