Network Engineer Salary Guide : Full Earning Potentials [2025]

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A network engineer is a technology expert who designs, implements, and maintains computer networks that provide these services, like voice, data, video, and wireless communications within an organization. Their salaries range from $75,724 to $96,300 in the U.S. and average ₹18.8 lakhs in India. Network engineers make sure all these systems work efficiently and securely. They are vital components of the organizational IT infrastructure.

Who is a Network Engineer?

Secrets to Become a Network Engineer

Network engineers perform a range of activities to ensure optimal performance of network systems. Some of their major responsibilities include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Designing Network Infrastructure: Building the network architecture according to organizational requirements.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Setting up routers, switches, firewalls, and other network devices Installation and configuration of hardware.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Performance Monitored: Tracking network's performance metrics to work towards reliability.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Troubleshooting problems: Identify and fix hardware and software issues.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Implementing Security Measures: Working with IT teams to safeguard sensitive data from breaches</li>
</ul>

What does a Network Engineer do?

To become a successful network engineer, one usually requires:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">An educational background in a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or similar field is typical.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Technical Skills: Familiarity with networks and protocols TCP/IP, equipment experience (such as routers or switches), experience in security aspects.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Certifications: Relevant certifications such as <a href="https://www.netcomlearning.com/certifications/cisco-certified-network-associate-ccna" target="_blank">Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)</a> or <a href="https://www.netcomlearning.com/certifications/comptia-network+">CompTIA Network+</a> can enhance job prospects.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Soft Skills: Other important ones are problem-solving, communication, and the ability to work under pressure.</li>
</ul>

What are the Skills and Background Required for a Network Engineer Role?

A network engineer performs a number of critical functions:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Network Design and Implementation: Engineers design new networks or optimize existing ones according to business requirements.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Maintenance and Support: They regularly update network configurations and perform maintenance tasks to prevent downtime.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Documentation: Records of network configuration, processes, and procedures shall be kept with detail to ease troubleshooting and possible future upgrades.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Collaboration: Working closely with other IT professionals to enhance overall network security and performance.</li>
</ul>

What is the Role of a Network Engineer?

Yes, network engineering is typically one of the more lucrative careers because of its specificity and what can be meant by a very critical role for organizations. With more reliance on complex networking solutions by businesses, the demand for skilled network engineers tends to increase more and more.

Is Network Engineer a High Paying Job?

The average salary for network engineers varies significantly depending on experience, location, and specific roles. In the United States, it usually ranges between&nbsp; $85,619 and more than $103,493 a year. In India, it is around ₹4,90,000 a year.(<a href="https://www.salary.com/research/salary/listing/network-engineer-salary" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">1</a>)

What is the Average Salary of a Network Engineer?

