25 of the Highest Paying Networking Jobs in 2026

The best Networking jobs can pay up to $197,500 per year.

High Paying Networking Jobs

• As400 Operator

  Salary range: $172,500 - $197,500

  An AS400 operator performs a variety of tasks using IBM AS400 computer systems, such as data warehousing, corporate groupware services, Java application development, and web and e-commerce services. As an AS400 operator, your job duties are to configure the AS400 computer and server systems, plan and implement programs, conduct testing of applications running on the AS400 systems, perform troubleshooting, identify bugs, and deploy solutions. Additional responsibilities include operating and monitoring AS400 computer systems, maintaining system security, and informing your supervisor when problems arise.

• Infrastructure Manager

  Salary range: $113,000 - $197,000

  An infrastructure manager works with an organization’s IT department to plan, design, and implement the technology ecosystem. Your responsibilities in this career include a range of other tasks to prepare and maintain the IT infrastructure. Duties can involve working with either hardware, software, or both, depending on the size of the business. You can also specialize in a particular aspect of the network. Your primary goal is to guarantee the security and integrity of the system. Some infrastructure manager positions also focus on budget, periodic reviews, or negotiations with vendors.

• Splunk Architect

  Salary range: $155,500 - $184,000

  As a Splunk architect, you create applications that can perform specific tasks within the Splunk environment. Your responsibilities may include application or software development supporting customized data solutions for your employer or client. For example, you may create a dashboard on which you can select and visualize information from a database, then use that data to generate a report. As a Splunk architect, you may also be responsible for the security of the system and network that the company uses to operate Splunk solutions.

• Enterprise Architect

  Salary range: $138,000 - $178,000

  An enterprise architect works to make a company’s information technology systems more efficient. As an enterprise architect, your responsibilities consist of both developing and overseeing the enterprise architecture (EA). Specific duties vary based on the industry, but you are also responsible for working with management to ensure that the company’s strategy aligns with current IT capabilities and trends. While enterprise architects need the computer skills of other IT professionals, you also need excellent interpersonal and business-focused analytical skills in order to collaborate with both management and shareholders.

• Cloud Security Architect

  Salary range: $131,000 - $174,000

  A cloud security architect builds, designs, and installs security systems for cloud-based computing and data storage systems. Your duties include assessing and testing existing cloud computing security systems and creating firewalls, improving network security, and encrypting data to secure the system further. You also work with your client or employer to develop secure applications and software for accessing the cloud. Your responsibilities include establishing procedures for user access to the system, setting access controls and administrative practices, and you may even educate other workers about secure usage of the company’s cloud computing service.

• Network Architect

  Salary range: $129,500 - $173,500

  A network architect maintains an organization’s computer network. As a network architect, your job is to design, monitor, and implement changes to the computer systems. Typical duties include evaluating new technologies, installing new software and hardware, analyzing the performance of networks, and providing troubleshooting assistance. An essential part of the job is monitoring network security, spotting security flaws before they are manipulated, and staying current with the latest industry technologies. The job requires experience with large computer networks as well as data communication systems.

• Cloud Infrastructure Architect

  Salary range: $123,500 - $170,500

  A Cloud infrastructure architect is a cloud computing specialist who builds company computing platforms and provides business solutions for Cloud storage. Job duties include overseeing the design of computer architecture that will meet the company’s goals, ensuring that systems have a high level of security, and communicating concepts with executives and other non-technical workers. Qualifications for this job often include a relevant bachelor’s degree, computer programming experience, and the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Certification.

• AWS Architect

  Salary range: $129,500 - $170,000

  An AWS architect is an IT professional who uses the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform to design and manage cloud computing solutions. As an AWS solutions architect, you’re a cloud architect with certification in a specialized skillset. Your duties include cloud application design, cloud computing monitoring, and cloud platform management. Collaboration with other cloud architects and developers is a big part of this job, as front end and back end platforms and a cloud-based delivery system are crucial components of cloud applications.

