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Hourly Wage for Network Engineer II Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Network Engineer II?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Network Engineer II in the United States is $45, which translates to an annual salary of about $94,108.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $48 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $43 to $47 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Network Engineer II Salaries

A Network Engineer II'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.

How Experience Level Affects Network Engineer II Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Network Engineer II'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:

  • Network Engineer I (0-2 years): $78,880
  • Network Engineer II (2-4 years): $94,108
  • Network Engineer III (4-7 years): $113,843
  • Network Engineer IV (7+ years): $133,792
  • Network Engineer V (7-10 years): $153,184
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Network Engineer I0-2 years$78,880
Network Engineer II2-4 years$94,108
Network Engineer III4-7 years$113,843
Network Engineer IV7+ years$133,792
Network Engineer V7-10 years$153,184

Top Paying Cities for Network Engineer II

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $118,698
  • San Francisco: $117,399
  • Oakland: $114,925

What Skills Can Increase a Network Engineer II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Networking (Mentioned in 8.94% Job Postings): Ability to maintain, build and expand a personal and business contact list to grow one's career and business opportunities.
  • Network Infrastructure (Mentioned in 2.83% Job Postings): Refers to all of the resources of a network that make network or internet connectivity, management, business operations and communication possible.
  • Network Engineering (Mentioned in 2.22% Job Postings): A computer network is a digital telecommunications network which allows nodes to share resources. In computer networks, computing devices exchange data with each other using connections (data links) between nodes. These data links are established over cable media such as wires or optic cables, or wireless media such as Wi-Fi. Network computer devices that originate, route and terminate the data are called network nodes. Nodes are generally identified by network addresses, and can include hosts such as personal computers, phones, and servers, as well as networking hardware such as routers and switches. Two such devices can be said to be networked together when one device is able to exchange information with the other device, whether or not they have a direct connection to each other. In most cases, application-specific communications protocols are layered (i.e. carried as payload) over other more general communications protocols. This formidable collection of information technology requires skilled network management to keep it all running reliably.
Skills Demand Percentage
Networking 8.94%
Network Infrastructure 2.83%
Network Engineering 2.22%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

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 II's salary.

  • Azure: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Cybersecurity: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Azure $97,872
4%
AWS $96,931
3%
Cybersecurity $95,990
2%

Network Engineer II Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Network Engineer II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $105,348. While startup companies pay approximate $89,122.

Network Engineer II Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $89,122
Growth Stage 51~500 $94,257
Established 501~5000 $101,733
Enterprise 5000+ $105,348

Network Engineer II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Network Engineer II roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Network Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Network Engineer II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Network Engineer II

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$112,930$54.020%
Pharmaceuticals$112,930$54.020%
Energy & Utilities$108,224$52.015%
Internet$108,224$52.015%
Software & Networking$108,224$52.015%

How Education impacts an Network Engineer II's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Network Engineer II 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 II with a Bachelor's Degree is between $89,056 and $93,719.

Network Engineer II Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Network Engineer II
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 19.0%
Associates 17.3%
Bachelors 49.0%
Masters 13.8%
Doctorate 0.0%

Network Engineer II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Network Engineer II'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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$89,300
Average $94,108/year
$97,361
$7,442
Average $7,842/month
$8,113
$1,717
Average $1,810/week
$1,872
$43
Average $45/hour
$47
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $97,361 $8,113 $1,872 $47
Average $94,108 $7,842 $1,810 $45
25th Percentile $89,300 $7,442 $1,717 $43

Most common benefits for Network Engineer II

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Network Engineer II

Here are companies hiring for Network Engineer II and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Network Engineer II

1. What are the responsibilities of Network Engineer II?

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. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Network Engineer II

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.

1.)

Networking: Ability to maintain, build and expand a personal and business contact list to grow one's career and business opportunities.

2.)

Network Infrastructure: Refers to all of the resources of a network that make network or internet connectivity, management, business operations and communication possible.

3.)

Network Engineering: A computer network is a digital telecommunications network which allows nodes to share resources. In computer networks, computing devices exchange data with each other using connections (data links) between nodes. These data links are established over cable media such as wires or optic cables, or wireless media such as Wi-Fi. Network computer devices that originate, route and terminate the data are called network nodes. Nodes are generally identified by network addresses, and can include hosts such as personal computers, phones, and servers, as well as networking hardware such as routers and switches. Two such devices can be said to be networked together when one device is able to exchange information with the other device, whether or not they have a direct connection to each other. In most cases, application-specific communications protocols are layered (i.e. carried as payload) over other more general communications protocols. This formidable collection of information technology requires skilled network management to keep it all running reliably.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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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