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Network operator salary
Average network operator salary
$54,148
Average Network Operator Salary Overview
The average salary for a network operator in the United States is $54,148 per year. Factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and industry demand significantly impact this figure. For instance, network operators in tech-heavy regions may see higher earnings compared to those in less populated areas.
Where Can Network Operators Earn More?
States such as California, Texas, and New York consistently report higher salaries for network operators, often exceeding the national average. As technology continues to evolve, opportunities in sectors like telecommunications and cybersecurity are expanding, offering competitive salaries and potential career growth.
Salary Insights by Experience
Entry-level network operators can expect to start around $40,000, while those with several years of experience may earn upwards of $70,000. Additionally, specialized certifications can enhance earning potential, making it advantageous for professionals to invest in their education.
Conclusion
Understanding the salary landscape for network operators is essential for career planning. By recognizing the variables that influence salaries, prospective employees can make informed decisions about their career paths and opportunities in the field.
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Where can a Network Operator earn more?
Network operator salary estimates from across the web
Average network operator salary by state
The average network operator salary in Virginia, Delaware, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average network operator salary states are North Dakota, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for network operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $81,210 | $39.04 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $75,231 | $36.17 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $73,528 | $35.35 |
| 5 | Delaware | $76,881 | $36.96 |
| 6 | Maryland | $74,064 | $35.61 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $75,362 | $36.23 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $71,141 | $34.20 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $62,575 | $30.08 |
| 10 | New York | $74,154 | $35.65 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $70,378 | $33.84 |
| 12 | Vermont | $63,263 | $30.41 |
| 13 | California | $70,151 | $33.73 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $61,171 | $29.41 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $63,589 | $30.57 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $66,937 | $32.18 |
| 17 | Alabama | $57,770 | $27.77 |
| 18 | Maine | $63,530 | $30.54 |
| 19 | Ohio | $59,679 | $28.69 |
| 20 | Indiana | $59,859 | $28.78 |
| 21 | Michigan | $59,742 | $28.72 |
| 22 | Alaska | $50,345 | $24.20 |
| 23 | Missouri | $55,939 | $26.89 |
| 24 | Washington | $56,919 | $27.36 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $54,904 | $26.40 |
| 26 | Florida | $55,580 | $26.72 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $57,800 | $27.79 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $56,763 | $27.29 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $54,068 | $25.99 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $51,235 | $24.63 |
| 31 | Texas | $53,695 | $25.81 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $55,749 | $26.80 |
| 33 | Arizona | $52,787 | $25.38 |
| 34 | Oregon | $51,603 | $24.81 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $50,663 | $24.36 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $48,554 | $23.34 |
| 37 | Iowa | $51,702 | $24.86 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $54,544 | $26.22 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $53,122 | $25.54 |
| 40 | Nevada | $49,216 | $23.66 |
| 41 | Illinois | $52,361 | $25.17 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $50,946 | $24.49 |
| 43 | Idaho | $50,420 | $24.24 |
| 44 | Colorado | $44,958 | $21.61 |
| 45 | Utah | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| 46 | Georgia | $49,323 | $23.71 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $46,910 | $22.55 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $45,472 | $21.86 |
| 49 | Kansas | $46,991 | $22.59 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $45,155 | $21.71 |
| 51 | Montana | $40,443 | $19.44 |
Highest paying cities for network operators
The highest-paying cities for network operators are Arlington, VA, Wilmington, DE, and Wayne, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington, VA | $82,096 | $39.47 |
| 2 | Wilmington, DE | $76,931 | $36.99 |
| 3 | Wayne, NJ | $74,974 | $36.05 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $70,285 | $33.79 |
| 5 | Rochester, NY | $68,471 | $32.92 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $63,497 | $30.53 |
| 7 | Sarasota, FL | $55,626 | $26.74 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $54,612 | $26.26 |
| 9 | Chandler, AZ | $52,736 | $25.35 |
| 10 | West Des Moines, IA | $50,884 | $24.46 |
| 11 | Rock Island, IL | $50,023 | $24.05 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,236 | $23.67 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $49,056 | $23.58 |
| 14 | Idaho Falls, ID | $48,780 | $23.45 |
| 15 | Bellevue, NE | $45,961 | $22.10 |
| 16 | Colorado Springs, CO | $45,611 | $21.93 |
| 17 | Tulsa, OK | $44,811 | $21.54 |
Network operator salary details
A network operator's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $98,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a network operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $98,000 | $8,167 | $47 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| Average | $54,148 | $4,512 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying network operator jobs
The highest paying types of network operators are senior network engineer, network operations manager, and network manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOC Technician | $45,884 | $3,824 | $22.06 | 48,270 |
| Administrative Technical Support | $46,753 | $3,896 | $22.48 | 186,858 |
| Network Security Engineer | $88,322 | $7,360 | $42.46 | 91,892 |
| Network Support Technician | $48,622 | $4,052 | $23.38 | 120,245 |
| Network Support Engineer | $86,406 | $7,200 | $41.54 | 113,476 |
| Desktop/Network Support | $49,480 | $4,123 | $23.79 | 119,310 |
Top companies hiring network operators now:
Which companies pay network operators the most?
