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Career · Cyber Security and IT Infrastructure

Network engineer

Also called: NOC engineer

Designs, sets up and maintains the networks that connect offices, data centres and the internet.

Network engineer: dream career or just a good idea?Find out now

DemandSteady

Starting pay₹2.5-5 LPA

Time to first job0 to 6 months after a course or degree

Who can enterDiploma or degree in IT, electronics or CS, plus CCNA

Compass career assessment

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I am in:Class 8-10 Class 11-12 College or fresher Working or switching

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What the work is

Network engineers keep organisations connected. They configure routers, switches, firewalls and Wi-Fi, connect offices and data centres, link to cloud providers and fix problems when the network slows or fails.

Telecom companies, internet providers, data centres, banks and IT service firms all hire network engineers. Cisco certifications are well known and valued by employers.

A typical week

Configure routers, switches and firewalls
Monitor network health and fix outages
Set up VPNs and connections to cloud
Document and plan network changes

It suits people who

Like systems and troubleshooting
Are patient and methodical
Are okay with on-call or shift work

Your path to get there

School (Class 8-10)Class 11-12College or fresherWorking or switching

School (Class 8-10)

Any stream; computer basics help

Class 11-12

B.Tech, BCA, B.Sc IT or a diploma in networking

College or fresher

Earn Cisco CCNA
Practise on simulators like Packet Tracer
Learn Linux and firewall basics

Working or switching

IT support staff move into networking with CCNA
Network engineers move up into cloud networking and security

Returning after a break?

Start with a skills refresh of 6 to 12 weeks: one short course and one TalentMeter assessment to show where you stand today.
Use returnship and second-career programmes; many large employers in India run them for people back after a break.
Explain the gap in one honest line on your CV and LinkedIn, and list what you did in it (caregiving, freelancing, courses, volunteering).
Contract, part-time and freelance roles are a common way back in; they turn into full-time offers often.

Exams and certifications

Name	What it is for	When
Cisco CCNA ↗	Core networking certificate	Any time
Cisco CCNP	Advanced networking	After experience
CompTIA Network+	Networking basics	Any time

Exam names, eligibility and dates change. Always check the official website for this year's notice.

Job market

Job titles to search

Network engineerNetwork administratorNOC engineerNetwork security engineerCloud network engineer

Who hires

Telecom and internet providersData centresIT servicesBanksGovernment

Where the jobs are

BengaluruPuneMumbaiChennaiDelhi NCRHyderabad

See openings on Naukri ↗See openings on LinkedIn Jobs ↗See openings on Indeed ↗

These buttons open a live search for "Network engineer" on each job site. TalentMeter does not list or vouch for the jobs there.

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