Network Engineer Salary in India – For Freshers & Experienced [2024]

Who is a Network Engineer?

What is the role of a network engineer? You may also hear this person referred to as a computer network architect. Essential Skills in the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of a computer network that supports wireless network services, video, data, voice, etc are required of network engineers. This is a very prestigious job. Someone in this position can work with a variety of various sorts of networks. Some examples of Networks are: VoIP is for Voice Over Internet Protocol Network; DAN stands for Desk Area Network; PEN stands for Personal Area Network; WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network, and LAN stands for Local Area Network.

What Do Network Engineers Do?

Network engineers’ job centers around their employer’s computer network designs and implementations. They usually work in offices to fix issues with their company’s enterprise-wide network, and they have to keep their system’s security and firewall software up to date. The computer networks that businesses and organizations utilize are designed, built, implemented, and maintained by network engineers. Network engineers are in charge of maintaining these vital systems, which may entail evaluating performance, doing routine maintenance, diagnosing faults, and correcting them. A wireless network engineer conducts research, constructs, and deploys wireless networks, as well as making recommendations for improving and updating wireless networks to meet the needs of businesses.

Routing, cryptographic tunneling, firewalls, and other networking technologies require network engineers to be well-versed. This profession typically requires a bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, or a similar discipline; however, some firms may accept individuals with sufficient prior experience instead of a degree. Network engineers should also be competent to diagnose various network and computer system problems. They must also ensure that their employers’ computer networks are optimal and efficient, which may include their corporate office, regional office, and other locations.

Soft skills like strong verbal and writing communication skills, as well as the ability to work well in a team atmosphere, are required in this position, and they must be able to communicate coherently with diverse network users on their company’s computer network issues, whether over the phone or in person. They also use databases or comparable software to keep track of system problems and resolutions, as well as generate reports for managers or executives to review. They must always stay current with the marketplace’s ever-changing technologies and continue to gain new skills by attending college classes, workshops, and conferences, among other things.

Network Engineer Salary in India

A Network Engineer average income is  ₹342,658 per year in India, a Network Engineer earns roughly 27,300 INR per month on average. Salaries range from 14,200 INR to 41,800 INR (lowest to highest) per month.

This is the monthly average pay, which includes housing, transportation, and other benefits. Salary for Network Engineers varies greatly depending on experience, skills, gender, and region. 

Skills That Affect Network Engineer Salaries

Payscale of a Network Engineer on Experience Level

An entry-level Network Engineer with less than 1 year of experience can expect to make an average total salary of ₹253,702 per year(which includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay).

An early career Network Engineer with 1-4 years of experience gets an average total salary of ₹307,034 per year.

A mid-career Network Engineer with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total salary of ₹540,361 per year.

An experienced Network Engineer with 10-19 years of experience gets an average total salary of ₹829,081 per year. Employees with a long career (20 years or more) earn an average total salary of ₹780,000 per year.

Payscale of a Network Engineer on Education/Skillset

We all know that a better education translates to greater pay, but how much more money can you earn with a degree? To make a comparison, we split down Network Engineer wages by education level.

A Network Engineer’s average monthly income is 19,200 INR when their education level is Certificate or Diploma.

A person with a Bachelor’s Degree earns 29,100 INR a month, which is 52 percent more than someone with a Certificate or Diploma.

A Master’s Degree earns the holder an average monthly salary of 41,200 INR, which is 42 percent more than a Bachelor’s Degree.

Some specialized skills that are expected from a network engineer is as follows:

• Network engineering.
  
• CISCO
  
• Wide area network.
  
• Router
  
• Java
  
• Python

Payscale of a Network Engineer on Location

Salary levels for network engineers do vary from location to location. In some countries there is a huge demand for them and they are well compensated, whereas a low salaried location does not create a huge difference in monetary terms as compared to the other profession.

Job Roles and Responsibilities of a Network Engineer

This covers managing and controlling computer networks as well as any computer settings involving setups, hardware programmes, and software structures. You’ll also be developing and creating network solutions, as well as debugging, diagnosing, and resolving problems.

The job description for a network engineer differs depending on whether the activity is focused on engineering a new network or an existing network.

Although they share some of the same responsibilities as network administrators, they have additional decision-making authority.

Among the responsibilities of a network engineer are the following:

• They must maintain and control computer networks and related computing environments, as well as the structures, programmes, hardware, and configurations that go with them.

• They must troubleshoot, diagnose, and fix problems with network and system components.

• It is necessary to plan the design and execution of new solutions which improves the modern environment’s resilience.

• They must assess overall network performance before deciding whether or not to make adjustments.

• Configuration of routing and switching equipment is required.

Network engineers are responsible for establishing, developing, and managing inter-organizational computer networks. They must provide assistance to all users, including team members and clients, as well as resolve any issues that arise. They may also be required to create new networks.

Firewalls and hosted IP voice services are also configured by network engineers. Network architects must be able to determine where communications are needed, design network plans, submit them to senior management for approval, and keep up with technological advances. Network engineers must be aware of and focus on the wiring and hardware needs for their organisations’ or clients’ facilities.They’re also in charge of boosting or enhancing the network’s performance.

Skills Required to Become a Network Engineer

A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a technology-related field is required for Network Engineers. They should be well-versed on the network’s infrastructure and hardware.

