Q: Do network engineers make good money?

Yes, network engineers generally make good money. The median annual wage for network engineers (also known as network and computer systems administrators) was $84,810 in 2020. That is higher than the average mid-tier annual salary in the United States of around $45-65,000.

Question 1

Network Administrator vs. Network Engineer

Accepted Answer

A network administrator is a tech professional who focuses on maintaining a network, while a network engineer is a tech professional who focuses on the design and development of a network.

Question 2

Network Engineer vs. Software Engineer

Accepted Answer

A network engineer is concerned with designing, configuring, and deploying computer networks and networking infrastructure, while a software engineer applies engineering principles and approaches to software development.

Question 3

How long does it take to become a Network Engineer?

Accepted Answer

It takes 5 years of professional experience to become a network engineer. That is the time it takes to learn specific network engineer skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 8 to 10 years years to become a network engineer.

Question 4

Do network engineers make good money?

Accepted Answer

Yes, network engineers generally make good money. The median annual wage for network engineers (also known as network and computer systems administrators) was $84,810 in 2020. That is higher than the average mid-tier annual salary in the United States of around $45-65,000.

Question 5

How many years does it take to become a network engineer?

Accepted Answer

It takes two to six years to become a network engineer, depending on your industry, company, and experience. The minimum education you need for this job is either a certification or an associate's degree in network engineering, taking about two years to complete.

Question 6

How to become a network engineer without a degree?

Accepted Answer

To become a network engineer without a degree, you will need to independently gain the knowledge and skills that would regularly be learned in a bachelor's program. This means that you should have an understanding of operating systems, hardware, and software.

Network engineers need experience in order to find positions. In fact, knowledge and experience often trump educational background. There are many tools and resources available to help with this. You can read books, watch Youtube videos, listen to podcasts, and do many other things to learn.

Network technology is rapidly changing, which requires network engineers to be consistently learning and changing. While working, you may find it important to receive additional certification. Although not required for entry-level positions, many network engineering positions do require various information technology certifications for specific roles.

Question 7

Is being a network engineer hard?

Accepted Answer

Yes, being a network engineer can be hard due to the critical nature of the position and ever-evolving network technology.

You are responsible for the critical role of maintaining the everyday operation of computer networks. So, you'll need to understand a wide range of complex networks and stay on top of the latest updates and upgrades to implement necessary changes to optimize performance and security.

Question 8

Is network engineering a good career?

Accepted Answer

Yes, network engineering is a good career if you enjoy working with network and computer systems and receiving good pay for your job.

You could earn a six figures salary, with some employment paying more than $135,000. This is contingent on the industry, location, and your experience.

Question 9

What are careers in networking?

Accepted Answer

Network engineer, network technician, and network administrator are careers in networking.

Network Engineer

A network engineer is a technology professional who is highly skilled in maintaining the connectivity of networks in terms of data, voice, and calls, as well as videos and wireless network services.

Network engineers ensure all network systems are functioning properly and their fundamental goal is to provide maximum network infrastructure, security, and performance to the end users. They focus on delivering high-availability network infrastructure to sustain onsite and remote activities of users.

Depending on an organization's requirement or network complexity, the organization will sometimes have global network engineers in different countries who take care of technological advancements throughout the firm.

Network Technician

A similar role in networking is that of a network technician. Network technicians are IT professionals who handle implementing, maintaining, and repairing computer networks. They set up internet connections in many different environments and connect them with physical cables or wireless frequencies.

They are responsible for monitoring the day-to-day operations of an organization's computer network. Some of their typical responsibilities include:

Troubleshooting computer software and hardware issues
Repairing software and hardware issues
Performing scheduled updates
Ensuring that software is correctly installed on employee computers
Providing technical support for clients and end-users
Ensuring the computer network is secure from cyber-attacks (including installing antivirus software)
Educating and training employees on appropriate use

Network Administrator

Another role in networking that is similar to that of a network technician is a network administrator. A network administrator ensures that their organization's computer networks are operating appropriately and meeting the needs of the organization and their end-users.

They maintain and troubleshoot the networks and use security principles to ensure the network is secure. Some of their typical responsibilities include:

Installing, configuring, and maintaining network hardware and software such as routers, firewalls, and switches
Protecting networks from unauthorized access using both physical and technical means
Setting up and maintaining virtual private networks (VPNs)
Resolving network connectivity issues for employees and end-users
Maintaining and troubleshooting storage networks

Network administrators need to have knowledge of different types of networks including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and storage area networks (SANs). They also need to have an understanding of network security components like firewalls, VPNs, and access control.

