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The differences between wireless network engineers and network managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a wireless network engineer and a network manager. Additionally, a wireless network engineer has an average salary of $101,117, which is higher than the $97,578 average annual salary of a network manager.
The top three skills for a wireless network engineer include RF, wireless network and switches. The most important skills for a network manager are customer service, fault management, and network infrastructure.
| Wireless Network Engineer | Network Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $101,117 | $97,578 |
| Hourly rate | $48.61 | $46.91 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 43,368 | 36,831 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Wireless Network Engineer specializes in designing and developing wireless telecommunication systems and networks. They are responsible for understanding the client or company's needs, performing installations and upgrades, configuring wireless equipment, conducting assessments and inspections, troubleshooting problems, and performing corrective measures and adjustments as necessary. They must also create strategies to optimize local wireless networks, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Wireless Network Engineers must manage and lead staff to reach goals, all while promoting and implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A network manager is responsible for monitoring the efficient network connection of the company's technology systems, analyzing system designs, and overseeing installation processes and programs. Network managers inspect the efficiency of existing network management systems, upgrading network data to boost optimal performance and communication transportation. A network manager must have excellent knowledge of technology disciplines and should always be updated with the recent technology trends, guiding the network staff on their tasks and immediately resolving system defects and discrepancies.
Wireless network engineers and network managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Wireless Network Engineer | Network Manager | |
| Average salary | $101,117 | $97,578 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $132,000 | Between $71,000 And $132,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a wireless network engineer and a network manager in terms of educational background:
| Wireless Network Engineer | Network Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between wireless network engineers' and network managers' demographics:
| Wireless Network Engineer | Network Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 83.3% Female, 16.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 13.8% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.7% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |