How To Become A Lan/Wan Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a lan/wan engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Bobby Roohparvar Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a lan/wan engineer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $38.41 an hour? That's $79,887 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 18,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a lan/wan engineer?

Dr. Bobby Roohparvar Ph.D.

Professor of Computer Science and Computer Engineering, California State University - East Bay

*The anxiety of AI is likely to change the landscape of computer networking, is a real threat but in my opinion, it won't eliminate the need for human network engineers. The focus will likely shift towards more strategic tasks, complex problem-solving, and leveraging AI tools to improve network efficiency and security.*

*Here again, I will explain in more detail about the expectation and future of Comp. Network Eng.*

* 1. AI Augments, Not Replaces: While AI can automate some network tasks, like data analysis and basic troubleshooting, it won't replace the need for human network engineers. It will increase the productivity for sure; Complex problem-solving, strategic decision-making, and human judgment are still crucial in network management. AI will likely become a valuable tool that assists network engineers in their tasks, making them more efficient.*

*2. Growing Demand: Our reliance on technology and data is constantly increasing. Businesses and organizations need secure, reliable networks to function. This necessitates a skilled workforce to design, implement, maintain, and secure these networks. The demand for qualified network engineers is expected to grow in the coming years.*

*In our technology horizon, I can see the quantum internet coming and I can see the demand for network engineering accelerate.*

*3. Diverse Skillset: A strong foundation in computer networking equips you with a versatile skillset. You'll understand network protocols, security concepts, and troubleshooting methodologies. These skills are valuable across the IT field and can be applied to areas like cloud computing, data center operations, or even cybersecurity. Data Centers for AI are becoming a huge opportunity for Comp Network Eng.*

ScoreLan/Wan EngineerUS Average

Salary

6.2

Avg. Salary $79,887

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 9.10%

Black or African American 9.01%

Hispanic or Latino 12.70%

Unknown 5.09%

White 63.79%

Gender

female 9.44%

male 90.56%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a lan/wan engineer

Explore lan/wan engineer education requirements

Most common lan/wan engineer degrees

Bachelor's

64.5 %

Associate

21.8 %

Master's

8.5 %

Start to develop specific lan/wan engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Lan Wan	12.78%
Switches	9.09%
Windows Server	4.94%
VoIP	4.22%
Firewall	4.07%

Complete relevant lan/wan engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lan/wan engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a lan/wan engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lan/wan engineer resumes.

Research lan/wan engineer duties and responsibilities

Manage the VOIP issues with the users.
Write program codes in Unix and scripts in others to automate systems backup.
Manage blade server farm network, network monitoring servers, and wireless LAN network.
Monitor, manage and resolve all data network circuit outages while working independently using VMware.

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