How to become a network engineer

1. 1Earn an IT or computer degree

   Time: 2 to 4 yearsCost: $9,072 to $40,380 in public in-state tuitionSources 1, 6

   Most network architects hold a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology, computer science, computer engineering or a related field, though some employers accept an associate degree in networking plus experience. Choose courses in TCP/IP, routing and switching, network security, Linux and scripting. Programs with hands-on labs, internships or Cisco Networking Academy courses give you the practical work employers look for.

2. 2Get an entry-level IT job

   Time: 1 to 2 yearsSources 1

   Common first jobs are help desk technician, IT support specialist, network technician or NOC (network operations center) analyst. These jobs teach you how real users, cables, switches and tickets work. Ask to shadow the network team, help with switch replacements and Wi-Fi surveys, and document what you learn. Showing you can troubleshoot calmly is how you move up.

3. 3Earn Network+ and the CCNA

   Time: 2 to 6 months of study eachCost: $300 (CCNA); Network+ voucher price set by CompTIASources 3, 2

   CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) is a vendor-neutral exam of up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, with a passing score of 720 on a 100-900 scale; CompTIA recommends A+ and 9 to 12 months of hands-on work in a junior network support or administrator role first. Cisco's CCNA (200-301) is a 120-minute exam covering network fundamentals, IP connectivity, security and automation. It has no formal prerequisites and is valid for three years.

4. 4Move into network administration or engineering

   Time: 2 to 4 yearsSources 1

   With a CCNA and some experience, you can apply for network administrator or junior network engineer roles. Take on projects that build design skills: new site rollouts, VLAN and routing redesigns, firewall migrations, SD-WAN deployments and cloud connectivity. Learn Python and an automation tool, since many teams now manage configurations as code. BLS notes that network architects often have prior experience as network or systems administrators.

5. 5Add advanced certifications and specialize

   Time: OngoingCost: $700 for CCNP Enterprise examsSources 4

   For senior engineer and architect jobs, many employers look for professional-level certifications. Cisco's CCNP Enterprise requires the 350-401 ENCOR core exam ($400) and one concentration exam ($300), such as advanced routing, SD-WAN, design or automation, and is valid for three years. Others specialize in security, data center, wireless or cloud networking with certifications from the vendors their employer uses.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Routing and switching

Understanding how protocols like OSPF and BGP choose paths is what lets you design networks that stay up and fix them when they do not.

Methodical troubleshooting

Outages can come from a cable, a config typo or a carrier problem, and you need to narrow the cause quickly while users wait.

Network security

Firewalls, segmentation and VPN design are now part of nearly every network change, not a separate job.

Scripting and automation

Pushing the same change to hundreds of switches by hand is slow and error-prone, so teams expect Python or automation tools.

Clear documentation

Diagrams and change plans let others support the network at 2 a.m. and are often required before a change is approved.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, writing, speaking.

Training cost

$9.4K–$40.7K

Before financial aid

Time

About 9 years

Typical path

Median pay

$134,050

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

Under 1 year

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: 2 years of an associate degree in networking at the College Scorecard median public in-state tuition of $4,536/yr ($9,072), plus the CCNA exam ($300). High: 4 years of a bachelor's degree at $10,095/yr ($40,380), plus the CCNA exam ($300). Not included: the Network+ voucher (price set by CompTIA and not confirmed for 2026), books, lab equipment or practice labs, CCNP exams ($400 core plus $300 concentration), and living costs.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Cybersecurity analyst$129,180 median

  Network engineers often move into security roles by adding firewall and security certifications and working on incident response.

• IT manager or CTO

  BLS notes experienced network architects can move into computer and information systems management, which usually means leading teams and budgets; some get an MBA or IT management master's.

• Software engineer$135,980 median

  Engineers with strong automation and programming skills sometimes shift into network software or platform engineering roles.

• Computer engineer$161,740 median

  Designing networking hardware typically requires a degree in computer or electrical engineering.