• Application Security Architect

  Salary range: $143,000 - $169,500

  An application security architect is required to design and manage IT systems and programs and analyze and troubleshoot issues related to security and access. Your main duties in this career are to collaborate with developers and other applications specialists to determine the scope of security necessary for an application. You then design and develop these measures. You also periodically test the security system’s capabilities to ensure that they are working properly. You make recommendations and reports to senior security architects about how to improve security as well.

• Network Security Analyst

  Salary range: $88,500 - $166,000

  A network security analyst helps provide cybersecurity protection for a company’s computer network and information systems. As a network security analyst, your job duties include designing, developing, and maintaining computer security systems and measures. You also monitor the company’s networks for any unusual activity, identify intrusion breaches, and brief staff and management on necessary computer security measures.

• Cloud Architect

  Salary range: $130,000 - $165,500

  Cloud architects design and oversee cloud computing systems. As a cloud architect, you assess the needs of the company, establish a system plan, and develop applications and operating procedures to suit company goals. Once the cloud system is established, you monitor the applications to identify and troubleshoot problems and ensure it runs properly. Cloud architects typically work under cloud engineers. While cloud architects focus on designing the cloud system, cloud engineers oversee the entire cloud infrastructure for the company, which includes both hardware and software. A cloud architect needs extensive experience with common computer programming languages such as JavaScript, SQL, and Python. Knowledge of popular cloud computing services like Amazon Web Services (AWS) is also required.

• Linux Kernel Developer

  Salary range: $136,500 - $165,000

  A Linux kernel developer uses computer code to create a program that functions as the core of a computer operating system. Your duties can include creating kernels for open-source operating systems for desktop computers, laptops, phones, and tablets. You can also develop programs for embedded systems for routers, smart devices, or automated machinery. Linux uses C programming languages, so you often write code in C and C++. In addition to your coding responsibilities, you also test and debug your programs. Your employer may ask you to develop applications, drivers, and other tools to use with your kernel.

• Citrix Architect

  Salary range: $124,000 - $164,500

  The job duties of a Citrix architect revolve around building desktop systems and applications in the Citrix environment. They create and maintain the infrastructure that companies or clients need to run virtual desktops throughout their organization. In addition to their responsibilities to design and develop these systems and applications, a Citrix architect may need to train employees and tech personnel how to use the tools and applications and troubleshoot any issues. The qualifications you need to become a Citrix architect often include a postsecondary degree, professional certifications, or experience working in the Citrix environment.

• Cyber Security Architect

  Salary range: $121,500 - $164,000

  A cyber security architect specializes in computer system analysis and network security for online products, such as cloud computing architecture and information systems. As a cyber security architect, your job duties involve assessing a company or organization’s current security capabilities through security testing and analysis. You then develop methods to improve security. You also work with other experts to develop and implement organization-wide policies and protocols, such as emergency security measures and security training for all employees.

• Office 365 Consultant

  Salary range: $76,000 - $162,000

  An Office 365 consultant helps a company with the technical aspects of using Microsoft Office software for their business needs. As an Office 365 consultant, your duties include helping to create a customized infrastructure and combining different Microsoft computer programs and applications so that your employer or client can perform the necessary operations and tasks. You may offer recommendations on how to better use Microsoft tools and solutions, or you may suggest different solutions and then aid in the migration from the old system to the new one. Your responsibilities could involve training staff to use new Microsoft software.

• Information Security Manager

  Salary range: $110,500 - $160,500

  The job duties of an information security manager involve overseeing the effort to protect networks, computers, and data from cyber attacks, viruses, and other security breaches. In this career, your responsibilities include creating IT security features that can protect your company’s data. In addition to building systems to protect against hacking, you must also be ready to lead the response when a security breach occurs. As an information security manager, you are responsible for creating and implementing practices and policies that employees can use to protect their employer's networks and data.

