Network Engineer Salary in India 2026 (Freshers to Experienced)

Thinking about becoming a network engineer in India? One of the first questions that comes to mind is: what is the network engineer salary in India, and how much can you actually earn?

Salary plays a big role when choosing a career, especially in a field like IT where growth opportunities matter. In this blog, you’ll get a clear breakdown of the from freshers to experienced professionals. We’ll also explore how salaries increase over time and how certifications, skills, and real-world experience can help you earn more.

What Does a Network Engineer Do?

A network engineer is responsible for designing, setting up, and managing computer networks within an organization. This includes handling internet connectivity, internal office networks, and communication between different devices to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Their key responsibilities involve configuring network systems, troubleshooting issues, and maintaining network security to protect against cyber threats. They also monitor network performance and optimize systems to improve efficiency.

Since businesses depend heavily on reliable and secure networks for daily operations, skilled professionals are always in demand. As a result, career growth is strong, and salaries increase steadily with experience and expertise.

Network Engineer Salary in India 

The network engineer salary in India depends on factors like experience, skills, certifications, and the company you work for. While the starting salary is moderate, it increases steadily as you gain practical knowledge and industry experience.

Here’s a simple table to make it easy to understand for you all:

Experience Level	Average Salary (Per Year)	Salary Range (Per Year)	Monthly Salary
Fresher (0–2 yrs)	₹3.5 LPA	₹2.5L – ₹5L	₹20K – ₹40K
Mid-Level (3–5 yrs)	₹7 LPA	₹5L – ₹10L	₹40K – ₹80K
Experienced (6–10 yrs)	₹12 LPA	₹10L – ₹18L	₹80K – ₹1.5L
Senior (10+ yrs)	₹18+ LPA	₹15L – ₹30L+	₹1.5L – ₹2.5L+

If you look at the network engineer salary per month india, it increases quite well over time. Though the starting pay may feel average, it improves as you gain hands-on experience and with certifications. This is why the overall it networking salary india is considered stable and it is definitely rewarding in the long run.

Fresher Network Engineer Salary in India

For beginners, salary largely depends on skill level and certifications. Candidates with hands on knowledge or certifications tend to get better offers.

• Basic knowledge: ₹2.5L – ₹3L
• With CCNA: ₹3L – ₹5L
• With internship experience: ₹3.5L – ₹6L
• With CCNA + skills (Linux/Python): ₹4L – ₹7L

Certifications like CCNA can give you a clear advantage in starting salary and job opportunities.

Also, if you look closely, certifications like CCNA can clearly improve your starting pay. That’s why the ccna salary india is often higher as compared to someone with only basic knowledge. Also, adding skills like Linux or Python helps even more, because companies look for practical ability and not just theory anymore!

So, even though the fresher network engineer salary starts at a moderate level, it can increase at a much faster rate if you focus on the right skills and certifications.

Salary Based on Experience

The network engineer salary in india changes a lot with experience. In the beginning, the pay is generally lower, but it increases step by step as you learn more and handle bigger responsibilities. So growth in this field is quite steady to say the least.

0–2 Years (Fresher Level)
At this stage, the focus is on learning and gaining hands-on experience. The salary usually ranges between ₹2.5L to ₹5L per year. The network engineer salary per month india at this level is around ₹20K to ₹40K, depending on your skills and company.

3–5 Years (Mid-Level)
After a few years, you start handling real projects and solving issues on your own. Salaries increase to around ₹5L to ₹10L per year. Because of this growth, many people see better stability in their networking jobs salary at this stage.

6–10 Years (Experienced Level)
With solid experience, you move into more advanced roles. The salary can go from ₹10L to ₹18L or more. At this point, the network engineer salary in india becomes quite attractive since you are handling critical systems.

10+ Years (Senior Level)
At senior level, you may lead teams or manage entire networks. Salaries can go beyond ₹15L and even reach ₹30L+. Thus, the it networking salary india at this stage is considered high, especially in top companies.

Overall, salary keeps growing with time, because experience brings better skills, responsibility, and value to the company.

CCNA Salary in India 

The ccna salary india is usually higher compared to someone without certification. CCNA is one of the most popular networking certifications and it helps you prove your practical knowledge. Because of this, companies often prefer certified candidates.

For freshers, having CCNA can increase the starting salary from around ₹2.5L–₹3L to ₹3L–₹5L or more. This is a clear boost at the entry level, and hence it gives you an advantage during job interviews.

If you compare a certified and non-certified candidate, the difference is definitely noticeable. A non-certified person may get fewer opportunities, although they can still grow with experience. But someone with CCNA can get better roles faster, and thus improve their overall network engineer salary in india early in their career.

