Becoming a Network Engineer via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Kaplan University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering networking courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
network administrators,
network engineers,
network specialists,
network managers,
networking specialists, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 3,303,690 people employed as
computer and mathematical science employees alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$76,290.
Computer and information systems managers make on average $120,640
per year and there are about 287,210
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Kaplan University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Network Engineer
- Call Centers
- Government buildings
- Military Facilities
- Hospitals
- Retail Corporation
- Universities
- IT Firms
- Software and Development Firms
- Internet Server Farms
- Technology Firms
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Network Engineer
- High compensation rates
- Wide knowledge of internet
- Operate computers at good speed
- Know how to access information easily
- Fast growing companies
- Learn about other fields by working in your own
- Fast paced environment
- Help companies grow and expand
- Meet new people
- Collaborate with people in related fields
Potential Drawbacks
- Work late hours
- work alone a lot
- Spend less time with kids
- Travel a lot
- High stress levels
- Attend a lot of meetings
- Face different types of customers
- Be patient with other people
- Complete work within time frame
- Face new challenges and problems
Related Professions to Consider
- Network Security Architect
- Converged Network Engineer
- Senior Network Engineer
- Network Security Engineer
- Prinicipal Network Engineer
- Network Engineer - Lead
- Network Engineer - Voice
- Network Design Engineer
- Mid-level Network Engineer
- Network Developer
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Network Engineer
- What is DHCP?
- What are some of the problems associated with operating a switched LAN?
- Name Some Of The Ways Of Combining Tcp/ip Traffic And Sna Traffic Over The Same Link?
- What sort of cabling is suitable for Fast Ethernet protocols?
- What is a Class D IP address?
- What are your strengths?
- What is a Firewall?
- What are your goals?
- How would I put my socket in non-blocking mode?
- What are RAW sockets?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Network Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Cisco Network Engineers
- Computer Programmer
- Commissioning Engineer
- UNIX System Engineer
- Senior Network & Security Engineer
- Citrix System Engineer with VMware knowledge
- Field Operations Engineer
- Planning Engineer
Network Engineer Training books
Network Engineer (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Ccomputer forensics
- Computer networking
- Computer programming
- Computer science
- Computer studies
- Information assurance
- Graphics & multimedia
- Information systems security
- Information technology
- Internet technology
Network Engineer Salary Information
Category: Computer and information systems managers
| Total # Employed in the US |
287,210 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$58.0/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $33.61 |
$42.9 |
$54.67 |
$69.03 |
$0.0 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$120,640 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $69,900 |
$89,240 |
$113,720 |
$143,590 |
$0 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.6% |
4.5% |
15.7% |
9.2% |
45.6% |
22.2% |
2.2% |
|
Computer and information systems managers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| North Dakota |
