Cisco network engineers are system administrators who design, implement, and troubleshoot networks based on Cisco technology. These professionals design and set up networks, address problems, and keep sensitive data safe.
So, in this guide, we have written explicitly information on Cisco network engineer salary, duties of Cisco network engineer, qualifications of Cisco network engineer, how to become Cisco network engineer, roles of Cisco network engineer, skills of Cisco network engineer and all you need to know about this career path.
Cisco Network Engineer Salary & Job Description (2023)
As a Cisco network engineer, your duties will include setting up and configuring networks, fixing any problems that arise, keeping everything secure, and teaching customers how to use Cisco equipment.
You should have solid communication skills, experience training end users, and a wealth of knowledge in installing and configuring networks. In the end, a top-notch Cisco network engineer should be able to deploy and maintain scalable, secure networks that are tailored to the specific needs of each individual customer.
A Cisco Network Engineer in the United States can expect a median annual salary of $103,603.
For the sake of convenience, that comes out to about $49.81 per hour when broken down into smaller increments. That’s $9,633 per calendar month, or $1,992 per week.
Pay for Cisco Network Engineers in the United States typically falls between the low end (25th percentile) of $89,000 and the high end (90th percentile) of $135,000.
While the average salary for a Cisco Network Engineer can vary widely (by as much as $27,000), this wide range suggests that there are likely to be numerous opportunities for promotion and increased pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.
The job market for Cisco Network Engineers in the Nation’s Capital and its suburbs is thriving. The average annual salary of a Cisco Network Engineer in your region is $111,872, which is $8,269 (or 8%) higher than the median annual salary of all occupations in the United States of $103,603. Pay for Cisco Network Engineers in the District of Columbia is the lowest of any of the 50 states.
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Cisco Network Engineer Jobs
We’ve pinpointed 10 metro areas where the average salary for a Cisco Network Engineer position is significantly higher than the national average. Green River, Wyoming, and San Francisco, California, follow closely behind Atkinson, Nebraska, at second and third, respectively.
Cities like San Francisco, CA, which is $14,612 (14.1%) above the national average, and Atkinson, NE, which is $24,152 (23.3%) above the national average, show a general upward trend.
With average salaries for Cisco Network Engineers in these 10 cities significantly higher than the national average, relocating to one of these cities could prove to be a very lucrative career move.
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that there isn’t much room for upward wage movement because the average salary for these top ten cities varies very little, at 10% between Atkinson, NE, and Kensington, NY.
When deciding where to live and how much money to make as a Cisco Network Engineer, a lower cost of living may be the most important factor.
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| Atkinson, NE | $127,755 | $10,646 | $2,456 | $61.42 |
| Green River, WY | $127,204 | $10,600 | $2,446 | $61.16 |
| San Francisco, CA | $118,215 | $9,851 | $2,273 | $56.83 |
| Bolinas, CA | $117,689 | $9,807 | $2,263 | $56.58 |
| Cool Valley, MO | $116,945 | $9,745 | $2,248 | $56.22 |
| Washington, DC | $116,705 | $9,725 | $2,244 | $56.11 |
| Aristocrat Ranchettes, CO | $116,032 | $9,669 | $2,231 | $55.78 |
| Fremont, CA | $115,607 | $9,633 | $2,223 | $55.58 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $114,866 | $9,572 | $2,208 | $55.22 |
| Kensington, NY | $114,642 | $9,553 | $2,204 | $55.12 |
Other Career Path In CISCO Network Engineering
We discovered at least five related professions that offer annual salaries higher than the average Cisco Network Engineer salary. Cisco Network Architect, Cisco Architect, and Cisco Collaboration Engineer are all examples of top jobs in this sector.
All of these positions pay between $31,944 (30.8%) and $43,315 (41.8%) more than the typical salary of a Cisco Network Engineer ($103,603). If you’re qualified, these related Cisco Network Engineer jobs could help you earn more money than a typical Cisco Network Engineer position.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| Cisco Network Architect | $146,918 | $12,243 | $2,825 | $70.63 |
| Cisco Architect | $144,105 | $12,008 | $2,771 | $69.28 |
| Cisco Collaboration | $138,649 | $11,554 | $2,666 | $66.66 |
| Cisco Network Security Engineer | $138,628 | $11,552 | $2,665 | $66.65 |
| Cisco Principal Engineer | $135,547 | $11,295 | $2,606 | $65.17 |
What Does CISCO Network Engineer Do?
Cisco implements the network designs developed by architects. Taking into account problems like traffic congestion, the need to upgrade critical infrastructure, the resolution of customer-inconveniencing issues, the need for preventative maintenance, etc., engineers make adjustments to their plans.
In addition to providing advice on how to enhance the performance of complex networks, engineers must be able to comprehend how these systems function. Knowledgeable in safety, virtualization, containers, storage engineering, and WAN technologies are essential (WAN).
Roles of Cisco Engineers
They have the responsibility of designing and analyzing a network that reliably and optimally connects all of the different parts of the company’s infrastructure, including the Internet, the Intranet, the LAN, and the WAN.
Engineers must be familiar with a wide variety of computing devices and networking infrastructure in order to perform routine network upkeep and upgrade tasks such as installing patches, and service packs, adjusting security settings, and applying hotfixes. They need to be able to learn new things, whether through schooling or some other means.
Professionals in this field create new software, including device drivers, network applications, and script and web languages. They develop new hardware and design, as well as test existing hardware. They come up with the concept, design, and testing of networking hardware like routers, flash drives, modems, and power converters.
