As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Network Engineer I in the United States is $38, which translates to an annual salary of about $78,882.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
Network Engineer I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $88,659 | $7,388 | $1,705 | $43 |
| Average | $78,882 | $6,574 | $1,517 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,283 | $6,107 | $1,409 | $35 |
A Network Engineer I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Network Engineer I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Network Engineer I | 0-2 years | $78,882 |
| Network Engineer II | 2-4 years | $94,110 |
| Network Engineer III | 4-7 years | $113,846 |
| Network Engineer IV | 7+ years | $133,798 |
| Network Engineer V | 7-10 years | $153,190 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Networking | 8.24% |
| Network Infrastructure | 2.66% |
| Telecommunications | 1.87% |
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Network Engineer I's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Consulting | $85,981 | |
| Linux | $82,826 | |
| Project Management | $82,037 |
Network Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $88,154. While startup companies pay approximate $74,569.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $74,569 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $78,864 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $85,124 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $88,154 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Network Engineer I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Network Engineer I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $73,721 and $77,818.
| Typical Education for Network Engineer I | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
| No Diploma | 0.6% |
| High School | 18.6% |
| Associates | 21.1% |
| Bachelors | 46.2% |
| Masters | 13.2% |
| Doctorate | 0.3% |
Understanding how a Network Engineer I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $88,659 | $7,388 | $1,705 | $43 |
| Average | $78,882 | $6,574 | $1,517 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,283 | $6,107 | $1,409 | $35 |
Salaries for a Network Engineer I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $69,310 in 2023 to around $68,945 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Network Engineer I salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $69,310 |
| 2024 | $69,398 |
| 2025 | $68,945 |
| 2026 |
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|
| 2027 |
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Develops and deploys plans and designs of network systems that will meet an organization's requirements for performance, security, and compliance with relevant standards and regulations. Conducts network architecture design, feasibility, and cost studies. Defines monitoring, maintenance, expansion, contingency, and recovery plans and strategies to ensure the network is responsive to changes in demand. Troubleshoots network issues and develops appropriate solutions, resources, and deployment processes. Keeps informed of the latest technologies to enhance knowledge of networking hardware, software, and best practices. May be certified in vendor-specific products. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering or equivalent. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Networking: Ability to maintain, build and expand a personal and business contact list to grow one's career and business opportunities.
Network Infrastructure: Refers to all of the resources of a network that make network or internet connectivity, management, business operations and communication possible.
Telecommunications: Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio or optical. It has its origin in the desire of humans for communication over a distance greater than that feasible with the human voice.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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