What Is a Network Operations Engineer Salary?

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

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.

[Featured Image] A man working for a network operations engineer salary in an industry setting bends over his laptop.

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.

What does a network operations engineer do?

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.

How much does a network operations engineer make?

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].

ZippiaGlassdoorPayscaleSalary.comIndeed
$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. 

Factors that impact network operations engineer salary

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. 

Education

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

Certification

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]

Experience

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

Location

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.

Highest-paying cities for a network operations engineer

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

Highest-paying states for a network operations engineer

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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Industry

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.

Highest-paying industries for a network operations engineer

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

Company

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.

Skills of a network operations engineer

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.

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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.

Getting started in network operations with Coursera

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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Microsoft UX Design

Launch Your Career in UX/UI Design. Build job-ready UX design skills through hands-on projects and learn to use industry leading tools like Figma. No degree or experience required.

4.7

(276 ratings)

13,445 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 2 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

User Experience (UX), Prototype, Wireframe, Artificial Intelligence, Figma (Design Software)

Article sources

1

Zippia. “Network Operations / Network Engineer Salary, https://www.zippia.com/network-operations-network-engineer-jobs/salary/.” Accessed January 2, 2025.

Updated on
Written by:
Coursera Staff

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