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IT Senior Network Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an IT Senior Network Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an IT Senior Network Engineer in the United States is $114,668 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

However, an IT Senior Network Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $132,649
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $108,449 to $124,080
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $102,787
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence IT Senior Network Engineer Salaries

An IT Senior Network Engineer'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 IT Senior Network Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an IT Senior Network Engineer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $111,983
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $112,164
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $112,617
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $113,342
  • Expert (over 8 years): $114,945
Levels Salary
Entry Level IT Senior Network Engineer$111,983
Intermediate Level IT Senior Network Engineer$112,164
Senior Level IT Senior Network Engineer$112,617
Specialist Level IT Senior Network Engineer$113,342
Expert Level IT Senior Network Engineer$114,945
View as Graph

How Do IT Senior Network Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 IT Senior Network Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $126,960.
  • California: $126,479.
  • Massachusetts: $124,793.

Top Paying Cities for IT Senior Network Engineers

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: $144,631
  • San Francisco: $143,047
  • Oakland: $140,033

What Skills Can Increase an IT Senior Network Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Networking (Mentioned in 9.26% Job Postings): Ability to maintain, build and expand a personal and business contact list to grow one's career and business opportunities.
  • Azure (Mentioned in 3.33% Job Postings): Microsoft Azure, often referred to as Azure, is a cloud computing service operated by Microsoft for application management via Microsoft-managed data centers.
  • Active Directory (Mentioned in 1.48% Job Postings): Active Directory (AD) is Microsoft's proprietary directory service. It runs on Windows Server and enables administrators to manage permissions and access to network resources.
Skills Demand Percentage
Networking 9.26%
Azure 3.33%
Active Directory 1.48%
See More Skills

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 an IT Senior Network Engineer's salary.

  • Network Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Open Source: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Computer Networks: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Network Engineering $135,308
18%
Open Source $128,428
12%
Computer Networks $124,988
9%
Get Latest Data

IT Senior Network Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For IT Senior Network Engineer 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 Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, IT Senior Network Engineer positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view IT Senior Network Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an IT Senior Network Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$137,602$66.020%

How Education impacts an IT Senior Network Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many IT Senior Network Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 IT Senior Network Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $113,942 and $120,761).

IT Senior Network Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for IT Senior Network Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 18.4%
Associates 19.7%
Bachelors 44.9%
Masters 15.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

IT Senior Network Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an IT Senior Network Engineer'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 September 01, 2026
$108,449
Average $114,668/year
$124,080
$9,037
Average $9,556/month
$10,340
$2,086
Average $2,205/week
$2,386
$52
Average $55/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $124,080 $10,340 $2,386 $60
Average $114,668 $9,556 $2,205 $55
25th Percentile $108,449 $9,037 $2,086 $52

Most common benefits for IT Senior Network Engineer

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

Common company salaries for IT Senior Network Engineer

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

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FAQ about IT Senior Network Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for IT Senior Network Engineer?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for IT Senior Network Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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