How to Get Started
as a Network Engineer

Network engineering is a top field in the Tech sector, offering a wide range of roles, and giving professionals real opportunities to grow in this fast-developing field. If you want to pursue a career as a network engineer, now is the best time to start.

This guide will highlight how to become a network engineer. It will also cover their expected roles and responsibilities, estimated salaries, and projected job growth.

Network engineers, sometimes called network architects, are skilled technology professionals charged with maintaining network connectivity. Network connectivity covers voice, data, VOIP, wireless network services, and videos.

Network architects are responsible for designing, developing, implementing, and maintaining computer networks in an organization. A network engineer ensures all systems function as they should by providing appropriate network infrastructure, performance, and security to end-users.

Data science is not directly related to network engineering, but it is important to keep in mind that data plays a role in almost all areas in the tech and non-tech fields. Network engineers use company data and information technology to create functional networks such as wide area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), extranets, and intranets.

It usually takes around four years in a bachelor’s degree program to become a network engineer. Although there are other educational pathways, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for most jobs in this field. For some career paths, you may need to pursue a graduate degree or additional certification.

However, it is sometimes possible to become a network engineer within a shorter timeframe. Coding bootcamps offer short, intensive programs that teach technical skills through hands-on learning opportunities. On average, they run for about 13 weeks.

Your personal goals will determine when and where you study network engineering. As previously mentioned, there are several paths to becoming a network engineer. You can attend various colleges or universities around the country, or you can attend a shorter, more flexible program at a coding bootcamp, either online or in person.

Most employers require a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a similar discipline. Knowledge of networks and information technology systems is also important, as this will help you plan, build, install, and troubleshoot networks.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for network engineers was $116,780 in May 2020. PayScale reports, moreover, that an entry-level network engineer earns about $60,098 per year.

Employment for these professionals is also expected to increase by five percent between 2020 and 2030, also according to BLS. Although this is slightly worse than average, the occupation will continue to grow as long as organizations need to update their IT networks.

A network engineer has the important role of planning, implementing, and managing critical IT system networks used by an organization. Most businesses’ networks include computers, phones, routers, extranet, and intranet. The precise network requirements will differ depending on the size, location, and type of the business.

Below is a rundown of a network engineer’s most important tasks.

The principal role of a network engineer is to support and optimize processes needed to maintain an organization’s hardware and software. The wide and local area networks must work properly so that company employees have secure access to the Internet.

A network administrator is also responsible for maintaining computer networks and other physical and cloud computing environments. This may include applications software, system software programs, configurations, and hardware.

Network engineers are responsible for performing data recovery and backups when required. This is a very important aspect of the role, which is to protect software, data, and hardware by coordinating security measures for the entire network.

A network engineer is also expected to troubleshoot, diagnose and resolve software and hardware problems with the network and systems. They will monitor system performance to determine suitable adjustments and work with users of the network to solve problems.

Network engineers regularly run checks with local computers and network systems to ensure they are performing well, including coordinating network use and access. They are responsible for selecting, installing, and maintaining data components to meet organization needs, such as firewalls, DNS servers, switches and routers, and other hardware used by the network.

There are many skills and certifications that you may need during your network engineering career. Specific skills and certifications vary by position, but the most important ones in the field are listed below.

Certifications are a form of additional training that a network engineer may undergo to increase her earning potential and employability. Employers prefer recognized certifications, such as Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE), and Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).

There continues to be demand for network engineers. With experts in this area hard to come by, organizations of all kinds value these professionals and compensate them well. For this reason alone, it is a good decision to pursue a career as a network engineer. Not only will you earn a high salary, but you will be in a dynamic field full of opportunities for professional growth.