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The differences between telecommunication engineers and network 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 telecommunication engineer, becoming a network engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a network engineer has an average salary of $83,557, which is higher than the $80,789 average annual salary of a telecommunication engineer.
The top three skills for a telecommunication engineer include telecommunication, voip and RF. The most important skills for a network engineer are switches, troubleshoot, and network infrastructure.
| Telecommunication Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $80,789 | $83,557 |
| Hourly rate | $38.84 | $40.17 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 28,331 | 72,346 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
A telecommunication engineer is responsible for installing, testing, and repairing telecommunication systems including mobile telephone networks and fiber optic and digital satellite systems. Your day-to-day duties include diagnosing and troubleshooting systems faults, installing static and mobile antennae on masts and buildings, and designing, developing, and testing telecommunications equipment and components. As a telecommunication engineer, you are also required to provide guidance and support to telecommunication installers to ensure quality. You are also responsible for providing recommendations to upgrade outdated equipment.
A network engineer is responsible for managing a network system, monitoring its performance, and upgrading its features to optimize performance and boost efficiency. Network engineers also create new systems, designing them based on clients' specifications and business needs. They also check network defects, perform troubleshooting, improve data security systems, and install security updates. A network engineer must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a broad understanding of system codes, programming languages, and network configurations.
Telecommunication engineers and network engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecommunication Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Average salary | $80,789 | $83,557 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $109,000 | Between $62,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a telecommunication engineer and a network engineer in terms of educational background:
| Telecommunication Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between telecommunication engineers' and network engineers' demographics:
| Telecommunication Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.7% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |