How to Get a Job as a Network Engineer: 6 Tips
While soft skills are fundamental, network engineers must also possess various technical skills and have deep expertise in the latest industry trends and developments within the network engineering space. Three of the most significant skills you should continue to build on include networking, security, and troubleshooting skills. Network engineering is an ever-evolving field with a high demand for qualified network engineers. Burning Glass reported approximately 147,448 network engineering job posts in 2022, with the growth of roles expected to rise by 6.5% over the next decade. With that said, there’s never been a better time to transition into a network engineering job. Thankfully, we’ve created a guide on becoming a network engineer, whether you have transferable IT skills from a similar engineering background or are embarking on a career with little to no experience.
The salary of a network engineer can vary depending on several factors, including experience, location, industry, and employer. However, according to the data from the BLS, the median annual wage for network and computer systems administrators, which includes network engineers, was $80,600. The lowest 10 percent of network and computer systems administrators earned less than $52,810 https://remotemode.net/ per year, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $135,900 per year. For example, network engineers working in the information technology and finance industries tend to earn higher salaries compared to those in other industries. Overall, network engineering can be a lucrative field with opportunities for advancement and salary growth with experience and expertise.
Network Engineer Degrees
If you’re already pursuing a degree, check to see if your current curriculum includes certification preparation and examination. HipCV guide on steps on how to become a housekeeper along with certifications, training necessary to be a housekeeper. It’s important to note that licensing requirements can vary by state and industry, so it’s essential to research the specific requirements for your field and location. Another soft skill ambitious network engineers like you should have is the ability to identify and troubleshoot problems quickly and efficiently. You need to be able to think analytically, critically, and creatively and be able to solve complex problems under pressure. Remember that the career grants countless specialization choices; simply pick the one that calls your name.
Network technicians or engineers are in charge of developing the networks and systems within an organization. They install, configure, and support network equipment, including routers, proxy servers, switches, WAN accelerators, DNSs, and DHCP servers. Different organizations have different preferences for programming languages, but popular ones to consider include Python, Perl, Bash, and Golang.
Becoming a Network Engineer: Step 1
A junior network engineer with a certification or degree in cybersecurity, information technology, computer science, or a related field can earn an annual salary of $72,000 on average. After one to three years of experience, a network engineer’s average pay is $77,500 annually. Network engineers will typically need to use cybersecurity techniques within any given position. Students who complete four courses and earn four GIAC certifications in the SANS Technology Institute’s undergraduate how to become a windows network engineer certificate program in applied cybersecurity have an average starting salary of $94,000. Graduates of the SANS Technology Institute’s bachelor’s degree program in applied cybersecurity earn nine GIAC certifications and have an average starting salary of more than $110,000. The BLS also notes that the increasing adoption of cloud computing and virtualization technologies will likely create new job opportunities for network engineers with experience in these areas.
Since cloud computing is becoming the norm among most companies, cloud computing skills are viral in network engineering. Entry-level network engineers must be familiar with network types, topologies, and models. They should be well-versed in how protocols and standards enable network activity and know how to set up and configure wireless and wired network devices. You can gain these fundamental IT skills with IBM’s online course, Introduction to Networking and Storage. Earning industry-recognized certifications is a great way to verify your skills. And there are a variety of reasons to get certified, like differentiating yourself in a challenging job market, heightening career advancement opportunities and setting yourself on a lucrative career path.
Cross-Field Transition with Transferable Skills
The CCNP Enterprise certification can help you prove your skills in the ever-changing landscape of the enterprise network technologies. The certification covers core technologies and an enterprise focus area of your choice. As the backbone of the world wide web, and as the basis of most modern networks, the domain name system (DNS) is vital for any company that uses the Internet to conduct business.
