Network Planning Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Network Planning Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Network Planning Engineer in the United States is $117,222 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $56.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $134,244
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $108,933 to $126,132
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $101,386

Key Factors That Influence Network Planning Engineer Salaries

A Network Planning 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 Network Planning Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Network Planning 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): $80,767
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $96,359
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $116,567
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $136,996
  • Expert (over 8 years): $156,851
Levels Salary
Network E... Level Network Planning Engineer$80,767
Network E... Level Network Planning Engineer$96,359
Network P... Level Network Planning Engineer$116,567
Network E... Level Network Planning Engineer$136,996
Network E... Level Network Planning Engineer$156,851

Top Paying Cities for Network Planning 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: $147,852
  • San Francisco: $146,233
  • Oakland: $143,152

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Networking (Mentioned in 8.34% Job Postings): Ability to maintain, build and expand a personal and business contact list to grow one's career and business opportunities.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.67% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
  • Telecommunications (Mentioned in 1.77% Job Postings): 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Networking 8.34%
Computer Science 2.67%
Telecommunications 1.77%

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 Planning Engineer's salary.

  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • OSPF: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Innovation $121,911
4%
Flexibility $120,739
3%
OSPF $120,739
3%

Network Planning Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Network Planning Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 130% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Network Planning Engineer positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Network Planning Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Network Planning Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$175,833$85.050%
Internet$164,111$79.040%
Pharmaceuticals$158,250$76.035%
Financial Services$152,389$73.030%
Biotechnology$146,528$70.025%

How Education impacts a Network Planning Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Network Planning Engineers 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 Planning Engineer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $108,674 and $114,176).

Network Planning Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Network Planning Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.5%
High School 22.5%
Associates 13.8%
Bachelors 45.3%
Masters 15.7%
Doctorate 1.0%

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

Understanding how a Network Planning 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
$108,933
Average $117,222/year
$126,132
$9,078
Average $9,769/month
$10,511
$2,095
Average $2,254/week
$2,426
$52
Average $56/hour
$61
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $126,132 $10,511 $2,426 $61
Average $117,222 $9,769 $2,254 $56
25th Percentile $108,933 $9,078 $2,095 $52

Most common benefits for Network Planning Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Network Planning Engineer

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

Find Your Next Network Planning Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Network Planning Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Network Planning Engineer

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

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Network Planning Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst