Post job

What is a senior network technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Laura Kier
The average senior network technician salary is $49,896. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an computer science major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a senior network technician. Senior network technicians with a Security 5 Certification 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 senior network technician?

Laura Kier

Network Design and Administration Instructor

Students graduating from the Computer Network Design and Administration program will enter the job market with a solid foundation in networking technologies. Above that they should also be able to develop and demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Networking has a strong emphasis on teamwork and being able to communicate well with customers, co-workers and teammates is vital. Attaining certifications in Cisco, Linux, Windows, and security will also help the student stand out within the industry (classes in the program help to learn the knowledge needed to attain certifications). Students should participate in any local or online communities and groups to enhance skills and knowledge and find networking opportunities.
ScoreSenior Network TechnicianUS Average
Salary
3.9

Avg. Salary $49,896

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 8.78%

Black or African American 8.83%

Hispanic or Latino 12.52%

Unknown 5.08%

White 64.48%

Gender

female 14.49%

male 85.51%

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

Senior network technician career paths

Key steps to become a senior network technician

  1. Explore senior network technician education requirements

    Most common senior network technician degrees

    Bachelor's

    49.8 %

    Associate

    33.3 %

    Master's

    5.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior network technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Switches8.74%
    Troubleshoot8.16%
    Routers5.23%
    Network Hardware4.38%
    Windows Server3.79%
  3. Complete relevant senior network technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior network technicians 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 senior network technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior network technician resumes.
  4. Gain additional senior network technician certifications

    Senior network technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific senior network technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for senior network technicians include Security 5 Certification and CompTIA Network+.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research senior network technician duties and responsibilities

    • Manage 10 servers , 2 UNIX , 6 Win2k3 and 2 Win2k.
    • Set up and manage firewall and content base web filtering.
    • Recommend, engineer and manage office systems, including centralize productivity and communication systems such as e-mail and centralize desktop environments.
    • Connect and configure LAN and WLAN networks and perform security updates on network devices and routers.
  6. Get senior network technician experience

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

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior network technician 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 senior network technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable senior network technician resume templates

    Build a professional senior network technician 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 senior network technician resume.
    Senior Network Technician Resume
    Senior Network Technician Resume
    Senior Network Technician Resume
    Senior Network Technician Resume
    Senior Network Technician Resume
    Senior Network Technician Resume
    Senior Network Technician Resume
    Senior Network Technician Resume
    Senior Network Technician Resume
  8. Apply for senior network technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior network technician 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 senior network technician job

Zippi

Are you a senior network technician?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average senior network technician salary

The average senior network technician salary in the United States is $49,896 per year or $24 per hour. Senior network technician salaries range between $31,000 and $78,000 per year.

Average senior network technician salary
$49,896 Yearly
$23.99 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do senior network technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Senior network technician reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

I love the fact that I have self taught myself by trouble shooting issues for fifteen years while working in corrections as the Video court officer with no prior experince or degree

Cons

I dislike the fact that I don't get paid as a Video technician although I'm called to fix issues


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

talking to people

Cons

outside weather, I work as a network technician and the main problem I always encounter is the cold weather.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Pros

Nothing much but skill and work. Knowledge can take you places.


Working as a senior network technician? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

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.

Browse computer and mathematical jobs