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Network engineer : Salary and conditions

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  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
  3. Entry requirements
  4. Training
  5. Career development
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Case studies

  • Range of typical starting salaries: £20,000 - £25,000 (salary data collected February 2010).
  • Range of typical salaries at a senior level or with experience (e.g. after 10-15 years in the role): £30,000 - £55,000 (salary data collected February 2010).
  • Salary depends on the size and type of organisation you work for, and the size and scope of its computer and network installations. Other factors that contribute to salary include the value of the IT infrastructure, so network engineers in the City of London, for example, can be paid considerably more.
  • Network engineers normally work 37-40 hours per week, nine to five, Monday to Friday. However, engineers are often on call outside office hours at weekends or in the evenings and need to be flexible in case of major technical problems. This responsibility is usually shared out on a rota basis. Some employers expect you to do shift work, although this is less likely at a more senior level.
  • Self-employment and freelance work are possible with experience.
  • Currently, around three-quarters of network engineers are male, although many large companies recruiting graduates are working to encourage more women into the profession.
  • Jobs are available throughout the UK in organisations with large sophisticated IT systems or with consultancies providing support to clients.
  • The job may be stressful and pressured, particularly when things go wrong, as companies are so dependent on their computer networks.
  • If you work as a consultant, you may spend a lot of time at clients’ offices and, on large installations, this may mean spending several weeks away from home or your usual work base. If you work in-house for an organisation, travel away from your work base is unlikely, although you may not spend much time at your own workstation as you will be dealing with problems throughout the organisation.
 
AGCAS
Written by David Williams, AGCAS
Date: 
January 2010
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