SalaryScope South Africa logo
2026 comparison

Network Engineer vs Data Analyst salary in South Africa

Compare salary, demand, difficulty, and long-term growth to choose the right career path.

Quick answer

Network Engineer vs Data Analyst in South Africa

Higher paying career
Network Engineer
Monthly difference
R10 000
Easier to enter
Data Analyst
Better long-term
Network Engineer

Winner summary

Winner for salary
Network Engineer (+R10 000/month)
Easier entry
Data Analyst
Best long-term
Network Engineer
Verdict

Choose Network Engineer if your goal is higher income and long-term growth.

Choose Data Analyst if your goal is faster entry and lower barriers.

Career overview

Network Engineer

Demand: 8/10

Salary guide
Requirements

IT networking diploma, degree or vendor certification route.

  • Networking fundamentals
  • Firewall exposure
  • Vendor certifications
Salary
EntryR22 000
MidR58 000
SeniorR90 000
Top 20%R135 000

Data Analyst

Demand: 9/10

Salary guide
Requirements

Analytics, statistics, information systems or business degree.

  • SQL
  • Dashboarding
  • Data cleaning
Salary
EntryR20 000
MidR52 000
SeniorR80 000
Top 20%R120 000

Salary breakdown

Entry
Network EngineerR22 000
Data AnalystR20 000
Mid
Network EngineerR58 000
Data AnalystR52 000
Senior
Network EngineerR90 000
Data AnalystR80 000
Top 20%
Network EngineerR135 000
Data AnalystR120 000

Demand and difficulty

Demand

Network Engineer (8/10)8/10
Data Analyst (9/10)9/10

Difficulty

Network Engineer (7/10)7/10
Data Analyst (6/10)6/10
Salary difference
+R10 000/month

The salary gap at senior level is about R10 000 per month. Network Engineer earns more due to higher demand and stronger salary growth at senior level.

See full Network Engineer salary in South Africa →

Key questions

Which pays more in South Africa?

Network Engineer pays more, with senior salaries around R90 000 per month compared to R80 000 for Data Analyst.

Which is easier to enter?

Data Analyst is easier to enter due to lower difficulty and more accessible requirements.

Which is better long-term?

Network Engineer offers stronger long-term potential based on higher salary ceilings and demand.

Detailed comparison

When comparing Network Engineer vs Data Analyst in South Africa, the senior-level salary difference is R10 000 per month.

Data Analyst is better for quicker entry into the workforce. Network Engineer is better for long-term earnings and career growth.

Skills and requirements

Network Engineer

Core skills
  • Routing / switchingHigh
  • FirewallsHigh
  • Network securityHigh
  • Cisco / FortinetMedium
  • TroubleshootingHigh

Data Analyst

Core skills
  • SQLHigh
  • Power BI / TableauHigh
  • ExcelHigh
  • PythonMedium
  • Business analysisMedium

Side by side

Routing / switching
Network Engineer needs this
Less central
Firewalls
Network Engineer needs this
Less central
Network security
Network Engineer needs this
Less central
Cisco / Fortinet
Network Engineer needs this
Less central
Troubleshooting
Network Engineer needs this
Less central
SQL
Less central
Data Analyst needs this

Career progression

Network Engineer

Junior Network TechnicianR28 000
Network EngineerR58 000
Senior Network EngineerR90 000
Network ArchitectR120 000

Data Analyst

Junior Data AnalystR26 000
Data AnalystR52 000
Senior Data AnalystR80 000
Analytics LeadR105 000

Related insights

Compare more careersExplore related comparisonsFind higher paying jobs

More Network Engineer salary comparisons

Other careers people compare with Network Engineer salary in South Africa.

See full Network Engineer salary guide →

More Data Analyst salary comparisons

Other careers people compare with Data Analyst salary in South Africa.

See full Data Analyst salary guide →

Explore related salary guides

Related careers
Cybersecurity Analyst salaryR95 000Cloud Engineer salaryR125 000
Higher paying alternatives
Municipal Manager salary - higher earning pathR200 000Psychiatrist salary - higher earning pathR170 000
Easier entry careers
IT Support Technician salary - easier entry option3/10Bookkeeper salary - easier entry option3/10
Similar industry salaries
Technology career: Data Scientist salaryTechnology career: Backend Developer salary
Popular career comparisons
Cybersecurity Analyst vs Network Engineer salary in South AfricaSoftware Engineer vs Data Scientist salary in South Africa
Explore more salary guides
how much Developers earn in South Africahow much QA Engineers earn in South Africahow much Product Managers earn in South Africahow much Data Engineers earn in South Africahow much Mobile App Developers earn in South Africahow much Web Developers earn in South Africa
Compare Related Share