19 of the Best Types of Network Engineer Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Network Engineer jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Network Engineer Jobs

• Senior Network Engineer

  Salary range: $104,000 - $142,500

  A career as a senior network engineer requires you have some formal qualifications and post-secondary education, typically a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, computer science, or information technology, as well as five to ten years of experience working in the computer networking field. You may start out in a job as a network administrator or a junior network engineer and gain responsibility as you demonstrate your skills and knowledge. To be an effective senior network engineer you need excellent problem-solving skills, leadership skills, and the ability to work well within a team.

• Entry Level Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  The minimum qualifications to become an entry-level network engineer include a bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer engineering, or a similar discipline. An entry-level network engineer helps plan, build, install, and troubleshoot networks or technology systems for a customer. You should be able to choose proficient with network hardware, infrastructure protocols, and application transport protocols. Familiarity with routers, firewalls, switches, access points, and controllers is important in this position in order to identify faulty hardware or potential security risks. An entry-level network engineer commonly works under the supervision of a senior-level engineer as they gain skills and experience.

• Freelance Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  Freelance network engineers typically have the same qualifications as non-freelance network engineers, including a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a relevant field and professional experience working with an array of networks and computing systems. A network engineering certification program can help you build the necessary skills, such as those needed to troubleshoot various types of networks, optimize a network, and adhere to network security protocols. Most freelance network engineers begin their career working on-site for a company before branching off on their own as a freelancer. You can find freelance network engineer jobs on freelance job search platforms or through remote-friendly technology and telecommunications companies.

• Network Engineer Internship

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  If you are a network engineering, computer science, or information security student, you can get a network engineer internship with a variety of companies in industries ranging from retail sales to software development. As an intern, your duties and responsibilities vary. You may assist in responding to help desk issues, managing a lab, maintaining an inventory of hardware, deploying and configuring networking equipment, and documenting configuration changes. You can also help evaluate and support the organization’s data and infrastructure security efforts, providing analysis of logs and monitoring network status. In some jobs, you also support and troubleshoot email systems and voice over IP phone systems and install and configure software according to company policy.

• Independent Contractor Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  You find Independent Contractors in many different industries, so the path to becoming one varies significantly. In general, you must have several years of experience in the field and have a track record of success in your industry. You also must pursue the kind of work that can be done on a consultant or contract basis. You may possess particular skills or expertise that a company needs temporarily, such as an IT Consultant, or provide a service that is required intermittently, like a Freelance Writer. Many Independent Contractors transition to becoming self-employed to have a more flexible schedule and the ability to choose their clients.

• 3Rd Shift Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  The 3rd Shift is a work shift that covers overnight hours, roughly 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., for businesses that are open or require staff 24 hours a day. There are tradeoffs for people who work these hours. Those who work this shift find that they work when others sleep, and vice versa. While this can be hard, perks can include a lack of traffic en route to work and pay incentives. Some people also work the 3rd shift to be able to hold a second job or to be available to care for their children during the day.

• Virtual Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  A virtual job refers to a job that can be performed outside of an employer’s office. Also known as remote, work from home, or telecommuting jobs, these positions have become increasingly common because of technology like telephones, internet, email, and video conference calls, which help to facilitate employer-employee communication.

• Per Diem Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  Per diem jobs are short-term positions which are paid by the day. The most common per diem job opportunities are in the medical field, including positions in nursing, hospice, pediatrics, and midwifery. Phlebotomists, operating (OR) assistants, and pharmacists may also work on a per diem basis. Per diem employees are often contracted to work as admissions coordinators, recreation coordinators, and assistants.

• Union Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  For those who work for unions, some of the specific jobs include researchers, organizers, administrators, lawyers, communications workers, and clerical staff. Your duties include entering workplaces to speak with workers and provide them encouragement and support if they are interested in joining a specific union, or to negotiate with employers for better working conditions, pay, or benefits for union members. There are numerous types of unions, including health care, public sector, construction, writing, and service workers unions, and they represent a variety of professions, such as nurses, journalists, manufacturers, construction workers, municipal workers, and hotel workers, to name only a few.

• Network Engineer Manager

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  Managers supervise a team of people; they establish goals, assign tasks, and measure progress. The specific responsibilities of someone in a management position will vary based on the company and industry they work in, but their primary responsibilities remain largely the same. Managers monitor the accomplishments of their staff, focusing on the overall goals of the department. They work with Human Resources to determine and address staffing needs, coordinate and delegate responsibilities, check employee performance, and provide additional training and direction when necessary.

• Full Time Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Network Engineer Temporary

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  A Temporary job is an employment arrangement in which both parties, the employee and employer, agree in advance that the position will be filled for a set period. Temporary jobs often are based on employers’ seasonal or specific project needs. Occasionally, Temporary employees will be offered ongoing, full-time positions if their performance is excellent and a position is available. However, you should not assume this will be the case.

• Executive Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  The different types of executive jobs include upper- and senior-level management as well as the C-suite—the highest levels of senior management. The C-suite executives have the word “chief” at the beginning of their titles: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are the most common. Companies with a heavy reliance on information technology may also have a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Other executive jobs include vice president and director of various departments.

• Director Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  A director is a low-level executive in a company or organization that is responsible for a particular project, region, or division. A director of a company is employed to manage the day-to-day business activities of a group or division within an organization. There are different types of directors, but they are all tasked with leading others and meeting the goals of the organization. Directors plan, execute and manage to reach a goal. For example, the sales director would oversee the sales for a particular product or area. An HR director would be tasked with screening applicants and hiring the right candidates, making sure to comply with all employment laws and settling any personnel issues.

• From Home Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  From Home Network Engineer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for From Home Network Engineer jobs pay between $89,000 (25th percentile) and $133,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for From Home Network Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• On Call Network Engineer

  Salary range: $89,000 - $133,500

  When most people think of on-call jobs, medical professionals and first responders typically come to mind. For first responders, like firefighters and EMTs, on-call usually means you are sleeping at the station, ready to wake up and respond to a call quickly. Medical workers, on the other hand, may work a more traditional on-call schedule. While some nurses and doctors may sleep at the hospital, especially during their residency, you may also have an on-call shift where you can leave and go home, potentially never actually coming back. If you want a career as a nurse or doctor but do not like this unpredictability, rest assured that the chance of having on-call shifts decreases as you gain seniority and advanced qualifications. Repair workers like electricians may also work on-call. You may occasionally find on-call jobs in retail or customer service sectors, but this is not as common.

• Junior Network Engineer

  Salary range: $51,500 - $77,000

  The career path in this field starts with getting your college degree. Many junior network engineers get an internship while in college, which is one of the most effective ways of getting experience. Some schools offer these internships to all students, and that should be a factor when you choose a college. Once you have your degree, look for a job as a junior network engineer while you work on getting additional certifications from companies like Microsoft, Cisco, or any major network infrastructure companies. These can help you find a job as a regular network engineer. With several more years of experience, you should be ready for a promotion to senior network engineer status.

• Apprentice Network Engineer

  Salary range: $52,000 - $74,500

  Apprentice Network Engineer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Apprentice Network Engineer jobs pay between $52,000 (25th percentile) and $74,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Apprentice Network Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Network Engineer Trainee

  Salary range: $52,000 - $74,500

  The requirements to get a trainee job vary by industry. In some, such as architecture or accounting, you must graduate from an accredited college program before you can begin work. Other industries, such as retail, manufacturing, or telemarketing, may require only a high school diploma or a GED certificate to begin a training program. No matter what profession you are interested in, you should have strong verbal and written communication and an interest in continuing the career.