Several factors influence the salary of network engineers:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Experience Level: More experienced engineers command higher salaries.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Role Specificity: Specialized roles may command higher wages.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Employer Type Salaries can differ depending on working for large companies or small-scale companies.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Location: The variation in salaries partly depends on geography.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Network Engineer Salary: Based on Experience</h3>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f2f2; width: 71.6818%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.706%;">Years of Experience</td>
<td style="width: 23.9457%;">Avg Salary (India)</td>
<td style="width: 18.1868%;">Avg Salary (USA)</td>
<td style="width: 24.2816%;">Source</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.706%;">Entry Level (0-2)</td>
<td style="width: 23.9457%;">₹3,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 18.1868%;">$60,000</td>
<td style="width: 24.2816%;">Coursera</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.706%;">Mid Level (3-5)</td>
<td style="width: 23.9457%;">₹6,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 18.1868%;">$90,000</td>
<td style="width: 24.2816%;">
Motion
Recruitment
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.706%;">Senior Level (5+)</td>
<td style="width: 23.9457%;">₹12,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 18.1868%;">$120,000</td>
<td style="width: 24.2816%;">Shine</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Network Engineer Salary: Based on Role</h3>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f2f2; width: 64.9344%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.2731%;">Role</td>
<td style="width: 27.4337%;">Avg Salary (India)</td>
<td style="width: 26.2725%;">Avg Salary (USA)</td>
<td style="width: 28.8852%;">Source</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.2731%;">Entry Level</td>
<td style="width: 27.4337%;">₹3,50,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.2725%;">$65,000</td>
<td style="width: 28.8852%;">Shine</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.2731%;">Mid Level</td>
<td style="width: 27.4337%;">₹7,50,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.2725%;">$95,000</td>
<td style="width: 28.8852%;">Motion Recruitment</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.2731%;">Senior Level</td>
<td style="width: 27.4337%;">₹15,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.2725%;">$130,000</td>
<td style="width: 28.8852%;">Zippia</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Network Engineer Salary: Based on Employer/Company</h3>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f2f2; width: 66.9189%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.1539%;">Employer Type</td>
<td style="width: 24.9109%;">Avg Salary (India)</td>
<td style="width: 23.6957%;">Avg Salary (USA)</td>
<td style="width: 26.2476%;">Source</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.1539%;">Large Corporations</td>
<td style="width: 24.9109%;">₹10,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 23.6957%;">$110,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.2476%;">Coursera</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.1539%;">Startups</td>
<td style="width: 24.9109%;">₹5,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 23.6957%;">$80,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.2476%;">Shine</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.1539%;">Government Jobs</td>
<td style="width: 24.9109%;">₹6,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 23.6957%;">$70,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.2476%;">Motion Recruitment</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Network Engineer Salary: Based on Skill-set</h3>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f2f2; width: 66.3632%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 27.5789%;">Skill-set</td>
<td style="width: 28.3046%;">Avg Salary (India)</td>
<td style="width: 26.8531%;">Avg Salary (USA)</td>
<td style="width: 17.2731%;">Source</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 27.5789%;">Basic Networking</td>
<td style="width: 28.3046%;">₹4,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.8531%;">$70,000</td>
<td style="width: 17.2731%;">Shine</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 27.5789%;">Advanced Security</td>
<td style="width: 28.3046%;">₹10,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.8531%;">$120,000</td>
<td style="width: 17.2731%;">Coursera</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 27.5789%;">Cloud Networking</td>
<td style="width: 28.3046%;">₹9,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.8531%;">$115,000</td>
<td style="width: 17.2731%;">Zippia</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Network Engineer Salary: Based on Certifications</h3>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f2f2; width: 66.1251%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.2206%;">Certification</td>
<td style="width: 24.846%;">Avg Salary (India)</td>
<td style="width: 23.8472%;">Avg Salary (USA)</td>
<td style="width: 26.0946%;">Source</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.2206%;">CCNA</td>
<td style="width: 24.846%;">₹5,50,000</td>
<td style="width: 23.8472%;">$85,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.0946%;">Coursera</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.2206%;">CCNP</td>
<td style="width: 24.846%;">₹9,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 23.8472%;">$110,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.0946%;">Motion Recruitment</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.2206%;">CompTIA Security+</td>
<td style="width: 24.846%;">₹7,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 23.8472%;">$95,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.0946%;">Shine</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Network Engineer Salary: Based on Location</h3>
<h4>Top Cities in India</h4>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f2f2; width: 65.9663%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 38.4302%;">City</td>
<td style="width: 34.5137%;">Avg Salary</td>
<td style="width: 26.9256%;">Source</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 38.4302%;">Bangalore</td>
<td style="width: 34.5137%;">₹8,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.9256%;">Shine</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 38.4302%;">Hyderabad</td>
<td style="width: 34.5137%;">₹7,50,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.9256%;">Shine</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 38.4302%;">Mumbai</td>
<td style="width: 34.5137%;">₹9,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.9256%;">Shine</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 38.4302%;">Pune</td>
<td style="width: 34.5137%;">₹6,50,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.9256%;">Shine</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 38.4302%;">Chennai</td>
<td style="width: 34.5137%;">₹7,20,000</td>
<td style="width: 26.9256%;">Shine</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>Top Cities in USA</h4>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f2f2; width: 66.4426%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 30.2379%;">City</td>
<td style="width: 24.9515%;">Avg Salary</td>
<td style="width: 44.8282%;">Source</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 30.2379%;">San Francisco</td>
<td style="width: 24.9515%;">$130,000</td>
<td style="width: 44.8282%;">Coursera</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 30.2379%;">New York</td>
<td style="width: 24.9515%;">$120,000</td>
<td style="width: 44.8282%;">Zippia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 30.2379%;">Seattle</td>
<td style="width: 24.9515%;">$115,000</td>
<td style="width: 44.8282%;">Motion Recruitment</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 30.2379%;">Austin</td>
<td style="width: 24.9515%;">$100,000</td>
<td style="width: 44.8282%;">Zippia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 30.2379%;">Chicago</td>
<td style="width: 24.9515%;">$95,000</td>
<td style="width: 44.8282%;">Coursera</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Network Engineer Salary Based on Education Background</h3>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f2f2; width: 66.6808%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 27.2985%;">Education Level</td>
<td style="width: 28.4031%;">Avg Salary (India)</td>
<td style="width: 27.1408%;">Avg Salary (USA)</td>
<td style="width: 17.0419%;">Source</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 27.2985%;">Bachelor's Degree</td>
<td style="width: 28.4031%;">₹6,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 27.1408%;">$80,000</td>
<td style="width: 17.0419%;">Shine</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 27.2985%;">Master's Degree</td>
<td style="width: 28.4031%;">₹10,00,000</td>
<td style="width: 27.1408%;">$115,000</td>
<td style="width: 17.0419%;">Zippia</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Key Factors Affecting Network Engineer Salary