There are numerous specialised courses available to help you gain the skills and knowledge required for networking certifications. Some of these are:

• CCIE (Certificate of Completion (Cisco)
  
• CCNP (Certified Computer Network Professional) (Cisco)
  
• ENTJNCIE-JNCIE-ENTJNCIE-ENTJ (Juniper)
  
• Network Plus (CompTIA)
  
• WCNA (Women’s Caucus for (Wireshark)

Network engineers should be able to think through issues and come up with solutions. They must swiftly learn new technological and product-related information. They should have prior network security, LAN, and WAN experience. Engineers must be able to collaborate with people at all levels of the organization, both inside and outside of IT.

Networking-skilled IT professionals are always in demand in today’s marketplaces. To stand out from the crowd, they must obtain one of the following specific networking certifications.

The included top five certificates cover the entire spectrum of networking process jobs, from entry-level (Network+) to expert-level (CCNA) (CCIE).

Engineers must possess strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. They should also be able to communicate well both in writing and verbally.

Wireless network engineers must have prior familiarity with wireless equipment, protocols, standards, and wireless LAN design. Wireless technology such as WiMax, Wi-Fi, WAP, etc should have been their specialty. A professional qualification, such as the Certified Wireless Network Professional, is ideal (CWNP).

Network Engineer Salary in Other Countries

Salary levels for network engineers vary by country, as they do for all other jobs. The United States, Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom are the most popular countries among Network Engineers.

A network engineer’s salary in these nations might range from 6000-7000$ per month to 10000-15000$ per month, depending on experience. 

For the rest of the world, these ranges represent incredible value. As a result, many network engineers are focusing on their professional development and gaining more expertise in order to work in these nations.

Top Companies Who Hire Network Engineers in India

• Microsoft. 
• Salesforce. 
• ACT Fibernet.
• Accenture. 
• Thomson Reuters.
• Tata Communications. 
• Capgemini Engineering.
• Deloitte. 

How to Prepare for Network Engineer Interviews

To prepare for the interview one must be well versed in both technical and non-technical areas. Following are enlisted some tips 

• Make sure you understand subnetting (without using a subnet calculator!). Know how much each piece in each Octet is worth. Understand subnet masks, as well as slashed notation and CIDR. Learn how to use wildcard masks.

• All routing protocols’ administrative distances should be memorized.

• Review the basics, such as TCP 3-way handshakes, setting up hsrp, IP helpers, and other protocols.

• Examine the Spanning Tree — Know what a root bridge is and what VTP performs, and make sure you can describe how RSTP differs.

• Review VLANs and be able to describe what they are.

• Have a strong command over problem-solving skills and Data Structures and Algorithms.

You can check out how to build a network engineer resume or our Networking Interview Questions list to learn how to crack interviews at your dream company.

Some tips for the non-technical part are mentioned underneath:

The purpose of an interview is to assess not just the candidate’s technical knowledge, but also his or her soft skills, personality, and demeanour. After all, you’ll be working with a group of individuals, and being a good team player is frequently more important than having technical skills.

Prepare for non-technical inquiries by being honest and genuine while remaining professional. Check out the company’s website to learn more about what they do and where they fit into the market. Read the job description a few times to get a sense of what they require and how you can meet that requirement.

Some non-technical questions that are often asked are along those lines:

• Why did you choose a career as a network engineer?
• Why do you think you can be an asset to our company?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Describe a difficult situation you had in your past jobs, how did you deal with it?
• Have you ever had conflicts with your colleagues or manager? Why?
• Describe a project or work that you’re particularly proud. Why was it a success?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?

Prospects of Network Engineering

Network engineers must focus on programming, security, storage, and systems, in addition to routing and switching, as firms are increasingly investing in SD-WAN, security, virtualization, and cloud computing.

They can rise to senior network managers or other network management positions if they gain relevant expertise.

Job prospects for computer network architects are expected to grow by 6% between 2016 and 2026, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which is about average for all occupations. As most businesses seek to expand their IT networks, demand for their services will rise.

FAQs

Q.1: What is a network engineer’s salary?

A Network Engineer’s average income is ₹468,500 per year (₹39,050 per month), which is ₹81,000 (+21%) more than India’s national average salary. A Network Engineer can earn a starting income of ₹165,000 per year on average. The top salaries can reach ₹9,00,000 per year.

Q.2: Do network engineers make good money?

Network engineers with the lowest pay make less than $51,000 per year. They usually work for smaller businesses, and their responsibilities are similar to those of an administrative assistant. The highest-paid network engineers make around $110,000 per year, with a few lucky ones making more than $200,000 per year.

Q.3: Is networking a dying field?

No networking can ever be at a dead end. Employers trying to improve their systems are always looking for people with networking and technical expertise. Networking is definitely an occupation worth considering.

Q.4: Is network engineering a good career?

The pay, employment outlook, and opportunities for network engineers are favourable due to the high demand for qualified professionals and a scarcity of qualified professionals. Taking up the role of network engineer can be a rewarding and exciting professional path.

Q.5: Which country pays the highest to network engineers?

The USA pays the most for network engineers and they are in constant demand. The salary goes up to $120,000 per year. India has the world’s largest population of network engineers but the pay is not that aggressive in India.

Additional Resource

• Free Computer Networking course