Hiring a network engineer: the market today
The short answer ·
703 open postings ask for a network engineer as of Oct 8, 2026, from 144 employers. The median advertised pay is $135,000, taking the midpoint of each posted range. 413 of those postings are new in the last 30 days, so expect competition.
703open postings
144employers hiring
$135,000median advertised pay
413new in 30 days
Who you're competing with
Open postings · Ayla, 2026-10-08
What it pays
Advertised pay (range midpoints), 517 postings with pay · OPM actual pay, Aug 2026
Questions buyers ask
How hard is it to hire a network engineer?
Hard. 144 employers are hiring the role right now, led by General Dynamics IT with 66 open postings.
What should I pay a network engineer?
Advertised pay centers on $135,000. Federal staff in series 2210 average $147,543 in actual pay.