As of July 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Network Engineer V in the United States is $74, which translates to an annual salary of about $153,178.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Network Engineer V'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 V'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 III | 4-7 years | $113,840 |
| Network Engineer IV | 7+ years | $133,786 |
| Network Engineer V | 7-10 years | $153,178 |
| Network Engineer VI | 10-12 years | $191,658 |
| Network Engineering Supervisor | 12+ years | $120,724 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Network Engineer Vs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Networking | 9% |
| Network Infrastructure | 2.75% |
| Network Engineering | 2.26% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Decision Making
|
$159,305 |
4%
|
|
Coordination
|
$159,305 |
4%
|
|
Network Engineering
|
$159,305 |
4%
|
|
Network Management
|
$159,305 |
4%
|
|
Program Management
|
$159,305 |
4%
|
|
Innovation
|
$157,773 |
3%
|
Network Engineer V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $171,328. While startup companies pay approximate $144,893.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $144,893 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $153,247 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $165,450 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $171,328 |
For Network Engineer V roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Network Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Network Engineer V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace & Defense | $183,814 | $88.0 | 20% |
| Financial Services | $183,814 | $88.0 | 20% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $183,814 | $88.0 | 20% |
| Software & Networking | $183,814 | $88.0 | 20% |
| Telecom | $183,814 | $88.0 | 20% |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Network Engineer Vs enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Network Engineer V with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $138,031 and $144,546).
Network Engineer V Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 2.2% |
| High School | 22.7% |
| Associates | 9.5% |
| Bachelors | 45.4% |
| Masters | 19.8% |
| Doctorate | 0.4% |
Understanding how a Network Engineer V'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 July 01, 2026Salaries for a Network Engineer V can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $124,963 in 2023 to around $120,383 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Network Engineer V salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $124,963 |
| 2024 | $122,467 |
| 2025 | $120,383 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Network Engineer V roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
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. Usually is certified in vendor-specific products. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering or equivalent. Typically reports to a manager. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ 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.
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.
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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