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Entry Level Network Security Jobs in Washington, DC

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Entry Level Network Security information

See Washington, DC salary details

$23.8K

$141.5K

$189.1K

How much do entry level network security jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level network security in Washington, DC is $141,516.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,400.00 and $162,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Entry Level Network Security vs Network Security Analyst?

AspectEntry Level Network SecurityNetwork Security Analyst
CertificationsCompTIA Security+, Cisco CCNACompTIA Security+, Cisco CCNA, CISSP (preferred)
Work EnvironmentSupport teams, basic security tasks, monitoringMonitoring, analyzing security threats, incident response
Employer UsageEntry-level roles in IT/security teamsMid-level roles in cybersecurity teams

Entry Level Network Security roles focus on foundational security tasks and basic monitoring, often requiring certifications like Security+ or CCNA. Network Security Analysts handle more complex threat analysis and incident response, usually with additional certifications like CISSP. While both roles work within IT security teams, the Analyst position involves greater responsibility and expertise.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level network security professional?

To thrive as an Entry Level Network Security professional, you need foundational knowledge of networking concepts, security protocols, and typically a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and industry certifications like CompTIA Security+ or Cisco CCNA Security is often expected. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for identifying and resolving security threats. These skills and qualifications are crucial for protecting organizational data, ensuring compliance, and maintaining secure network operations.

What is an entry level network security?

An Entry Level Network Security job is a starting position focused on protecting computer networks from threats like hackers, malware, and unauthorized access. Professionals in this role typically monitor network traffic, assist in setting up firewalls, respond to security incidents, and help maintain the integrity and confidentiality of data. They work under the supervision of more experienced security staff and may also help with security audits, basic troubleshooting, and user education. This position is ideal for recent graduates or those new to the IT security field who are looking to build foundational skills and advance to more specialized roles.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level network security professionals, and how can they overcome them?

Entry level network security professionals often encounter challenges such as keeping up with rapidly evolving cyber threats, managing multiple security tools, and responding to security incidents efficiently. Newcomers may also find it challenging to understand complex network architectures and effectively communicate technical information to non-technical colleagues. To overcome these challenges, it is helpful to regularly participate in training, stay updated on industry news, seek mentorship from experienced team members, and practice clear communication. Collaborating closely with IT and other security staff can also help build confidence and improve problem-solving skills.
What are the most commonly searched types of Network Security jobs in Washington, DC? The most popular types of Network Security jobs in Washington, DC are:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Network Security jobs in Washington, DC? For Entry Level Network Security jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Network Security jobs in Washington, DC look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Network Security jobs in Washington, DC are:
Entry Level Network Security jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Network Security job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $141,516 per year, or $68 per hour.

System Administrator (Entry Level to SME) TS/SCI with Poly REQU with Security Clearance