Engineers are on hand to troubleshoot any issues that may arise and even remedy any that have persisted for some time. Engineering tasks related to the design, architecture, and integration of network solutions are carried out by them. Engineers consult with customers to learn about their needs in order to develop practical solutions to those needs.
Cost-effective local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), a wireless private network (WPAN), and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services are provided through the equipment they design, install, maintain, and oversee. Engineers guarantee a high level of accessibility, flexibility, and network operation.
They also serve as voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) engineers, responsible for the upkeep, management, and configuration of the company’s telephone systems.
The infrastructure documentation is supported, evaluated, and kept up to date by engineers. They keep up with modern disaster recovery procedures for networks and work to improve them continuously.
Engineers are accountable for improving and keeping all data networks secure within an organization. As company representatives, they coordinate with third-party suppliers to resolve issues.
Engineers with the Cisco certification help develop policies and procedures, ensuring that all available data is used effectively and no sensitive information is compromised.
Cisco In addition to managing firewalls and other forms of security, engineers’ daily responsibilities also include supporting routers and switches, ensuring the constant availability of WAN and LAN connections, protecting the integrity of the Internet connection, setting up and maintaining DNS servers, and documenting every aspect of the system’s setup and operation.
It’s important for engineers to know that Cisco routers implement network layer functions. Mainly, they are used to send data packets to their destinations according to a predetermined set of rules called a routing table.
In addition to this functionality, routers also offer multiple broadcast domains, traffic segmentation, and state network layer addressing networks and subnets. These networks are defined by the IP addresses that are assigned to specific ports or network adapters on a router. IP addresses typically act as a direct connection to computers, servers, and other networked devices.
Routing devices, which are typically located at the network’s edge, also connect to service providers and act as gateways to other networks. The Ethernet adapters are not universally present here.
DSL, serial, and other wide area network connections will all be accessible to them. When compared to routers made by other companies, Cisco devices have a wider variety of memory options. Furthermore, they have flash, which is where the OS’s graphical user interface is stored.
The important takeaway here is that modern routers can finally match the functionality of other network nodes thanks to the availability of powerful computing resources. The capability to route voice calls and perform firewall duties can be incorporated.
Engineers need to ensure all networks comply with DoD regulations, design and maintain accurate network diagrams, and work with multiple teams to restore service as soon as possible after an outage.
They assist their organization in planning and budgeting for projects, as well as working on projects themselves and making recommendations for necessary equipment and personnel.
Upgrades to LAN software are installed, regular audits are performed, testing and troubleshooting are carried out, and all are in accordance with PCI and IT policies.
Engineers in the Networking Field frequently participate in team meetings, both formal and informal.
It’s crucial that they be open to new experiences and ideas at all times.
Educational Requirement To Become CISCO Network Engineer
The following are the educational qualification for cisco engineers:
In most cases, a high school diploma will suffice, but a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology is preferred.
On top of that, they should be CCNA-certified, familiar with SD-WAN, and able to rely on their knowledge of Cisco Internetworks.
Engineers who have their CCNAs have a leg up on the competition because they are the ones providing connections over WANs to offsite locations and dealing with common network security issues like malware, adware, and spyware.
They will be able to comprehend how a protected network is born from the interplay of various networks as a result of the certification. Engineers also learn about the dynamics of networks and their connections to diverse endpoints.
After passing the CCNA exam, candidates should be able to: Troubleshoot and validate inter-switch communications; configure routing on Cisco devices; sort out and install routing on Cisco devices; configure a switch with inter-switch communications and VLAN; implement IP addressing and meet network requirements; implement and maintain Access Control Lists (ACL) and Network Address Translations (NAT); validate WAN links and put in place correct methods to connect wide area networks (WAN);
How To Become CISCO Network Engineer
The level of education required to work as a Cisco network engineer should be one of your first considerations. Research shows that 62.6 percent of Cisco’s network engineers hold a bachelor’s degree.
We discovered that 10.3% of cisco network engineers hold master’s degrees. Although most employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree, a high school diploma or GED is sufficient for entry-level work as a cisco network engineer.
Duties of CISCO Network Engineers
Responsibilities of a Cisco Network Engineer include conducting audits of the company’s current hardware, software, and networking infrastructure.
Establishing and deploying Cisco networks with scalability features per customer requirements.
Verifying and fixing issues with existing Cisco installations.
fixing computer-related problems in the network, hardware, or software.
The process of checking the speed and safety of already established networks.
Installing new safeguards for the system.
Fixing or replacing outdated gadgets and programs.
Developing and delivering reports on network performance.
Instruction for customers who have already had Cisco networking products installed.
Future Of CISCO Engineering
Cisco engineers and other network systems administrators have a promising future. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an 8% increase in demand for workers with this expertise between 2014 and 2024.
It will not be possible to fully automate everything in the network, so network engineers will still be in demand even as SDN and other forms of automation gain traction.
Network engineers will always be in demand due to the ever-increasing scale of modern networks, which necessitates constant maintenance and troubleshooting.
In addition, those who wish to enter the field of Cisco Systems Engineering would do well to realize that the pace of technological change necessitates a greater rate of skill development than was the case even a decade ago. Automation, security, cloud, analytics, and architecture are all areas where they would need to focus, as stated by Cisco. Plus, they’d need programming skills and familiarity with open-source platforms.
Conclusion
So far so good, we have given you detailed information about Cisco network engineer salary, duties of Cisco network engineer, qualifications of Cisco network engineer, and all you need to know about this career path.
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