Skip to Main Content

15 of the Highest Paying Network Professional Jobs in 2024

The best Network Professional jobs can pay up to $142,000 per year.

A network professional is someone whose skills are specific to computer networks. In this career, job duties revolve around using hardware and software programs to streamline and maintain computer networks for a company or organization. Depending on where they work, qualifications include certification in the networking system that the company uses. Other requirements often include an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in information technology or computer science and experience as a network engineer.

Your responsibilities as a network professional, also known as a computer networking engineer or administrator, focus on working with computer programs, software, and hardware to improve and simplify a computer network. Your job requires you to configure software and hardware to work optimally together, troubleshoot current and potential network issues, conduct routine maintenance on a computer network, and repair current networking problems. Your duties may also focus on improving and maintaining security for an organization’s computer network. Network professionals can obtain an entry-level position under the supervision of a senior network engineer with certification.

High Paying Network Professional Jobs

  • Cyber Security Engineer

    A cyber security engineer—also know as a cyber security analyst—helps prevent attacks on databases and networks of companies using hardware, firewalls, and encryption. The responsibilities of this job are to monitor activity, install software, conduct maintenance on various computer systems, and lead response efforts in the event of a cyber attack. Cyber security engineers also work with other security professionals from other businesses to share information on potential threats and vulnerabilities.

  • Netbackup Consultant

    Salary range: $45,000-$135,000 per year

    The majority of Netbackup Consultant salaries across the United States currently range between $45,000 (25th percentile) and $135,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Netbackup Consultant job market in the United States is somewhat active, with a few companies hiring.

  • Network Engineer

    Network Engineers support and optimize all processes for maintaining a company’s computer network, selecting and deploying software and hardware and making local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) accessible, and making sure that company personnel can securely access the internet to complete work. Network Engineers also analyze network performance, configure network features based on client needs, and develop guidelines for acceptable network use.

  • Mainframe Consultant

    A mainframe consultant is a mainframe expert who provides a company or client with the mainframe services they need. In this role, you assist with software installation and primarily work to provide technical support. Your duties entail working in an Enterprise Class computing environment, including IBM Z series and Unisys. You conduct an analysis of system performance, look for problems, and fix them as they arise. As a mainframe consultant, your responsibilities also include analyzing capacity and performance, including z/OS, DASD, CICS, and applications. You carry out project management and may, at times, teach new users how a host or mainframe system works.

  • Unix Administrator

    As a UNIX administrator, maintaining your company’s UNIX systems and minimizing downtime are your primary responsibilities. Your job duties may include implementing new technology, providing technical support to other departments, monitoring servers, performing preventive maintenance, and securing and backing up data. You need experience with UNIX platforms, infrastructure design, and strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. You also need good communication skills as you may train non-technical employees on how to use the UNIX operating system.

  • Linux Administrator

    A Linux administrator is both an IT professional and a people manager. Administrators oversee their team and ensure that everyone is on task, and the project is progressing on schedule. Linux administrators may train other team members and leaders. They monitor a server or servers, ensuring that it is healthy. They do this by conducting regular backups and administering patches when needed.

  • Application Security Specialist

    The majority of Application Security Specialist salaries across the United States currently range between $46,000 (25th percentile) and $123,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Application Security Specialist job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.

  • Network Contractor

    As a network contractor, you manage budgets, set targets, and report on performance and financial models for a health care business. Your responsibilities include predicting emerging customer needs, for which you collect and analyze provider data. You develop competitive, stable networks able to meet unit cost performance and trend management goals. Other duties include negotiating contracts with providers in compliance with company policies and reimbursement structure standards, and ensuring a wide distribution of provider specialties. You evaluate and resolve escalated client issues. Some positions require you assist end-to-end provider claims, enhance call quality, and improve the ease of physician portal use if relevant.

  • AS400 Consultant

    Salary range: $50,000-$116,000 per year

    An AS/400 consultant provides advice and solutions to business that use IBM AS/400 servers, now referred to as the iSeries. You may help design applications and other products that run on the server architecture. As a consultant, your duties and responsibilities are to meet with clients to determine their needs and goals, assess their current technology solutions, and troubleshoot, develop, or debug applications. You may be asked to provide consulting services before a company embarks on a new programming project, or you may provide maintenance and support services to the company after the project is done.

  • Windows Administrator

    A windows administrator oversees the installation and maintenance of Windows systems on a computer network at an office. Job duties include monitoring installation and upgrades to the systems, troubleshooting any user issues, ensuring security issues are dealt with properly, and training workers to use the system and software. A Windows administrator coordinates upgrades with other departments and works with IT employees to ensure smooth delivery and upkeep.

  • Network Consultant

    A network consultant is an IT specialist who works with business to design, maintain, implement, or improve their computer network. Job duties may include installing or upgrading computers to work on a specific network, troubleshooting user problems with the network or hardware, providing IT support for customers, and training users how to use new systems or software. A network consultant also advises management on how to increase or maintain security over networks and works closely with other network administrators and security experts.

  • Cyber Security Administrator

    The majority of Cyber Security Administrator salaries across the United States currently range between $75,000 (25th percentile) and $102,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Cyber Security Administrator job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.

  • Network Administrator

    A Network Administrator oversees hardware and software used to run an organization’s data network. As a Network Administrator, your responsibilities and duties include managing the company’s data systems, monitoring and troubleshooting the system for issues, and providing technical support for users. Network Administrators usually serve on a team of information technology professionals. They coordinate with various departments to determine the current and future technology needs of the company. Their primary goal is to ensure that the system is meeting, and will continue to meet, the demands of the business.

  • Internet Consultant

    The majority of Internet Consultant salaries across the United States currently range between $77,500 (25th percentile) and $92,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Internet Consultant job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.

  • Network Technician

    As a network technician, your main responsibility is to make sure your employer’s computer network systems are functioning. Your job duties are to monitor day to day computer operations, troubleshoot and resolve problems, install and update hardware and software, and enforce network security protocols. To work as a network technician, you need excellent computing skills and a thorough understanding of computer network systems. Most network technician jobs are entry-level, so you will typically work with a network operations team and report to a computer network administrator or manager.