How to hire a network operator

How to hire a network operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step network operator 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 operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new network operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a network operator do?

Post a network operator job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a network operator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a network operator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a network operator that fits the bill.

   This list presents network operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Network Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Network Operator	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.	$13-47
   NOC Technician	A NOC (Network Operations Center) technician is responsible for providing the highest customer service by resolving the customers' technical and network issues that affect the performance and stability of the systems operations. NOC technicians diagnose system failures and create support tickets for immediate troubleshooting... Show more	$14-32
   Administrative Technical Support	Administrative technical support maintains every technical set-up used in a company. Their primary responsibility is to inspect a company's systems, evaluate for issues, and repair any problems immediately... Show more	$13-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Switches
   • Customer Service
   • Routers
   • SolarWinds
   • NOC
   • Remedy
   • Linux
   • Juniper
   • OSPF
   • BGP
   • Technical Support
   • EIGRP
   • TCP/IP
   • DOD

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage database development and recovery.
   • Plan, configure and install new desktop computers, achieving standardization for workstations.
   • Manage and support the mission-critical LAN product delivery cores to standards of capacity, availability and security.
   • Weekend maintenance of server services on NT network and level one desktop support, monitors token-ring network, routers, switches.
   • Automate manual employee processes with Linux shell scripting.
   • Used Linux operating system and software for operation and trouble shooting.

   More network operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your network operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A network operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, network operators' average salary in montana is 50% less than in virginia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level network operators earn 70% less than senior-level network operators.
   • Certifications. A network operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a network operator's salary.

   Average network operator salary

   $54,148yearly

   $26.03 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level network operator salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average network operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Virginia	$82,096	$39
   2	Delaware	$76,931	$37
   3	New Jersey	$74,974	$36
   4	California	$70,285	$34
   5	New York	$68,471	$33
   6	District of Columbia	$63,497	$31
   7	Florida	$55,626	$27
   8	Texas	$54,612	$26
   9	Arizona	$52,736	$25
   10	Iowa	$50,884	$24
   11	Illinois	$50,023	$24
   12	Nevada	$49,236	$24
   13	Georgia	$49,056	$24
   14	Idaho	$48,780	$23
   15	Nebraska	$45,961	$22
   16	Colorado	$45,611	$22
   17	Oklahoma	$44,811	$22

   Average network operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	State Street	$84,534	$40.64	2
   2	Valero Energy	$70,721	$34.00
   3	Novetta	$68,042	$32.71
   4	Accenture	$66,849	$32.14	89
   5	Infinity Systems Engineering	$66,727	$32.08	2
   6	University of Rochester	$63,601	$30.58	5
   7	Ip Services	$59,377	$28.55
   8	Raytheon Technologies	$55,775	$26.81	26
   9	TEKsystems	$53,761	$25.85	87
   10	Vencore	$51,704	$24.86	24
   11	RigNet	$51,504	$24.76
   12	Globalstar	$51,298	$24.66
   13	Peraton	$51,169	$24.60	68
   14	Criterion Systems	$51,069	$24.55
   15	Zayo Group	$50,268	$24.17
   16	TENICA Global Solutions	$49,818	$23.95	29
   17	Freddie Mac	$48,843	$23.48	1
   18	iHeartMedia	$47,505	$22.84	12
   19	Star2Star Communications	$42,912	$20.63
   20	Randstad North America, Inc.	$42,322	$20.35	17

4. Writing a network operator job description

   A network operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a network operator job description:

   Network operator job description example

   At HCSC, we consider our employees the cornerstone of our business and the foundation to our success. We enable employees to craft their career with curated development plans that set their learning path to a rewarding and fulfilling career.
   Come join us and be part of a purpose driven company who is invested in your future!
   
   Job Summary
   
   This Position Is Responsible For Supervising And Overseeing Day-To-Day Operations Of Customer Service Units In Provider Network.
   
   Responsibilities
   
   * Maintain PREMIER Provider data Files and Vistar databases. This includes managing all PREMIER Provider Database Dept functions including the maintenance of the provider demographic and provider contract data. System file feeds to Association, directories, HSD State of NM entities, and others as assigned. *Design, implement, and monitor quality and quantity measures on the timeliness and accuracy of all NM provider demographic and contracting data in Premier Provider and Vistar contract management tool. *Coordinate and manage the PDO responsibilities for the HSD Medicaid Provider Registry program and all provider related data feed mechanisms *Manage the Network Services Phone representatives and data operations staff responsible for all incoming provider work queues, correspondence, and scanning of all provider contracts, requests, provider applications, and the initiation and finalization of all provider credentialing activities. *Manage additional responsibilities and respond to situations as they arise. Manage changes and transitions. Review and update processes and procedures. *Responsible for daily supervision which includes coaching, developing and educating staff, managing work flow and quality processes. *Responsible for communications involving group related written and telephone inquiries. *Design, implement and monitor on-the-job training processes and policies. *Ensure support and control related activities are in place. Ensure corrections to the system are researched, resolved and corrections made to the system as needed. *Monitor quality and quantity goals within assigned areas of responsibility. *Assist in monitoring and project workload, staffing and equipment needs
   
   Required Job Qualifications: *Bachelor Degree and 2 years business experience OR 4 years business experience *2 years' experience working with data reporting. *Experience in developing/leading and inspiring employees. *Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills. *Analytical and organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines. Preferred Job Qualifications: *Demonstrated experience in project management , implementation and execution. *Demonstrated experience interfacing with ITG, internal clients, Marketing/Sales management and operations personnel. *PC proficiency to include Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Lotus Notes. *Knowledge of Provider/Network contracting. *PREMIER Pricer, PREMIER Provider, PFIN, Blue Chip claims processing and inquiry procedures, system logic and the processing system. *System configuration/database experience
   
   Are you being referred to one of our roles? If so, ask your connection at HCSC about our Employee Referral process!
   
   HCSC Employment Statement:
   
   HCSC is committed to diversity in the workplace and to providing equal opportunity and affirmative action to employees and applicants. We are an Equal Opportunity Employment / Affirmative Action employer dedicated to workforce diversity and a drug-free and smoke-free workplace. Drug screening and background investigation are required, as allowed by law. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find network operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any network operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level network operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your network operator job on Zippia to find and recruit network operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit network operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a network operator applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and 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 operator

   Once you've found the network operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 operator 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a network operator?