Network Engineer vs. Network Administrator: What's the Difference?

Network engineers and network administrators are not just two names for the same role. They do perform different functions. Let's first look at network job functions and how those functions affect education, training, certifications, and salary.

The most senior role is the network designer. This requires advanced knowledge of protocols, network addressing, good design principles, and advanced network diagnostics. This role may also be responsible for top-level trouble ticket escalations. Higher-level certifications are usually required, often identified as a network specialist, design specialist, or design expert. Some organizations' network designers also have operational responsibilities, while others strictly separate design and operations.

The next role is Network Operations, which requires familiarity with common network issues, knowledge of troubleshooting techniques and tools, and experience with network management systems. Typically, this role handles mid-tier trouble tickets. Common certifications include Network Associate and Network Professional.

Network Certification Program

Vendor certification programs are often a good way to measure a candidate's knowledge and understanding of networking. These certifications test the candidate's knowledge of network configuration, network protocol functionality, and troubleshooting.

Certifications can be vendor-specific, technology-focused, or a combination of both. For example, the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Enterprise Infrastructure certification is a vendor-specific certification program that covers routing, switching, and other concepts, while the Certified Information Systems Security Professional is vendor-neutral and focuses on IT security.

Certifications are often organized by technology. The most common is in enterprise routing and switching, which focuses on routing and switching protocols. Other technologies include design, data center, network automation, security, and service provider. Each area may have multiple levels, from entry or engineer level at the low end to mid-level engineer and expert level at the high end.

All of these certifications are best viewed in a matrix with one axis being the certification level and the other being the technology. Below is a short example from Cisco. Other vendors have similar matrices.

What does it take to become a network engineer?

The Network Engineer title most accurately matches the Network Designer role. This is similar to a civil engineer designing bridges.

Good network engineers typically have some degree of college education. The key traits are curiosity about how things work, the ability to understand the complexities of networks, and an interest in pursuing the education required to become a network engineer.

Someone with the right characteristics will earn one or more advanced certifications. It doesn't matter what the vendor focuses on, as advanced certifications require a significant educational element to solving real-world network problems.

What does a network administrator do?

The network operations role most closely matches the title of network administrator. It involves implementing network designs, maintaining the network, and performing moves, adds, and changes. Specific tasks may be the result of network changes or troubleshooting.

Through coursework and vendor documentation, network administrators should be well-equipped to actually manage network devices. This education provides the foundation to help understand the goals of network design and to quickly diagnose problems.

Candidates for this position should have at least an intermediate certification from the vendor whose equipment they are using. General networking knowledge helps support this operations role, which requires some familiarity with the configuration mechanisms of specific equipment.

Network Engineer and Administrator Salaries

When comparing network engineers and network administrators, salary expectations depend on geographic region, work environment, and non-salary benefits. Base salary can vary by 10 or 20 percent depending on geographic location. Generally, network administrators make between $65,000 and $100,000 per year.

Network engineers are more likely to make between $75,000 and $110,000 per year. What is the difference between a network engineer and a network administrator, all other factors being equal? ​​Higher-level responsibilities in design roles, higher certifications, and top-level troubleshooting skills can result in a $5,000 to $10,000 increase per year for a network engineer. Of course, the specifics of the position's responsibilities and the candidate's relevant experience can lead to variations in this difference.

Whatever your business calls these positions, they all have different roles and are complementary.

How many engineers and administrators does a business need? It is recommended to have at least two staff members for each role to support business operations when one person is on vacation.

Additionally, when challenging network issues need to be resolved, two staff members’ perspectives can be helpful. A viable alternative is to have an outside consultant provide a second perspective.