Question 10

What is the career path for a network engineer?

Accepted Answer

The career path for a network engineer involves jobs as a data architect, design engineer, and network engineer. The career path for a network engineer involves specific education, training, professional experience, certifications, and skills. It also has many on-and-off ramps to a variety of other career paths in the tech field.

Question 11

What qualifications do you need to be a network engineer?

Accepted Answer

The qualifications you need to be a network engineer are typically a postsecondary education and relevant experience.

Although you can become a network engineer with only an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate, most jobs require a bachelor's degree, typically in electrical engineering, computer science, or computer information systems.

Question 12

What should I study to become a network engineer?

Accepted Answer

You should study network engineering, information systems, IT, computing engineering, or a related field in order to become an entry-level network engineer.

After graduation, and once you begin working, you will receive even more critical on-the-job training. This training will help you gain more skills and insight and advance your career.

Question 13

What is a good starting salary for a Network Engineer?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a network engineer is $63,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a network engineer in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for network engineers is $82,941, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a network engineer can vary by state.

Question 14

What is the highest salary of a network engineer?

Accepted Answer

The highest salary of a network engineer can range from over $124,000. This is typical for many senior-level positions, but, as most jobs go, it also depends on location and industry.

For example, with annual mean wages above $112,000, the top-paying industries are computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing, specialized design services, and personal care services.

Question 15

Can a network engineer make 100k?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a network engineer. The chances of earning over $100k for a network engineer are actually pretty good because the highest-paid network engineer positions typically pay at least $108,000 per year. The average annual salary is $82,941 for network engineer jobs. For example, network engineers in California whose salaries are in the 90th percentile earn an average salary of $128,000.

Question 16

Are network engineers still in demand?

Accepted Answer

Yes, network engineers are still in demand. The demand for network engineers will continue to be necessary as newer and faster technology allows for better networks across many industries.

Question 17

Which company is best for a network engineer?

Accepted Answer

The best company for a network engineer is Twitter, with an average salary of $140,000.

Among the top-paying companies are also LinkedIn, Google, and Bloomberg. All of them report high salaries, around $130-140,000. In general, the top-paying industries are Fortune 500, technology, and telecommunication.

Question 18

What are the qualifications of a network engineer?

Accepted Answer

The qualifications of a network engineer are to obtain your bachelor's degree from an accredited university in network engineering, information systems, IT, computing engineering, or a related field. After graduation, and once you begin working, you will receive even more critical on-the-job training to gain more skills and insight and move up in your career.

Although a bachelor's degree is required, many network engineers will receive a master's degree or a doctoral degree. For most higher-level positions, the specialization that comes with those additional degrees is required. If you do see yourself wanting to move to a higher level, receiving a Ph.D. is recommended.

Network technology is rapidly changing which requires network engineers to be consistently learning and changing. While working, you may find it important to receive additional certification. Although not required for entry-level positions, many network engineering positions do require various information technology certifications for specific roles.

Question 19

What is the demand for network engineers?

Accepted Answer

The demand for network engineers is high and continually growing due to the increasing reliance of businesses on digital infrastructure, as well as the and the expansion of technology use in everyday life.

Question 20

What percentage of Network Engineers are female?

Accepted Answer

13.1% of network engineers are female in the United States. This is 1.5 percentage points higher than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female network engineers has decreased by -0.1 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 18,490 female network engineers in the U.S. and 122,657 male network engineers in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 141,147 people with the specific job title of network engineer and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 21

What is a profile summary for a network engineer?

Accepted Answer

A profile summary for a network engineer showcases the specific network engineering specialties that you have as well as the background experience that you possess. The profile summary for a network engineer gives people a glimpse of past work as well as an indication of your skills and the type of projects you can do.

Question 22

What should be on a network engineer's resume?

Accepted Answer

A network engineer should put all their relevant work experiences and education in network engineering roles on their resume. From here, they will organize and describe this information to make it as relevant and compelling as possible.

Question 23

What skills are needed to be a network engineer?

Accepted Answer

The skills needed to be a network engineer include expertise in network engineering as well as analytical and problem-solving skills.

Since a network engineer is tasked with maintaining the connectivity of a company's systems and networks in terms of data, voice, calls, videos, and wireless network services, they need to see both the broad picture and the details of a system.

Question 24

What does a network engineer do on a daily basis?

Accepted Answer

A network engineer performs networking configuration and troubleshooting, monitors networks and optimizes their performances, and participates in network security and maintenance daily. Here are some details on the common daily activities of a network engineer:

Frequently asked questions about network engineers

Questions about becoming a network engineer