CGI

Arlington, VA • On-site

Other

Posted 16 days ago

CGI rating

7.1

Company rating: 7.1 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

147th of 223 rated it services

Job description

Position Description: CGI Federal has an exciting opportunity for System Administrators within our Intel sector advancing the national security mission through cutting edge technology. You must have a passion for keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology advancements and leveraging your knowledge on a highly collaborative team to deliver state-of-the-art capabilities. The System Administrator is an entry-level IT professional who helps maintain and support an organization's computer networks and systems. They are typically responsible for routine technical support, hardware setups, managing basic user accounts, and monitoring system performance under the guidance of senior administrators. CGI Federal is growing its high-performance team whose members share a passion for building high-quality, scalable, advanced IT solutions in a collaborative, fast-paced, outcome-driven mission. This position is located in our Arlington office; however, a hybrid working model is acceptable. Your future duties and responsibilities: Key Responsibilities (Entry Level)
• Technical Support: Troubleshoot and resolve routine desktop, laptop, and software issues for end-users.
• User Management: Set up new employee accounts, manage passwords, and configure access permissions for shared files and systems.
• Hardware Setup: Assist with imaging new computers, deploying hardware, and decommissioning outdated equipment.
• System Monitoring: Monitor basic system logs and verify that automated data backups are running smoothly.
• Documentation: Keep our internal IT knowledge base or wiki updated with new fixes, manuals, and procedures.
• IT Asset Tracking: Maintain an accurate inventory of all company technology hardware and software licenses. Key Responsibilities (Junior Level)
• User Support: Act as the first point of contact for technical assistance via tickets, phone, or email.
• Access Management: Manage user accounts, onboarding/offboarding, and permission controls within Active Directory or Entra ID.
• System Maintenance: Perform routine tasks such as monitoring system health, deploying software updates, and verifying daily backups.
• Hardware & Software Setup: Install, configure, and troubleshoot hardware (PCs, laptops, printers) and software applications.
• Escalation: Identify complex network or server issues and escalate them to Tier 2 or Tier 3 administrators. Key Responsibilities (Mid-Level)
• Infrastructure Management: Administer and monitor physical/virtual servers, storage arrays (SAN/NAS), and cloud environments (AWS, Azure) to maintain peak performance.
• Tier-2 Escalations: Troubleshoot and resolve complex hardware, software, and network issues that cannot be solved by Tier-1 support.
• Automation & Scripting: Write and maintain scripts (PowerShell, Python, Bash) to automate routine tasks, patch deployments, and system configurations.
• Identity & Access: Manage enterprise directory services (Active Directory, Entra ID) including group policies, user permissions, and access controls.
• Security & Compliance: Apply security patches, manage antivirus/EDM, and assist with vulnerability remediation and compliance audits.
• Backup & Disaster Recovery: Execute and test routine data backups, replication, and failover procedures to ensure data integrity.
• Documentation: Create and maintain thorough documentation for network topologies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and system architecture.
• Vendor Management: Liaise with third-party vendors for hardware maintenance, software licensing, and escalated technical support. Key Responsibilities (Senior Level)
Complex Troubleshooting & Escalation Management
• Own and resolve Tier-3, Priority-1 (P1) catastrophic incidents (e.g., massive storage array failures, global Active Directory corruption, widespread ransomware containment).
• Conduct rigorous Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for all major outages and design architectural changes to prevent recurrence.
• Act as the direct point of contact for third-party enterprise vendors (e.g., Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, AWS) to escalate and drive complex bug fixes.
Infrastructure Architecture & Deployment
• Architect, test, and deploy hyper-converged infrastructure, virtualized environments, and clustered systems.
• Execute complex cross-forest Active Directory migrations, Office 365 tenant consolidations, and data center relocations.
• Engineer robust Disaster Recovery (DR) and business continuity architectures, leading regular failover testing and compliance audits.
Automation & Scripting
• Eliminate repetitive manual labor through advanced scripting in languages such as PowerShell, Python, or Bash.
• Utilize configuration management and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform, Ansible, or Chef to enforce system state and rapid provisioning.
Security & Compliance
• Design and implement stringent Zero Trust security postures, vulnerability management, and patch lifecycles.
• Ensure organizational compliance with strict regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or NIST/DoD 8570 via configuration baselines.
• Lead penetration testing remediations and security incident response teams. Key Responsibilities (SME Level)
Enterprise Architecture & Infrastructure
• Design, deploy, and maintain hyper-converged, cloud-hybrid, and on-premises environments.
• Engineer highly available systems ensuring zero-downtime clustering, failover, and multi-site redundancy.
• Manage multi-tenant Active Directory forests, identity access management, and complex enterprise virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V, Proxmox).
Cybersecurity & Compliance
• Evaluate enterprise security postures, implement risk-mitigation, and enforce strict zero-trust security frameworks.
• Oversee vulnerability management, patch compliance (e.g., STIGs), and forensic analysis of security breaches.
• Develop and manage comprehensive incident response plans and disaster recovery protocols.
Advanced Automation & Scripting
• Architect complex automation scripts to manage systems configuration, diagnostics, and routine remediation tasks.
• Integrate enterprise tools utilizing APIs and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) principles (e.g., Terraform, Ansible, PowerShell, Python).
Leadership & Vendor Management
• Assume a team-lead role, supervising technical staff, delegating complex workloads, and providing tier-4 escalation support.
• Direct multiple contractor/vendor teams to project completion and serve as the final point of escalation for critical P1/P2 outages.
• Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) and coordinate major architectural changes. Required qualifications to be successful in this role: All roles require an active TS/SCI with Poly Entry Level:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 4 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 2 years of relevant experience, o or Bachelor's Degree with 0 years of relevant experience
• Technical Knowledge: Basic understanding of Windows and macOS operating systems, networking basics, and hardware components.
• Soft Skills: Exceptional problem-solving abilities, strong communication skills, and a willingness to learn on the job. Junior Level/Moderate:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 6 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 4 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 2 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 0 years of relevant experience
• Technical Knowledge: Foundational understanding of Windows Server, Linux, and cloud-based office environments (e.g., Microsoft 365).
• Soft Skills: Moderate communication skills for training end-users and documenting technical solutions.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to evaluate basic systems and make routine, independent decisions on standard IT requests. Mid-Level/Complex:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 8 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 6 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 4 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 2 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 0 years of relevant experience
• Technical Proficiencies:
o Operating Systems: Windows Server, Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Red Hat).
o Virtualization: VMware vSphere, Hyper-V.
o Networking: TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPNs, and LAN/WAN troubleshooting.
o Enterprise Apps: Microsoft 365, Exchange, and enterprise monitoring tools (e.g., Datadog, SolarWinds).
• Certifications (Preferred): Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate, CompTIA Server+, VMware Certified Professional (VCP), or Cisco CCNA.
• Soft Skills: Strong problem-solving, exceptional written and verbal communication, and the ability to operate independently with minimal oversight Senior Level/Exceptionally Complex:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 10 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 8 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 6 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 4 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 2 years of relevant experience
• Advanced Certifications:
o Microsoft: MCSE, Azure Solutions Architect, or M365 Enterprise Administrator.
o VMware: VCAP or VCP (VMware Certified Professional).
o Cloud/Linux: AWS Certified SysOps Administrator, Linux Foundation Certified Engineer (LFCE), or Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).
• Deep Technical Competency: Unparalleled understanding of TCP/IP networking, SAN/NAS storage ecosystems, hypervisors (VMware ESXi, Hyper-V), and public cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP). SME Level/Exceptionally Complex:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 12 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 10 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 8 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 6 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 4 years of relevant experience
• Certifications: Advanced certifications are heavily preferred, such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Red Hat Certi

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