Network Engineer Career Path and Career Goals: Become the best network engineer you can be
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Like many IT professions, network technology is also benefiting from the boom in the technology industry. As a result, many young professionals are curious about the network engineer career and what it entails. The problem is that a network engineer's career development is not linear.
In this article, we define what network engineers do, provide an overview of network engineer career goals and milestones, and introduce the different careers one can pursue with a career as a network engineer.
Career Prospects for Network Engineers: Why is Network Engineering a Good Career?
Network engineering is a good career, especially because it pays well. A career in network engineering also offers a variety of interesting roles, and the number of job openings in this field is expected to increase in the coming years. With this growth, experienced network engineers have the opportunity to develop new technical skills and make more money.
Salary and job prospects for network engineers
According to PayScale, the average annual salary for a network engineer is $76,961. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classifies network engineers as network and computer systems administrators, and the BLS estimates that employment of network professionals will increase by five percent by 2030. This means that around 24,900 new jobs are created every year.
What is the typical career path of a network engineer?
Level 1: Entry level network engineer
To qualify for this entry-level position, you must have a bachelor's degree in information technology, computer engineering, or a related field. As an assistant to senior members of your team, you will help plan, design, install and troubleshoot corporate IT networks. At this stage, you should also understand the Internet Protocol and be able to choose the right hardware for the work.
According to PayScale, the average base salary for an entry-level network engineer is $61,747 per year, with annual bonuses ranging from $498 to $8,000. Another common name for this entry-level position is computer network support specialist, and a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification can increase your earning potential.
Level 2: Network Engineer
With your entry-level experience, you will be ready for the associate-level network engineer position. Not only will you plan and build network infrastructure, but you will also play an important role in protecting your customers' security systems from attacks. You should have in-depth knowledge of the network architecture, system software and all relevant configurations.
Next to yours Bachelor's degree You should pursue professional certification in CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+, which will prepare you well for the next level of a network engineer's career. According to PayScale, the average annual salary for a network engineer is $76,873, with bonuses that can reach up to $12,000.
Stufe 3: Senior Network Engineer
Once you have five to seven years of experience, you can apply for senior network engineer positions. The technical and analytical skills on your resume should include detailed knowledge of AWS, Azure, Cisco ASA software, the Domain Name System (DNS), Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), firewalls, and wide area networks (WANs).
At this stage of your career, excellent communication skills and the ability to manage a network of employees are critical. These soft skills will help you oversee network configuration, manage network hardware installation, and implement network solutions with your team. PayScale estimates that senior network engineers earn $103,523 per year, not including bonuses of up to $20,000.
Level 4: Network Engineer IV
As you move up the ranks, your job titles become more specific. Companies hiring Level 4 network engineers are looking for a network architect capable of analyzing wide and local area networks (WANs and LANs) for network problems, securing security systems, conducting site surveys, and acting as a network administrator.
The demand for network engineers at this level is high. The average salary for a computer network architect is $120,520, according to the BLS. You'll need between five and ten years of work experience to qualify, and one of the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certifications will help you specialize your skills and earn a well-paying salary.
Level 5: Senior Network Engineer
A principal network engineer or principal systems engineer oversees the day-to-day operations of an entire computer system. At this high level of competency, many candidates have a master's degree and multiple top certifications. ZipRecruiter estimates that a Principal Systems Engineer makes an average of $141,317 per year, with top earners making over $200,000.
Career Path of a Network Engineer: Key Milestones
To advance on the network engineer career path, you must achieve certain milestones. In this area there are milestones in training, milestones in experience and more concrete career goals for Network engineer . Here are the five most important items to check off your list.
- Meet the minimum educational requirements. The first milestone is getting started with a bachelor's degree in network technology or an equivalent formal educational qualification. You can also learn the basics of networking at certain coding bootcamps, and Automation Workz is a good place to start.
- Get certified. Several reputable providers such as Cisco and Juniper offer networking certifications to help you demonstrate your skills. These certifications not only boost your confidence, but also make you more employable.
