Career comparison
Cybersecurity Analyst vs. Network Administrator
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Cybersecurity analysts earn more at the median ($129,180 vs. $99,130), while cybersecurity analysts usually get to work faster (1–4 years of training). Cybersecurity analysts monitor, detect and respond to cyber threats that target an organization. Network administrators design, run and secure the networks and servers organizations depend on.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cybersecurity Analyst | Network Administrator | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $129,180 ($62.11/hr) | $99,130 ($47.66/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $75,090 – $199,850 | $62,640 – $155,050 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +21.0% (much faster than average) | -4.1% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 14,100 | 13,400 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 1–4 years | 1–4 years |
| Key credential | CompTIA Security+ | CompTIA Network+ |
| Work setting | Analysts work in offices, SOCs or remotely, at computers most of the day. | Network administrators work in offices, data centers and remotely for businesses, schools, hospitals, government and managed service providers. |
What each job does
Cybersecurity Analyst
- Monitor security alerts from SIEM and EDR tools
- Investigate suspicious activity, phishing and malware
- Respond to and document security incidents
- Run vulnerability scans and track remediation
- Configure and maintain security controls
Network Administrator
- Install and configure network hardware and software
- Manage switches, routers, firewalls and wireless access points
- Monitor network performance and security
- Administer servers, user accounts and cloud services
- Apply updates, patches and configuration changes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, problem-solving, working independently, and remote-friendly work. Both are part of the technology field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose cybersecurity analyst if…
- I’m curious about how systems can be attacked and defended
- I like investigating and solving puzzles
- I can stay calm under pressure
Choose network administrator if…
- I like understanding how systems connect and communicate
- I troubleshoot methodically
- I’m OK with after-hours maintenance sometimes
Still torn? Take the Cybersecurity Analyst fit quiz and the Network Administrator fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cybersecurity analyst or network administrator?
Cybersecurity Analysts earn more at the median: $129,180 versus $99,130 for network administrators, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Cybersecurity Analysts typically train faster (1–4 years) than network administrators (1–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects cybersecurity analysts to grow +21.0% from 2025–35, compared with -4.1% for network administrators.