$67.25/hr
|
$139,880
|
| Oklahoma |
$66.36/hr
|
$138,020
|
| Colorado |
$65.73/hr
|
$136,720
|
| Missouri |
$63.92/hr
|
$132,950
|
| Florida |
$62.41/hr
|
$129,820
|
| District of Columbia |
$62.29/hr
|
$129,560
|
| Connecticut |
$60.66/hr
|
$126,160
|
| Mississippi |
$60.15/hr
|
$125,110
|
| Utah |
$58.75/hr
|
$122,200
|
| Virginia |
$57.9/hr
|
$120,440
|
| North Carolina |
$57.89/hr
|
$120,420
|
| Wyoming |
$57.85/hr
|
$120,320
|
| Hawaii |
$57.32/hr
|
$119,230
|
| Nebraska |
$56.97/hr
|
$118,490
|
| Oregon |
$56.47/hr
|
$117,470
|
| Tennessee |
$55.96/hr
|
$116,390
|
| Kansas |
$54.69/hr
|
$113,760
|
| Delaware |
$54.6/hr
|
$113,570
|
| Idaho |
$54.19/hr
|
$112,720
|
| South Carolina |
$53.76/hr
|
$111,820
|
| Arkansas |
$51.07/hr
|
$106,220
|
| Montana |
$50.7/hr
|
$105,460
|
| New York |
$50.68/hr
|
$105,410
|
| New Hampshire |
$50.25/hr
|
$104,530
|
| Puerto Rico |
$50/hr
|
$104,000
|
| Indiana |
$49.84/hr
|
$103,660
|
| Alabama |
$49.15/hr
|
$102,230
|
| Louisiana |
$48.35/hr
|
$100,580
|
| California |
$47.75/hr
|
$99,320
|
| Guam |
$47.67/hr
|
$99,150
|
| New Mexico |
$47.62/hr
|
$99,040
|
| Maine |
$46.92/hr
|
$97,590
|
| Ohio |
$46.75/hr
|
$97,230
|
| Kentucky |
$46.15/hr
|
$95,990
|
| Washington |
$46.06/hr
|
$95,810
|
| Maryland |
$45.12/hr
|
$93,850
|
| New Jersey |
$44.77/hr
|
$93,120
|
| West Virginia |
$44.44/hr
|
$92,430
|
| Michigan |
$44.25/hr
|
$92,030
|
| Alaska |
$43.3/hr
|
$90,050
|
| Wisconsin |
$42.62/hr
|
$88,650
|
| Iowa |
$42.54/hr
|
$88,480
|
| South Dakota |
$41.12/hr
|
$85,530
|
| Massachusetts |
$38.85/hr
|
$80,820
|
| Pennsylvania |
$38.46/hr
|
$80,000
|
| Nevada |
$37.32/hr
|
$77,630
|
Category: Computer software engineers, systems software
| Total # Employed in the US |
385,200 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$46.45/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28.65 |
$35.83 |
$44.94 |
$56.01 |
$67.28 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$96,620 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $59,600 |
$74,520 |
$93,470 |
$116,510 |
$139,930 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.3% |
2.6% |
9.8% |
5.5% |
48.7% |
29.3% |
3.8% |
|
Computer software engineers, systems software — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$52.52/hr
|
$109,240
|
| North Carolina |
$48.95/hr
|
$101,820
|
| Missouri |
$48.88/hr
|
$101,670
|
| North Dakota |
$48.15/hr
|
$100,150
|
| Connecticut |
$47.4/hr
|
$98,590
|
| Nebraska |
$46.85/hr
|
$97,450
|
| Oklahoma |
$46.81/hr
|
$97,370
|
| Mississippi |
$46.14/hr
|
$95,980
|
| Florida |
$45.73/hr
|
$95,120
|
| Delaware |
$45.66/hr
|
$94,970
|
| Wyoming |
$45.54/hr
|
$94,730
|
| Oregon |
$45.51/hr
|
$94,670
|
| Tennessee |
$45.5/hr
|
$94,630
|
| Ohio |
$45.3/hr
|
$94,230
|
| District of Columbia |
$45.09/hr
|
$93,790
|
| Idaho |
$44.36/hr
|
$92,280
|
| Kansas |
$44.26/hr
|
$92,050
|
| Virginia |
$44.12/hr
|
$91,770
|
| Utah |
$44.04/hr
|
$91,590
|
| Pennsylvania |
$42.64/hr
|
$88,700
|
| Hawaii |
$41.52/hr
|
$86,350
|
| Indiana |
$41.31/hr
|
$85,930
|
| Alabama |
$41.14/hr
|
$85,560
|
| Iowa |
$41.05/hr
|
$85,380
|
| Arkansas |
$40.42/hr
|
$84,070
|
| Puerto Rico |
$40.36/hr
|
$83,950
|
| New York |
$40.13/hr
|
$83,470
|
| South Carolina |
$39.97/hr
|
$83,140
|
| Michigan |
$39.83/hr
|
$82,850
|
| Montana |
$39.51/hr
|
$82,170
|
| Maine |
$38.98/hr
|
$81,070
|
| Nevada |
$38.68/hr
|
$80,450
|
| South Dakota |
$38.55/hr
|
$80,180
|
| Maryland |
$38.36/hr
|
$79,790
|
| Wisconsin |
$37.81/hr
|
$78,640
|
| New Hampshire |
$37.49/hr
|
$77,980
|
| Kentucky |
$37.46/hr
|
$77,910
|
| New Mexico |
$37.34/hr
|
$77,670
|
| Louisiana |
$36.94/hr
|
$76,830
|
| Guam |
$36.9/hr