- Gain practical experience. Mid-level and senior-level network engineers have a lot of experience. Starting out as an intern, trainee or network support specialist is an important foundation for this professional development of every network engineer.
- Find an industry mentor. Some network specialists get stuck on one of the middle rungs of the career ladder. To avoid this fate, consider finding an experienced colleague who can help you improve your skills, polish your resume, and apply for better network engineering jobs.
- Apply for higher positions or at larger companies. There are two viable paths for your career as a network engineer. If you don't want to move up in a small company, you can try a lateral move at a networking giant like IBM, Juniper, Intel, Microsoft or Cisco.
Plan your career path as a network engineer
While the career path of a network engineer may seem easy, it is not. Anyone who wants to pursue a career as a network engineer needs proper planning. Below you will find tips on how you can prepare yourself for a future role in this profession.
Understand your current situation
Whether you're already in the industry or just starting out in your career, you need to take stock of your current skills, education, and experience. Read real job advertisements and find out what new skills and additional knowledge you need to acquire to fulfill the tasks. Then develop a strategy to acquire these skills and knowledge and, if necessary, take a certification exam.
Do well in your current role
If you're seeking a promotion, you need to show that you're proficient in your current role and ready for a new challenge. Look for opportunities to show that you can take on additional tasks. Get involved in innovative projects at work or fill in for a sick colleague to see if you can take over their job. Don't be afraid to go beyond the norm.
Quantify your success
Being good at your job may not be enough. You may only get noticed if you show your value to them IT efforts of your company. Keep a record of how you contributed to various networking initiatives and share the results with your manager. If you e.g. For example, if you introduced a new process that reduces server costs, you should tell your employer that it was you.
Show leadership qualities
You can be a candidate for leadership or supervisory roles if you bring innovative ideas and concepts. Attend all meetings and make your voice heard, help the company recruit by recommending people from your network, and offer to mediate team disputes. You want to show your employer that you can be a responsible and effective leader.
Choose a specialization and stick with it
Don't be a jack of all trades. Study emerging ones Technology areas in network engineering and become an expert in one of these areas. Whether you want to get into network services product management or delve into cloud architecture, there are professional certification options that can make you a better candidate for specialized tasks.
Popular career paths in network engineering
| Professional background | skills | Average salary | Career prospects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Analyst | Operating systems, relational databases, SQL servers | $99,270 | 7% |
| Network security engineer | Routing protocols, operating systems, VPNs | $93,362 | 33% |
| Systemadministrator | Relational databases, shell scripting, database design | $64,054 | 5% |
| Network support specialist | Critical thinking, troubleshooting, math | $62,760 | 7% |
| Network Administrator | Modems, antennas, routing protocols, configuration | $61,949 | 5% |
Next steps for aspiring network engineers
The professional development of a network engineer largely depends on his specialization. If network architecture is your specialty, you can become a network manager or network architect, where you will focus primarily on building networks and developing technology plans. Whatever you do, stay focused on your career goals and never stop learning.
It's always a good idea to look far into the future and decide where you want your Career want to finish as a network engineer. Are you happy with a technical support role, or do you have bigger ambitions? If you plan to one day become a chief technology officer (CTO) or chief information officer (CIO), be prepared for the fact that you will have to put in the work and keep moving up.
Network Engineer Career Path FAQ
What skills do you need to become a network engineer?
To become a network engineer, you must be able to troubleshoot and solve network problems and understand the basic concepts of network engineering. In addition to these technical skills, you must be able to manage your time effectively and be able to communicate and collaborate with others.
Which areas are comparable to network technology?
Areas similar to network engineering include network security management, system administration, systems engineering, and network design and management. These areas of information technology are closely related in that they all deal with network infrastructure and enterprise computer systems.
What is the most common qualification for network engineering?
The most common qualification for network engineering is a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. It's also worth noting that computer science certifications are common qualifications if you want to pursue a network engineering job and become a network specialist. Some of the best network engineering certification providers include Cisco, Juniper, and CompTIA, which offer a wide range of certification courses.
