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.
Network engineers perform a range of activities to ensure optimal performance of network systems. Some of their major responsibilities include:
A network engineer performs a number of critical functions:
To become a successful network engineer, one usually requires:
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.
The average salary for network engineers varies significantly depending on experience, location, and specific roles. In the United States, it usually ranges between $85,619 and more than $103,493 a year. In India, it is around ₹4,90,000 a year.(1)
Several factors influence the salary of network engineers:
Years of Experience | Avg Salary (India) | Avg Salary (USA) | Source |
Entry Level (0-2) | ₹3,00,000 | $60,000 | Coursera |
Mid Level (3-5) | ₹6,00,000 | $90,000 |
Motion Recruitment |
Senior Level (5+) | ₹12,00,000 | $120,000 | Shine |
Role | Avg Salary (India) | Avg Salary (USA) | Source |
Entry Level | ₹3,50,000 | $65,000 | Shine |
Mid Level | ₹7,50,000 | $95,000 | Motion Recruitment |
Senior Level | ₹15,00,000 | $130,000 | Zippia |
Employer Type | Avg Salary (India) | Avg Salary (USA) | Source |
Large Corporations | ₹10,00,000 | $110,000 | Coursera |
Startups | ₹5,00,000 | $80,000 | Shine |
Government Jobs | ₹6,00,000 | $70,000 | Motion Recruitment |
Skill-set | Avg Salary (India) | Avg Salary (USA) | Source |
Basic Networking | ₹4,00,000 | $70,000 | Shine |
Advanced Security | ₹10,00,000 | $120,000 | Coursera |
Cloud Networking | ₹9,00,000 | $115,000 | Zippia |
Certification | Avg Salary (India) | Avg Salary (USA) | Source |
CCNA | ₹5,50,000 | $85,000 | Coursera |
CCNP | ₹9,00,000 | $110,000 | Motion Recruitment |
CompTIA Security+ | ₹7,00,000 | $95,000 | Shine |
City | Avg Salary | Source |
Bangalore | ₹8,00,000 | Shine |
Hyderabad | ₹7,50,000 | Shine |
Mumbai | ₹9,00,000 | Shine |
Pune | ₹6,50,000 | Shine |
Chennai | ₹7,20,000 | Shine |
City | Avg Salary | Source |
San Francisco | $130,000 | Coursera |
New York | $120,000 | Zippia |
Seattle | $115,000 | Motion Recruitment |
Austin | $100,000 | Zippia |
Chicago | $95,000 | Coursera |
Education Level | Avg Salary (India) | Avg Salary (USA) | Source |
Bachelor's Degree | ₹6,00,000 | $80,000 | Shine |
Master's Degree | ₹10,00,000 | $115,000 | Zippia |
Some leading companies actively seeking network engineers include:
In India’s competitive market for network engineers:
Here’s an overview of average salaries for network engineers across various industries:
Industry | Average Salary (Annual) | Source |
Information Technology | $130,000 | Glassdoor |
Telecommunications | $126,900 | Payscale |
Aerospace and Defense | $123,000 | Indeed |
Financial Services | $118,000 | Robert Half |
Government | $111,000 | Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Consulting | $131,400 | Hired |
Cloud Computing | $120,000 | LinkedIn Salary Insights |
Healthcare | $117,000 | Salary.com |
Education | $96,300 | PayScale |
E-commerce | $125,900 | Glassdoor |
Network engineer salaries depend on various parameters including:
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.
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 CISCO Programming for Network Engineers.
To get a competitive salary as a network engineer.
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 cisco training, so that you can be well positioned in this ever-changing job market.