|
$76,760
|
| Massachusetts |
$36.52/hr
|
$75,960
|
| Washington |
$35.42/hr
|
$73,670
|
| Alaska |
$35.36/hr
|
$73,550
|
| New Jersey |
$34.35/hr
|
$71,440
|
| California |
$34.32/hr
|
$71,400
|
| West Virginia |
$32.45/hr
|
$67,500
|
Category: Computer support specialists
| Total # Employed in the US |
540,560 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$22.77/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $13.08 |
$16.5 |
$21.3 |
$27.54 |
$34.95 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$47,360 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $27,200 |
$34,320 |
$44,300 |
$57,290 |
$72,690 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.0% |
12.5% |
29.4% |
16.0% |
33.1% |
7.2% |
0.9% |
|
Computer support specialists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$28.96/hr
|
$60,230
|
| Florida |
$27.85/hr
|
$57,920
|
| Delaware |
$26.89/hr
|
$55,920
|
| District of Columbia |
$26.27/hr
|
$54,630
|
| Colorado |
$25.52/hr
|
$53,080
|
| Oklahoma |
$25.27/hr
|
$52,570
|
| Mississippi |
$24.98/hr
|
$51,950
|
| Connecticut |
$24.9/hr
|
$51,790
|
| North Dakota |
$24.62/hr
|
$51,210
|
| Kansas |
$24.53/hr
|
$51,010
|
| Arkansas |
$23.27/hr
|
$48,400
|
| North Carolina |
$23.01/hr
|
$47,860
|
| Nebraska |
$22.93/hr
|
$47,700
|
| Wyoming |
$22.76/hr
|
$47,330
|
| Indiana |
$22.71/hr
|
$47,240
|
| Idaho |
$22.64/hr
|
$47,100
|
| Alaska |
$22.63/hr
|
$47,070
|
| New York |
$22.42/hr
|
$46,630
|
| Puerto Rico |
$22.3/hr
|
$46,380
|
| Oregon |
$22.1/hr
|
$45,960
|
| Ohio |
$21.73/hr
|
$45,190
|
| Tennessee |
$21.47/hr
|
$44,650
|
| Montana |
$21.32/hr
|
$44,350
|
| Virginia |
$21.25/hr
|
$44,210
|
| New Hampshire |
$20.79/hr
|
$43,250
|
| Utah |
$20.79/hr
|
$43,250
|
| Wisconsin |
$20.78/hr
|
$43,220
|
| Massachusetts |
$20.74/hr
|
$43,150
|
| Guam |
$20.59/hr
|
$42,830
|
| Michigan |
$20.31/hr
|
$42,250
|
| Alabama |
$20.16/hr
|
$41,940
|
| Louisiana |
$20.12/hr
|
$41,850
|
| South Carolina |
$20.07/hr
|
$41,750
|
| Washington |
$20.02/hr
|
$41,640
|
| Maine |
$19.75/hr
|
$41,090
|
| Kentucky |
$19.54/hr
|
$40,630
|
| Hawaii |
$19.39/hr
|
$40,320
|
| New Mexico |
$19.33/hr
|
$40,200
|
| Iowa |
$19.31/hr
|
$40,160
|
| Maryland |
$19.13/hr
|
$39,780
|
| Nevada |
$18.59/hr
|
$38,670
|
| New Jersey |
$18.2/hr
|
$37,850
|
| South Dakota |
$18.03/hr
|
$37,500
|
| California |
$18.02/hr
|
$37,480
|
| Pennsylvania |
$17.95/hr
|
$37,350
|
| West Virginia |
$16.89/hr
|
$35,140
|
Category: Computer systems analysts
| Total # Employed in the US |
512,720 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$38.67/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $22.66 |
$28.88 |
$37.06 |
$46.73 |
$57.29 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$80,430 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $47,130 |
$60,070 |
$77,080 |
$97,200 |
$119,170 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.6% |
6.4% |
17.0% |
10.5% |
44.3% |
18.7% |
2.5% |
|
Computer systems analysts — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Virginia |
$43.33/hr
|
$90,140
|
| North Dakota |
$42.92/hr
|
$89,270
|
| Missouri |
$42.74/hr
|
$88,900
|
| Mississippi |
$42.19/hr
|
$87,750
|
| Delaware |
$42.12/hr
|
$87,600
|
| Arkansas |
$40.72/hr
|
$84,690
|
| Florida |
$40.6/hr
|
$84,450
|
| Colorado |
$40.48/hr
|
$84,210
|
| Oklahoma |
$40.41/hr
|
$84,060
|
| District of Columbia |
$39.93/hr
|
$83,050
|
| Connecticut |
$39.86/hr
|
$82,910
|
| Idaho |
$39.05/hr
|
$81,220
|
| Wyoming |
$38.79/hr
|
$80,680
|
| Montana |
$38.55/hr
|
$80,180
|
| North Carolina |
$38.4/hr
|
$79,870
|
| Oregon |
$38.08/hr
|
$79,200
|
| Utah |
$37.88/hr
|
$78,780
|
| Kansas |
$37.7/hr
|
$78,410
|
| South Carolina |
$37.42/hr
|
$77,830
|