• Embedded Linux Engineer

  Salary range: $109,000 - $160,500

  The job duties of an embedded Linux engineer revolve around working to develop software and firmware for various devices and computer systems. In this career, you work on products like smart TVs, navigation devices, networking equipment, medical instruments, industrial systems, mobile phones, and other embedded systems that use Linux. In addition to writing and testing code for Linux-based device development, you may work to fix problems with existing systems that use a Linux platform or integrate new software into existing systems.

• SAP GRC Security

  Salary range: $140,000 - $160,000

  SAP GRC refers to solutions which enable organizations to manage regulations and compliance as well as remove any risk in the management of the organization’s operations. GRC stands for governance, risk, and compliance. A job in SAP GRC security may include a role as a specialist or administrator, and your duties and responsibilities are likely dependent on your experience. Some duties in SAP GRC security may include developing a centralized process for security role administration, helping design roles for business and basis users, working with internal audit resources, and ensuring compliance to security policies and control sets.

• Cloud Consultant

  Salary range: $117,000 - $159,500

  A cloud consultant designs, implements, migrates, or maintains cloud applications, processes, or computing systems for an organization. Your job duties often include software installation and hardware configuration as well as customization to fit the company’s needs. Your responsibilities may involve migrating data or legacy applications. You will need excellent communication skills to train both technical and non-technical staff. Staying current with the latest cloud technologies and cybersecurity is essential.

• Cyber Security Consultant

  Salary range: $99,500 - $159,000

  A cyber security consultant works to maintain the safety of their client online. In this career, you monitor the vulnerability of your client's web presence to help keep firewalls working properly and develop a framework of solutions for any areas that are vulnerable. You run assessments of systems and the network, scanning the firewall for weak areas and strengthening those areas before they can be used to infiltrate the network. A single test or scan can help to identify threats and provide a foundation for solutions. Cyber security consultants most often work for cyber security companies, so your job duties may require you to perform this type of breach scanning for multiple clients over time.

• Principal Network Engineer

  Salary range: $117,000 - $158,000

  As a principal network engineer, you are responsible for the daily operations of a computer system. Your responsibilities are to install, organize, and support systems for an organization. The systems you work with often aid a company in its communications, as with local area networks and wide area networks. Other duties include the installation of hardware, regular system maintenance, and optimization of network performance. You might also train individuals in the use of relevant software or hardware. In some cases, you might help with email and data storage.

• Application Security Engineer

  Salary range: $117,500 - $157,000

  An application security engineer is responsible for ensuring the secure function of software application programs. For this career, you must have advanced training in cybersecurity and familiarity with multiple computer programming languages. Your main job duty is to evaluate lines of programming code to make sure a given application is safe from cyber-attack. You perform penetration testing to see if outside sources can "hack" into the application. You also do threat modeling and security code reviews of programming done by other application programmers.

• Cloud Software Engineer

  Salary range: $120,000 - $156,000

  A cloud software engineer is a software developer that is responsible for designing Internet-based computer information systems. In this career, your job duties include designing and distributing software application programs, developing the internet application services, and troubleshooting issues with the deployed solution. The qualifications needed for a career as a cloud software engineer include a bachelor’s degree. However, some employers prefer a master’s degree in computer science or software engineering. There are also certifications available to improve skills. You need strong technical skills and significant experience with internet or cloud-based software applications.

• Cloud Developer

  Salary range: $112,500 - $154,000

  A cloud developer implements engineering principles to develop cloud storage solutions for customers. As a cloud developer, you consult with your clients about their goals and needs and create storage, sharing, and computing services that meet those requirements. You may use a variety of programming languages, data storage techniques, and developer tools to build the appropriate storage architecture. Your duties also involve documenting the design process and providing technical support to users.

• Cyber Security Manager

  Salary range: $111,000 - $150,000

  A cyber security manager works on the protection of information systems, the detection of threats to those systems, and the response to detected threats and cyber attacks. In this career, your duties and responsibilities require you to create a plan that you can enact in case of a cyber attack incident. You also prepare measures to protect your organization or company’s computer and database infrastructure. You may need to train employees within the company on each security measure so that they know how to operate their computers and devices securely. This is a management level position, so you may oversee other security professionals.