Networking or Programming

My cousin just finished his B.E in Electronics. He's more interested in the computer networking/security field than the software field.

From a monetary, technically demanding, future growth, opportunity, work - point of view, which path would be better for him?

PS - He has the impression that software guys are more "respected" and don't do "manual work" like networking guys!!
Any network engineers here who've done CCNA etc.? Please share your experiences.

THANKS!

Thats a dumb impression. Networking can be really fun IMO.

He could work on the software part of networking. Then he gets skills from both worlds

A soft dev is most of the times paid more than a network man of same level.

Networking : Lesser salary at lower levels.You won't get decent package when you start as a beginner {usually}.
Networking is a fun , unless you get a major fault where you are overloaded with work and then life becomes ******.
There's definitely a growth in this field if you work hard and spend time.

Programming : Salary can depend on the technology you are aware of , to be precise a beginner with new technolgy might get better offers than one with average experience and a older language. { newer technolgies are more in demand .}

Job security can be a biga*s problem , if you are not a constant learner.In programming you need to keep yourself with up-to-date technology.
Lesser half-life comparatively as your logical/creational abilities decreases with age and learning ability too.
Technolgies in programming become obselete more easily and at rapid rate than networking.

Now , it depends a lot from firm to firm , individuals , location , region. So what I said was in reference with general public {average users.}.