| Puerto Rico |
$36.98/hr
|
$76,920
|
| Tennessee |
$36.76/hr
|
$76,460
|
| Nebraska |
$36.49/hr
|
$75,900
|
| Alaska |
$36.34/hr
|
$75,580
|
| Ohio |
$36.07/hr
|
$75,020
|
| New York |
$35.26/hr
|
$73,350
|
| New Hampshire |
$34.64/hr
|
$72,060
|
| Alabama |
$34.41/hr
|
$71,560
|
| Maine |
$34.39/hr
|
$71,530
|
| Hawaii |
$33.99/hr
|
$70,700
|
| Kentucky |
$33.67/hr
|
$70,030
|
| Maryland |
$33.65/hr
|
$69,980
|
| Michigan |
$33.6/hr
|
$69,900
|
| Louisiana |
$33.5/hr
|
$69,670
|
| New Mexico |
$33.35/hr
|
$69,380
|
| Guam |
$32.83/hr
|
$68,290
|
| South Dakota |
$32.24/hr
|
$67,050
|
| Indiana |
$31.96/hr
|
$66,470
|
| Wisconsin |
$31.7/hr
|
$65,940
|
| Iowa |
$31.55/hr
|
$65,620
|
| West Virginia |
$30.61/hr
|
$63,660
|
| Washington |
$30.03/hr
|
$62,460
|
| Pennsylvania |
$29.97/hr
|
$62,340
|
| California |
$29.66/hr
|
$61,700
|
| New Jersey |
$28.95/hr
|
$60,230
|
| Nevada |
$27.72/hr
|
$57,660
|
| Massachusetts |
$26.74/hr
|
$55,610
|
Category: Network systems and data communications analysts
| Total # Employed in the US |
226,080 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$36.81/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20.62 |
$26.88 |
$35.22 |
$45.35 |
$55.83 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$76,560 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $42,880 |
$55,900 |
$73,250 |
$94,320 |
$116,120 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.7% |
8.1% |
21.6% |
13.5% |
42.8% |
12.1% |
1.2% |
|
Network systems and data communications analysts — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| North Dakota |
$43.33/hr
|
$90,120
|
| Colorado |
$40.96/hr
|
$85,190
|
| Mississippi |
$40.81/hr
|
$84,880
|
| District of Columbia |
$40.44/hr
|
$84,110
|
| Florida |
$40.15/hr
|
$83,510
|
| Nebraska |
$40/hr
|
$83,210
|
| Missouri |
$39.49/hr
|
$82,140
|
| Oklahoma |
$38.92/hr
|
$80,950
|
| New Hampshire |
$38.7/hr
|
$80,490
|
| Connecticut |
$37.59/hr
|
$78,190
|
| Utah |
$37.49/hr
|
$77,970
|
| New York |
$37.22/hr
|
$77,410
|
| Idaho |
$37.11/hr
|
$77,200
|
| Wyoming |
$36.74/hr
|
$76,420
|
| Oregon |
$36.14/hr
|
$75,170
|
| Delaware |
$35.81/hr
|
$74,490
|
| Virginia |
$35.5/hr
|
$73,830
|
| Kansas |
$35.31/hr
|
$73,450
|
| Guam |
$35.25/hr
|
$73,320
|
| Montana |
$34.83/hr
|
$72,440
|
| South Carolina |
$34.38/hr
|
$71,510
|
| Hawaii |
$33.64/hr
|
$69,960
|
| Arkansas |
$33.17/hr
|
$69,000
|
| Wisconsin |
$32.94/hr
|
$68,520
|
| California |
$32.84/hr
|
$68,300
|
| North Carolina |
$32.8/hr
|
$68,220
|
| Tennessee |
$32.37/hr
|
$67,330
|
| Puerto Rico |
$32.11/hr
|
$66,780
|
| Alaska |
$31.91/hr
|
$66,370
|
| Louisiana |
$31.87/hr
|
$66,280
|
| New Mexico |
$31.38/hr
|
$65,270
|
| Indiana |
$31.33/hr
|
$65,160
|
| Kentucky |
$30.72/hr
|
$63,910
|
| Maine |
$30.24/hr
|
$62,900
|
| Michigan |
$30.15/hr
|
$62,720
|
| Washington |
$30.15/hr
|
$62,710
|
| Alabama |
$29.99/hr
|
$62,390
|
| Ohio |
$29.77/hr
|
$61,930
|
| Iowa |
$28.94/hr
|
$60,190
|
| Pennsylvania |
$28.44/hr
|
$59,160
|
| South Dakota |
$28.43/hr
|
$59,130
|
| Maryland |
$28.43/hr
|
$59,130
|
| Nevada |
$28.01/hr
|
$58,270
|
| New Jersey |
$27.45/hr
|
$57,100
|
| West Virginia |
$26.47/hr
|
$55,060
|
| Massachusetts |
$26.1/hr
|
$54,290
|
Category: Network Designers
| Total # Employed in the US |
195,890 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$37.5/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20.04 |
$28.11 |
$37.02 |
$46.58 |
$55.31 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$78,010 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $41,680 |
$58,460 |
$77,010 |
$96,890 |
$115,050 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.6% |
6.4% |
17.0% |
10.5% |
44.3% |
18.7% |
2.5% |
|
