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The differences between virtualization engineers and network engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a virtualization engineer and a network engineer. Additionally, a virtualization engineer has an average salary of $97,397, which is higher than the $83,557 average annual salary of a network engineer.
The top three skills for a virtualization engineer include troubleshoot, virtualization and VDI. The most important skills for a network engineer are switches, troubleshoot, and network infrastructure.
| Virtualization Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,397 | $83,557 |
| Hourly rate | $46.83 | $40.17 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 60,218 | 72,346 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A virtualization engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and procedures to manage data storage and other data platforms. Among their responsibilities include performing server and platform maintenance, handling data migration, creating new tools and applications, and producing progress reports. They must also gather and analyze data to identify areas needing improvement and implement solutions against problem areas. Furthermore, as an engineer, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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.
Virtualization engineers and network engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Virtualization Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,397 | $83,557 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $130,000 | Between $62,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Vacaville, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a virtualization engineer and a network engineer in terms of educational background:
| Virtualization Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between virtualization engineers' and network engineers' demographics:
| Virtualization Engineer | Network Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 9% | 9% |