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What is a network implementation engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Professor David Sanford
The average network implementation engineer salary is $90,320. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an electrical engineering major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a network implementation engineer. Network implementation engineers with a Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA) certification earn more money. 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 network implementation engineer?

Professor David Sanford

Associate Professor an Department Chair (MIS, CS, CYB MGT, IS CYB), Northwood University

Workers like that they are challenged to solve problems and lead technological innovations.
They appreciate the diversity of projects
They enjoy the need for continuous improvement and education
Many see the global impact of their work.
They also desire and appreciate the need for versatile skills
A competitive salary is also an item that employees like

Workers dislike that the work can be stressful
Dealing with tight deadlines and/ or cybersecurity concerns.
This is a positive and a negative: The need to constantly stay up to date with technology can be a bit overwhelming for some.
There may be times of isolation, and
The unexpected system failures can be frustrating as they often require extra hours or the need to be on-call.
The multiple responsibilities and managing repetitive tasks are also issues workers point out in this field.

In short, the workplace offers exciting opportunities but comes with its fair share of pressures and challenges. Different people have different experiences based on their roles and personal preferences.
ScoreNetwork Implementation EngineerUS Average
Salary
7.1

Avg. Salary $90,320

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 13.97%

Black or African American 8.02%

Hispanic or Latino 11.73%

Unknown 5.01%

White 60.96%

Gender

female 11.41%

male 88.59%

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

Network implementation engineer career paths

Key steps to become a network implementation engineer

  1. Explore network implementation engineer education requirements

    Most common network implementation engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    64.1 %

    Associate

    20.6 %

    Master's

    7.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific network implementation engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Cisco Ios11.87%
    Switches5.44%
    Network Infrastructure4.92%
    Routers4.47%
    BGP3.82%
  3. Complete relevant network implementation engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New network implementation 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 network implementation engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real network implementation engineer resumes.
  4. Research network implementation engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage VPN requests for existing and new customers ensuring timely delivery of hardware.
    • Manage multiple, simultaneous customer projects of varying complexities while minimizing network impact during change/maintenance windows.
    • Lead escalation point for troubleshooting BGP, OSPF, EIGRP and routing issues.
    • Deploy and configure Man/Core/Distribution/Access routers and switches during new network build outs and refresh projects for NY metro hub locations.
  5. Get network implementation engineer experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a network implementation engineer. The most common roles before becoming a network implementation engineer include network engineer, network technician team lead and senior network engineer.
  6. Prepare your network implementation engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your network implementation engineer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a network implementation engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable network implementation engineer resume templates

    Build a professional network implementation engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your network implementation engineer resume.
    Network Implementation Engineer Resume
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    Network Implementation Engineer Resume
  7. Apply for network implementation engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a network implementation engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first network implementation engineer job

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Average network implementation engineer salary

The average network implementation engineer salary in the United States is $90,320 per year or $43 per hour. Network implementation engineer salaries range between $68,000 and $118,000 per year.

Average network implementation engineer salary
$90,320 Yearly
$43.42 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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