Discover the job responsibilities of a network operations engineer and the factors that influence a network operations engineer salary, including where you work, the industry you work in, and your credentials.
A network operations engineer, also known as a network operations center (NOC) engineer, looks after the day-to-day operations needed to manage and protect an organization’s IT services. This skilled role typically requires a bachelor’s degree and one to two years of relevant experience.
Learn more about the factors that impact the salary you might receive as a network operations engineer and what you can do to increase your earning potential.
A network operations engineer manages, maintains, and repairs equipment and systems in a network to ensure everything is operating effectively while quickly troubleshooting any issues. In this technical role, you’re an essential link between internal departments and the network operating team. Because of this, you may benefit from a technology background and excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
According to several reliable online job listing websites, a network operations engineer's salary varies from $67,043 to $115,020. Discover the average annual salaries via data from popular job listing sites as of January 2025 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Zippia | Glassdoor | Payscale | Salary.com | Indeed |
---|---|---|---|---|
$98,739 | $94,127 | $67,043 | $115,020 | $99,887 |
The specific salary you receive depends on factors such as where you work, your professional level, and your skills and education.
Salary varies based on many factors, from your credentials, your experience, the industry that employs you, the company you work for, and where you live. Explore these factors in more detail and how they each alter salary potential.
The standard requirement for a network operations engineer is a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science, telecommunications, information systems, or information technology. However, depending on your employer, you may enter the field with a high school diploma or associate degree if you have relevant experience. According to Zippia, 62 percent of network operations engineers have a bachelor’s degree [6].
As with many professions, the higher salary roles are generally won by those with a higher level of education. Discover the salary you can expect to earn based on your degree level, according to Zippia [6]:
High school diploma: $95,886
Associate degree: $97,063
Bachelor’s degree: $106,656
Master’s degree: $110,322
In addition to academic qualifications, certifications may give you access to more opportunities and increase your salary in the role of network operations engineer. Some options to consider and the average salaries that accompany these certifications include:
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): $90,000 [7]
Certified Network Defender (CND): $81,749 [8]
CCNP Service Provider: $107,000 [9]
CompTIA Network+: $78,000 [10]
Prior experience in the field is important to becoming a network operations engineer. One to two years is typically expected to build the relevant skills needed for the role, with more years of experience needed to gain more senior positions. Many network operations engineers start in entry-level roles such as network technician, network engineer, or network administrator to build experience. Internships serve as an opportunity to build experience while studying for a degree.
Glassdoor provides average salaries based on years of experience [2]:
0–1 years of experience: $73,457
1–3 years: $79,229
4–6 years: $84,578
7–9 years: $87,114
10–14 years: $96,603
15+ years: $107,242
Not all cities and states are equal regarding network operations center engineer salaries. Some pay higher than others, so you may compare salaries by location before accepting a job offer or even applying.
According to Zippia, the highest paying cities for a network operations engineer and the associated salaries are [1]:
San Francisco, CA: $128,383
Redmond, WA: $120,492
New York, NY: $108,733
Wilmington, DE: $103,884
Jersey City, NJ: $101,366
According to Zippia, the highest paying states for a network operations engineer and the associated salaries are [1]:
Washington: $119,919
California: $118, 901
New York: $108,460
Delaware: $103,776
Massachusetts: $103,142
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The industry factors into your average salary, with the technology industry generally having the highest salaries overall. Network operations engineers usually work within design and engineering teams, and industries that hire for this position include technology, the internet, finance, telecommunications, and manufacturing.
According to Zippia, the highest-paying industries and the corresponding average annual salary include [1]:
Technology: $99,128
Professional: $96,555
Manufacturing: $96,297
Internet: $94,631
Finance: $91,674
Within each industry, you may find companies that pay higher than others, so it may be beneficial to research which companies pay the highest salaries to maximize your potential income.
The top-paying companies, according to Glassdoor, include [2]:
Meta: $233,000
Google: $198,000
Box: $165,000
Yahoo: $149,000
Bloomberg: $143,000
*All annual base salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of January 2025 and does not include additional pay, such as commission and benefits.
Technical skills are important in the role of network operations engineer, as well as workplace skills such as communication and problem-solving. Technical skills you may require in this role include:
Network operations skills: Supporting and maintaining computer and network systems.
Border gateway protocol (BGP): Methods for exchanging information over different systems.
Open shortest path first (OSPF): Routing protocols for efficient data transfer.
Technical support: Helping others diagnose and troubleshoot problems with their equipment.
Transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP IP): A set of protocols for internet-connected devices.
Workplace skills, such as communication, analytical skills, and the ability to multitask, may also help you stand out to employers and excel in this role.
Working as a network operations engineer may lead to other opportunities, such as advancing to management-level positions or using your technical and workplace skills to move in slightly different directions. Some related job titles to consider and their average annual salaries include:
Network engineer: $96,408
Systems engineer: $110,712
Information technology manager: $121,979
Network administrator: $79,595
Senior network engineer: $128,720
Infrastructure project manager: $119,992
Information technology director: 148,575
Technology specialist: $85,220
*All salary information is sourced from Glassdoor as of January 2025.
The salary you can expect to earn working as a network operations engineer may vary depending on where you live, your experience, your industry, and your job title. Once in the field, you may boost your earnings by completing education and earning certifications, among other changes you could make, such as moving to a different industry or area.
If you’re thinking of upgrading your skills and credentials to apply for a network operations engineer role, a great place to start is with an online course to boost your resume. You might consider the IBM Introduction to Networking and Storage or the Google IT Support Professional Certificate on Coursera.
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Zippia. “Network Operations / Network Engineer Salary, https://www.zippia.com/network-operations-network-engineer-jobs/salary/.” Accessed January 2, 2025.
Glassdoor. “Network Operations Engineer Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/network-operations-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,27.htm.” January 2, 2025.
Payscale. “Average Network Operations Engineer Salary, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Network_Operations_Engineer/Salary.” Accessed January 2, 2025.
Salary.com. “Network Operations Engineer Salary in the United States, https://www.salary.com/research/salary/listing/network-operations-engineer-salary.” Accessed January 2, 2025.
Indeed. “Network Engineer Salary in the United States, https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Indeed/salaries/Network-Engineer.” Accessed January 2, 2025.
Zippia. “Best Colleges and Majors for Network Operations / Network Engineers, https://www.zippia.com/network-operations-network-engineer-jobs/education/.” Accessed January 2, 2025.
Payscale. “Salary for Certification: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Cisco_Certified_Network_Associate_(CCNA)/Salary.” Accessed January 2, 2025.
ZipRecruiter. “Certified Network Defender Jobs, https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/Certified-Network-Defender.” Accessed January 2, 2025.
Payscale. “Salary for Certification: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Cisco_Certified_Network_Professional_(CCNP)/Salary.” Accessed January 2, 2025..
Payscale. “Salary for Certification: CompTIA Network+, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=CompTIA_Network%2B/Salary.” Accessed January 2, 2025.
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