Network Engineer Salary
BLS reports this occupation as "Computer Network Architects" (15-1241); every figure on this page is for that BLS occupation.
Network engineers design, implement, and maintain computer networks including LANs, WANs, and cloud networks. They ensure reliable, secure, and performant network infrastructure.
National Salary Distribution
Top Paying Cities for Network Engineer
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $172,650 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $166,760 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $163,010 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $160,650 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $159,820 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $157,700 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $147,510 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $143,800 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $139,230 |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | $137,900 |
Highest After Local Prices
| # | City | Price Level | At National Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | 111.1 | $155,354 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | 108.3 | $148,385 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | 108.9 | $146,780 |
| 4 | New York, NY | 112.6 | $144,817 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | 115.6 | $144,240 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | 111.9 | $140,946 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | 103.6 | $138,810 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | 97.3 | $138,072 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | 95.5 | $137,490 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | 92.2 | $137,125 |
Network Engineer Salary — All Cities
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $133,500 | $172,650 | $208,820 | $243,590 | 3,710 |
| San Francisco, CA | $128,690 | $166,760 | $211,740 | $242,150 | 3,350 |
| New York, NY | $128,610 | $163,010 | $191,120 | $216,880 | 10,230 |
| Boston, MA | $122,880 | $160,650 | $173,780 | $211,820 | 5,240 |
| Washington, DC | $127,050 | $159,820 | $178,420 | $216,560 | 9,370 |
| San Diego, CA | $114,840 | $157,700 | $180,520 | $212,050 | 1,490 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $121,020 | $147,510 | $174,410 | $212,130 | 3,500 |
| Chicago, IL | $120,070 | $143,800 | $169,500 | $205,340 | 5,400 |
| Denver, CO | $124,200 | $139,230 | $168,520 | $206,270 | 10,260 |
| Dallas, TX | $106,020 | $137,900 | $167,670 | $186,370 | 5,900 |
| Portland, OR | $106,150 | $137,200 | $165,910 | $185,760 | 1,050 |
| Charlotte, NC | $116,470 | $134,410 | $168,000 | $173,800 | 2,350 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $104,010 | $134,230 | $152,960 | $171,700 | 1,670 |
| Atlanta, GA | $94,270 | $133,890 | $168,250 | $186,150 | 5,880 |
| Austin, TX | $103,310 | $133,710 | $166,740 | $188,670 | 1,700 |
| Miami, FL | $104,360 | $133,650 | $166,490 | $194,420 | 1,940 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $103,440 | $131,990 | $165,100 | $176,830 | 3,330 |
| Columbus, OH | $101,770 | $131,260 | $163,210 | $180,790 | 1,270 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $101,300 | $130,680 | $157,080 | $180,750 | 1,010 |
| Nashville, TN | $106,240 | $129,370 | $160,380 | $175,500 | 1,650 |
| Richmond, VA | $102,380 | $129,210 | $162,330 | $178,370 | 870 |
| Detroit, MI | $98,700 | $128,830 | $158,480 | $171,800 | 1,570 |
| Memphis, TN | $102,480 | $126,400 | $140,180 | $168,850 | 630 |
| Houston, TX | $82,550 | $124,900 | $158,220 | $171,760 | 2,200 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $96,930 | $123,410 | $146,280 | $166,360 | 1,110 |
| Raleigh, NC | $98,470 | $120,640 | $142,260 | $173,910 | 2,190 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $84,790 | $106,310 | $133,040 | $168,050 | 570 |
| El Paso, TX | $78,710 | $102,400 | $130,210 | $155,960 | 140 |
| Louisville, KY | $71,810 | $101,040 | $130,240 | $169,300 | 620 |
5About the Network Engineer Role
Network engineers design, implement, and maintain computer networks including LANs, WANs, and cloud networks. They ensure reliable, secure, and performant network infrastructure.
Compensation for Network Engineers varies by metro — from $101,040 at the low end in Louisville, KY to $172,650 in Seattle, WA. The $71,610 gap is a gap in dollars. The second table above lists the 10 highest medians after each is restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, which can change the order.
For side-by-side comparisons between specific metros, use the compare links above or the salary calculator. For state-level figures, see network engineer salary by state, or browse all occupations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Network Engineer salary in the US?
The national median Network Engineer salary is $134,050 per year, per the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimate. The 25th percentile is $104,620 and the 90th percentile reaches $202,680.
Which city pays Network Engineers the most?
Among the 29 metro areas covered here, Seattle, WA has the highest median wage for Network Engineers at $172,650 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025). San Francisco, CA ($166,760) and New York, NY ($163,010) are next.