Network operator salaries at State Street and Valero Energy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average network operator salary at companies like Novetta and Accenture are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Street | $84,534 | $40.64 |
| 2 | Valero Energy | $70,721 | $34.00 |
| 3 | Novetta | $68,042 | $32.71 |
| 4 | Accenture | $66,849 | $32.14 |
| 5 | Infinity Systems Engineering | $66,727 | $32.08 |
| 6 | University of Rochester | $63,601 | $30.58 |
| 7 | Ip Services | $59,377 | $28.55 |
| 8 | Raytheon Technologies | $55,775 | $26.81 |
| 9 | TEKsystems | $53,761 | $25.85 |
| 10 | Vencore | $51,704 | $24.86 |
| 11 | RigNet | $51,504 | $24.76 |
| 12 | Globalstar | $51,298 | $24.66 |
| 13 | Peraton | $51,169 | $24.60 |
| 14 | Criterion Systems | $51,069 | $24.55 |
| 15 | Zayo Group | $50,268 | $24.17 |
| 16 | TENICA Global Solutions | $49,818 | $23.95 |
| 17 | Freddie Mac | $48,843 | $23.48 |
| 18 | iHeartMedia | $47,505 | $22.84 |
| 19 | Star2Star Communications | $42,912 | $20.63 |
| 20 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $42,322 | $20.35 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Network Operator salary by industry
The average network operator salary varies across industries:
- The average network operator salary in the government industry is $60,844, the highest of any industry.
- The average network operator salary in the finance industry is $59,807.
- Network operators in the telecommunication industry earn an average salary of $42,152, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for network operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $60,844 | $29.25 |
| 2 | Technology | $59,807 | $28.75 |
| 3 | Finance | $51,415 | $24.72 |
| 4 | Hospitality | $50,222 | $24.15 |
| 5 | Retail | $47,346 | $22.76 |
| 6 | Telecommunication | $42,152 | $20.27 |
High paying network operator jobs
Network operator salary trends
The average network operator salary has risen by $9,881 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average network operator earned $44,267 annually, but today, they earn $54,148 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for network operators over the last decade.
Compare network operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average network operator salary over time
Compare network operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Network operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,100 | $26.03 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $52,400 | $25.17 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $51,200 | $24.60 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $50,600 | $24.32 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $49,700 | $23.90 | +2.4% |
Recently added network operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin | Network Operations (Top-Secret Clearance) | Manassas, VA | 06/22/2025 | $93,800 |
| Duquesne Light Company | Network Operator 1/C | Union, PA | 06/21/2025 | $115,307 |
| Teksynap | Network Operations Watch (Night Shift) | Andrews Air Force Base, MD | 06/06/2025 | $85,000 |
| Chickasaw Nation Industries | Network Operations SME | Washington, DC | 05/25/2025 | $70,000 |
| Chickasaw Nation Industries | Network Operations SME | Fort Washington, MD | 05/25/2025 | $70,000 |
| Peyton Resource Group | Noc/Telecom Network Operator (Video Monitoring)-Contract, Onsite | Dallas, TX | 04/26/2025 | $52,175 |
| Caci International | Network Operations-Tier 2 Netops | Reston, VA | 04/22/2025 | $82,100 |
| Mediacom Communications Corporation | Network Operator | West Des Moines, IA | 04/22/2025 | $29,218 |
| State Street | Network Operations, Srassc | Burlington, MA | 03/30/2025 | $52,000 |
| Caci International Inc. | NOC Tier 1-Network Operations Center | Washington, DC | 03/13/2025 | $80,725 |
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