Some leading companies actively seeking network engineers include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cisco Systems</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Amazon Web Services</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Google</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Microsoft</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">IBM</li>
</ul>

Top Companies Hiring Network Engineers in USA

In India’s competitive market for network engineers:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">TCS</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Infosys</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Wipro</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">HCL Technologies</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Accenture</li>
</ul>

Top Companies Hiring Network Engineers in India

Here’s an overview of average salaries for network engineers across various industries:
 
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f2f2;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Industry</td>
<td>Average Salary (Annual)</td>
<td>Source</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Information Technology</td>
<td>$130,000</td>
<td>Glassdoor</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Telecommunications</td>
<td>$126,900</td>
<td>Payscale</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aerospace and Defense</td>
<td>$123,000</td>
<td>Indeed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Financial Services</td>
<td>$118,000</td>
<td>Robert Half</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Government</td>
<td>$111,000</td>
<td>Bureau of Labor Statistics</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Consulting</td>
<td>$131,400</td>
<td>Hired</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cloud Computing</td>
<td>$120,000</td>
<td>LinkedIn Salary Insights</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Healthcare</td>
<td>$117,000</td>
<td>Salary.com</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Education</td>
<td>$96,300</td>
<td>PayScale</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>E-commerce</td>
<td>$125,900</td>
<td>Glassdoor</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Network Engineer Salary in Top 10 Industries

Network engineer salaries depend on various parameters including:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Experience level</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Specific job role</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Company size and type</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Geographic location</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Educational qualifications</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Certifications obtained</li>
</ol>

Parameters on which the Network Engineer Salary Depends

Since network engineers play a very critical role in maintaining the backbone of an organization's IT infrastructure, they are well paid. They not only facilitate smooth operations but also protect highly sensitive data from all cyber threats. The increasing amount of usage of technology for communication and management of operations, coupled with the complexity that arises from increasingly complex networks, continues to increase the demand for such skilled professionals.

Why are Network Engineers Paid so Much?

The future for network engineers is bright as technology is rapidly evolving. With cloud computing and cybersecurity becoming the most important concerns for organizations around the world, network engineering will continue to be important. Professionals in this field will need to keep learning and adapting to stay relevant. To learn more about programming join the <a href="https://www.netcomlearning.com/course/cisco-programming-for-network-engineers-prne-v2.0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CISCO Programming for Network Engineers</a>.

Future of Being a Network Engineers

To get a competitive salary as a network engineer.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Acquire relevant educational qualifications.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Get industry-recognized certifications.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Gain practical experience through internships or entry-level positions.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Keep abreast with the emerging networking technologies.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Consider specializing in high-demand areas like cybersecurity or cloud networking.</li>
</ul>

How to Obtain a Competitive Network Engineer Salary?

A career as a network engineer provides challenging and rewarding opportunities, both financially and professionally. As technology is increasingly becoming the backbone of most industries while the requirement for security also continues to increase—network engineering is an indispensable field that is bound to see significant growth in the next few years. If one is interested in continuous education and skill development in Network engineer, its preferable to take up <a href="https://www.netcomlearning.com/vendor/cisco-training" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cisco training</a>, so that you can be well positioned in this ever-changing job market.

Conclusion

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Introduction

Discover the latest insights on network engineer salaries in 2025. Explore average earnings, factors affecting pay, top companies hiring, and future trends in this crucial IT role.

Uncover the comprehensive guide to network engineer salaries in 2025. Learn about average salaries based on experience, location, skills, and industry trends. Find out what it takes to secure a competitive salary in this high-demand field.