So, if you are serious about becoming a Network Engineer, getting CCNA Course can make a big difference in both job opportunities and salary growth.

Salary Based on Job Roles

The network engineer salary in India also varies depending on the role you choose within the networking domain. While all roles are related, each requires a different level of expertise, which directly impacts salary.

For instance, a Network Administrator typically focuses on daily operations, maintenance, and basic troubleshooting, so the salary is comparatively lower. On the other hand, specialized roles like Network Security Engineer or Cloud Network Engineer involve advanced skills such as security management and cloud infrastructure, which results in higher pay.

Here’s a simple comparison:

Job Role	Average Salary (Per Year)	Range
Network Engineer	₹6 LPA	₹3L – ₹12L
Network Administrator	₹5 LPA	₹3L – ₹10L
Network Security Engineer	₹8 LPA	₹5L – ₹18L
System Engineer	₹6.5 LPA	₹4L – ₹12L
Cloud Network Engineer	₹10 LPA	₹6L – ₹20L

If you notice, advanced roles offer higher pay, because they require deeper knowledge and experience. Though you may start with a basic role, you can move into better positions over time. Hence, the network engineer salary in india improves not just with experience, but also with the role you choose in your career path.

Salary by Top Cities in India

The network engineer salary in India also depends and varies on the city you work in. This happens because some cities have more IT companies, better opportunities and higher demand for skilled professionals.

• Bangalore: Bangalore offers some of the highest salaries because it is the main IT hub of India. 
• Hyderabad: Hyderabad is growing fast in the IT sector. Salaries are slightly lower than Bangalore, but still good. 
• Pune: Pune has many IT parks and companies and it offers decent salaries for networking roles. 
• Delhi NCR: Delhi NCR also has strong opportunities, especially in corporate and service-based companies. 

The network engineer salary in india is not fixed, because it depends on several important factors. If you improve these areas, your salary can increase much faster.

Certifications (CCNA, CCNP)
Certifications play a big role, because they prove your skills. For example, the ccna salary india is usually higher than someone without certification. Advanced certifications like CCNP can increase it even more.

Experience
The level of experience has an enormous impact on salaries. Companies are willing to pay more for engineers with experience so as you work on real projects, your knowledge improves and brings value back to the company. 

Company
The company you work for also affects your salary. For example, big tech companies and MNCs usually pay more, although smaller companies may offer less in the beginning.

Skills (Python, Cloud, Security)
Skills are very important. If you know tools like Python, cloud platforms, or network security, your value increases. Thus, the it networking salary india becomes higher for skilled professionals.

To understand how certification helps in detail, check out What is the CCNA Course? Full Information, which explains everything for beginners

How to Increase Your Salary 

If you want to grow your network engineer salary, you need to focus on the right steps. Just having a degree is not enough anymore to be honest, because companies look for practical skills.

Get Certifications
Start with CCNA and then move to advanced ones like CCNP. Certifications help you stand out and also improve your job chances.

Learn Cloud Networking
Cloud is growing fast, so learning platforms like AWS or Azure can boost your salary. Many companies prefer cloud knowledge these days.

Gain Hands-On Experience
Practice is very important. Try labs, internships, or real-world tasks because experience helps you understand networking better.

Build Projects
Create small networking projects or labs. This shows your practical skills, and hence it increases your chances of getting better-paying jobs.

Conclusion

The network engineer salary in india starts at a quite basic level; however, the potential is good for growth over time. Fresh graduates often earn less in the beginning but with experience and by improving skills, the salary can increase to a very good level. 

If you keep learning and continue to strengthen your skillset in network engineering, you can begin to build a successful career in this field. Examples of ways to do this could include obtaining certification(s), gaining hands-on experience, and staying updated with new technologies.Start with CCNA to boost your career with PM Networking .

FAQs

1. What is the salary of a network engineer in India?
The network engineer salary in india varies over time, and can be between 2 to 12 lakh a year depending on the experience level of professionals.

2. What is fresher salary after CCNA?
The fresher network engineer salary after CCNA is usually between 3L to 5L per year and it can even go higher if you also have relevant practical skills and/or internship experience.

3. Is networking a good career in India?
Yes, networking is a good career in India because there is quite good demand for skilled professionals nowadays. Also, the it networking salary india grows well over time with experience and certifications.

4. Which city pays highest for network engineers?
Bangalore usually offers the highest pay because it has many IT companies and strong demand. Hence, the network engineer salary per month india is often higher there compared to other cities.

5. How to increase salary in networking?
You can increase your salary by getting certifications like CCNA, learning cloud and security skills, and gaining hands-on experience. Thus, your overall networking jobs salary improves step by step.