How to hire a network manager

How to hire a network manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step network manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a network manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new network manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a network manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The network manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A network manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, network managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of network manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Network Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Network Manager	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$34-63
   Information Technology Operations Manager	An Information Technology Operations Manager is responsible for the smooth running of the computer systems. They ensure the operation of computer systems in accordance with specifications, costs, and timelines.	$41-73
   Information Technology Systems Manager	An information technology systems manager is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and optimal performance of the organization's technology systems. Information technology systems managers ensure the safety and security of all the network systems, developing standard operating procedures to avoid unauthorized access and suspicious activities... Show more	$45-85

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Fault Management
   • Network Infrastructure
   • Switches
   • Network Hardware
   • Project Management
   • Lan Wan
   • VPN
   • Lan
   • Routers
   • Provider Network
   • VoIP
   • SAN
   • Network Security

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Negotiate and manage customer SLA's.
   • Manage a remote nationwide team of database Sr.
   • Manage vendor for all PBX move add and changes.
   • Manage environment in support of define CDRL's and SLA's.
   • Lead the architecture design for PCI (payment card industry) compliance.
   • Manage iRules and VIP setup on F5's and juniper load balance.

   More network manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the network manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. A network manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a network manager in South Carolina may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level network manager. Additionally, a network manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average network manager salary

   $97,578yearly

   $46.91 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level network manager salary

   $71,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average network manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$132,208	$64
   2	Washington	$114,531	$55
   3	Massachusetts	$113,285	$54
   4	Nevada	$107,511	$52
   5	District of Columbia	$102,005	$49
   6	Oregon	$101,671	$49
   7	New Hampshire	$99,022	$48
   8	Connecticut	$97,749	$47
   9	Arizona	$96,641	$46
   10	Hawaii	$95,628	$46
   11	Maryland	$95,102	$46
   12	Oklahoma	$93,210	$45
   13	Georgia	$91,778	$44
   14	North Carolina	$91,550	$44
   15	Texas	$90,073	$43
   16	Louisiana	$88,734	$43
   17	Iowa	$88,648	$43
   18	Pennsylvania	$87,791	$42
   19	New York	$87,206	$42
   20	Ohio	$86,298	$41

   Average network manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$175,144	$84.20	172
   2	Google	$170,736	$82.08	48
   3	Apple	$156,029	$75.01	12
   4	Amazon	$143,478	$68.98	161
   5	Micron Technology	$139,724	$67.17	4
   6	Stripe	$137,935	$66.31
   7	The Walt Disney Company	$137,007	$65.87	5
   8	Corning Incorporated	$132,613	$63.76	2
   9	Kaiser Permanente	$132,358	$63.63	2
   10	Molina Healthcare	$129,055	$62.05	161
   11	Marathon Petroleum	$127,455	$61.28	10
   12	Dollar Tree	$122,365	$58.83
   13	Grainger	$122,060	$58.68	1
   14	American Enterprise Institute	$121,206	$58.27
   15	Tesla	$119,259	$57.34	7
   16	Southern	$117,436	$56.46	1
   17	Occidental Petroleum	$117,183	$56.34	1
   18	Scripps Health	$116,099	$55.82
   19	Smithfield Foods	$115,553	$55.55	4
   20	Community Health Systems	$114,699	$55.14	5

4. Writing a network manager job description

   A job description for a network manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a network manager job description:

   Network manager job description example

   EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in communications technologies through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. For more information, visit echostar.com. Follow @EchoStar on Twitter.
   
   Hughes has an exciting opportunity for a Manager - Network Management Systems LATAM Global Networks. This position will be located at our headquarters in Germantown, MD.
   Responsibilities:
   Lead a team of Engineers to support consumer and Enterprise services across Latin America.Prepare a schedule for on-calls, coordinate changes, and get it implemented by guiding team members.Mentor team members to explain the intricacies of satellite networks and their management through Engineering delivered solutions and software.Prepare Reports, Manage Audits, and help resolve issues related to Network Management systems.Support end-to-end commissioning flows and employ tools and processes towards zero outage service standards.Work per change management policies and network operations guidelines to ensure successful service delivery of monitored satellite networks.Work as an on-call escalation, and participate in changes to ensure procedures are properly written and executed flawlessly.Manages KPIs for Provisioning and commissioning Systems for LATAM Network Management Systems
   Basic Requirements:
   Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications, Computer Engineering, or related technical field7+ years of experience in a technical role3+ years of experience as a team lead
   Preferred Qualifications:
   Master's degree in Telecommunications, Computer Engineering, or related technical field
   Will be eligible for the discretionary bonus, with funding based on company performance.
   #LI-NA1
   
   EchoStar is committed to offering a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Our programs are designed to provide you with the ability to customize your benefits to best meet the needs of you and your family. Our philosophy for these programs is to support and encourage healthy living and wellness. Our benefits package covers it all-from healthcare savings plans to education assistance and more!
   Financial: 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match; employee stock purchase plan; profit-sharing; company-paid life insurance, AD&D and disability Work-Life Balance: Paid Time Off (PTO), company-paid holidays, health and wellness events, exercise and sports facilities (locations may vary) Employee Incentives: Tuition reimbursement, employee referral program, year round employee events and community programs, discounts on Dish Network and HughesNetHealth: Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Health Savings Account (HSA) with opportunities to earn employer contributions; Health Care, Dependent Care and Transportation Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
   
   EchoStar and its Affiliated Companies are committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. U.S. Persons or those able to obtain and maintain U.S. government security clearances may be required for certain positions. EEO is the law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right network manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with network managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit network managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your network manager job on Zippia to find and attract quality network manager candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with network manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   If your interviews with network manager applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new network manager

   Once you've selected the best network manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new network manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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