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Network engineer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$99,130median pay per year, or $47.66 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $62,640lowest 10% earn less
  2. $78,01025th percentile
  3. $99,130median
  4. $126,64075th percentile
  5. $155,050top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Network and computer systems administrators, the BLS group that includes network engineers, had a median wage of $99,130 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment to fall from 2025 to 2035 while all occupations grow[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-4.1%[2]
Openings per year
13,400[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do network engineers make?

The median wage for network and computer systems administrators was $99,130 a year, or $47.66 an hour[1]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5]. The average was $103,680 a year and $49.85 an hour[8].

Level Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][9] $62,640 $30.11
25th percentile[4][9] $78,010 $37.51
Median[1] $99,130 $47.66
75th percentile[4][9] $126,640 $60.89
90th percentile[4][9] $155,050 $74.55

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $62,640, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $155,050[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

The figures cover about 314,340 people paid a wage or salary[11]. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and benefits[12]. Only 0.2% of workers in this group were self-employed in 2025[13].

Pay by state and city

Maryland had the highest median wage at $118,290[14]. New Jersey was next at $116,420 and Massachusetts third at $110,980[14]. Texas had the most jobs at 34,840, followed by Florida at 26,890 and California at 26,170[15].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $133,360[16]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont came second at $129,680, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria third at $125,430[16]. New York-Newark-Jersey City had the most jobs at 17,690, ahead of Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington at 11,740[17].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Maryland[14]$118,2909,230
New Jersey$116,4209,280
Massachusetts$110,9808,270
District of Columbia$110,9701,320
Virginia$109,61012,430
California$106,44026,170
Connecticut$105,8802,170
New York$105,81018,220
Washington$103,9108,600
Nevada$103,4401,980
Colorado$103,3708,360
Rhode Island$103,1001,060
Oregon$102,0004,880
Minnesota$101,8704,550
Hawaii$101,4501,490
Texas$101,24034,840
New Hampshire$100,2301,660
Illinois$100,0809,820
Ohio$97,57015,130
Alaska$97,500920
Georgia$97,1709,190
Utah$95,8202,050
North Carolina$95,23013,850
Florida$95,20026,890
Delaware$94,200850
Michigan$92,7506,900
South Carolina$92,5203,580
Idaho$91,8801,010
New Mexico$90,7901,220
Arizona$90,2805,810
Louisiana$90,1601,790
Tennessee$88,1005,070
Kentucky$87,0202,800
North Dakota$86,450930
Pennsylvania$86,1407,750
Vermont$86,020560
Nebraska$84,7001,560
Indiana$84,5504,310
Iowa$84,5003,110
Oklahoma$83,9902,580
Maine$83,890920
Wisconsin$83,6508,470
Kansas$83,3404,100
Arkansas$81,5901,750
Alabama$81,4005,040
Montana$80,950850
Missouri$80,8705,810
Mississippi$79,9901,380
Wyoming$75,220610
South Dakota$75,0101,690
West Virginia$74,4901,510

How to become a network engineer

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the usual education for entry, with no related work experience and no typical on-the-job training[7].

The field changes often, so administrators may keep taking courses and attend IT conferences[20]. With experience, they may advance to computer network architect or to IT manager jobs[21]. O*NET places the job in Job Zone Three, which means medium preparation is needed[22]. Our facts do not give the length or cost of a degree.

BLS also lists useful qualities, including analytical, communication, creative, multitasking, problem-solving and technical skills[23][24][25][26][27][28].

What network engineers do

O*NET describes the work as installing, configuring and maintaining an organization's networks, operating systems and servers. It also covers monitoring those systems, checking logs and backups, and managing user access[29]. Job titles reported by workers include network administrator, network analyst and network engineer[30]. Common tasks are[31]:

Where they work

Computer systems design and related services was the largest employer, with 16% of these workers in 2025[32]. Manufacturing, healthcare providers and government agencies are also top employers[33]. Administrators often work alongside computer support specialists, database administrators, network architects and IT managers[34].

Full-time work is typical, and some people work more than 40 hours a week[35]. Evening, night or weekend work may be needed to monitor and update systems[35].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 4.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 323,600 to 310,400 jobs[2]. That is a loss of about 13,200 jobs[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[3].

BLS names one factor. DevOps engineers and similar roles, including software developers, are doing more of the duties. Workers are also using third-party automation tools or AI for routine tasks[36].

Even so, about 13,400 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include workers who leave the field as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, 1.8% of workers leave the labor force and 2.9% move to a different occupation[37].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show pay well above the all-occupations median[1][5]. The usual entry route is a bachelor's degree, and some employers want product certifications[7][19]. Employment is projected to shrink[2], and BLS points to DevOps roles and automation as a factor[36]. Openings are still expected each year[6]. The task list suits someone who likes solving technical problems and talking with users about them[31].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a network engineer make an hour?
For network and computer systems administrators, the median wage was $47.66 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $30.11 and the 90th was $74.55[9].
What degree do you need to be a network engineer?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree for entry[7]. Some employers require a postsecondary certificate or an associate's degree[18].
Is network administration in demand?
BLS projects employment to decline 4.1% from 2025 to 2035[2], while all occupations grow 3.5%[3]. About 13,400 openings a year are still projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for network and computer systems administrators?
Maryland, with a median of $118,290 a year in May 2025[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Network and Computer Systems Administrators in the US was $99,130 per year and $47.66 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Network and Computer Systems Administrators is projected to decline 4.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 323,600 to 310,400 jobs (a change of -13,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Network and Computer Systems Administrators: 10th percentile $62,640, 25th percentile $78,010, 75th percentile $126,640, 90th percentile $155,050. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 13,400 openings for Network and Computer Systems Administrators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Network and Computer Systems Administrators: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Network and Computer Systems Administrators was $103,680 per year and $49.85 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Network and Computer Systems Administrators: 10th percentile $30.11, 25th percentile $37.51, 75th percentile $60.89, 90th percentile $74.55. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 314,340 people were employed as Network and Computer Systems Administrators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 0.2% of Network and Computer Systems Administrators were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for Network and Computer Systems Administrators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Network and Computer Systems Administrators jobs: Texas 34,840; Florida 26,890; California 26,170; New York 18,220; Ohio 15,130. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Network and Computer Systems Administrators (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $133,360; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $129,680; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $125,430; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $122,950; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $119,390; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $118,810; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $117,200; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $116,770. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Network and Computer Systems Administrators jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 17,690 (median $119,390); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 11,740 (median $103,260); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 9,920 (median $125,430); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 8,770 (median $106,290); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 6,950 (median $103,170); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 6,760 (median $116,770). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 15-1244.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET description of Network and Computer Systems Administrators. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET 15-1244.00 sample job titles reported by workers: LAN Administrator (Local Area Network Administrator), LAN Specialist (Local Area Network Specialist), Network Administrator (Network Admin), Network Analyst, Network Coordinator, Network Engineer, Network Manager, Network Specialist. O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET task list for Network and Computer Systems Administrators. O*NET OnLine
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of network and computer systems administrators in 2025: Computer systems design and related services 16%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Network and Computer Systems Administrators: Occupational substitution, productivity change - share decreases as job duties are increasingly performed by DevOps engineers and similar roles, including software developers, and as workers increasingly use third-party automation tools or artificial intelligence (AI) to automate routine tasks. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Network and Computer Systems Administrators: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 2.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.