How Much Does a Senior Network Engineer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$134,050
Senior network engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $134,050 a year, or $64.45 an hour. Half of senior network engineers earn more than $134,050 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $202,680.
Pay percentiles for senior network engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38.42 | $79,900 |
| 25th | $50.30 | $104,620 |
| 50th (median) | $64.45 | $134,050 |
| 75th | $80.86 | $168,200 |
| 90th | $97.44 | $202,680 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Computer Network Architects (SOC 15-1241). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for senior network engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $168,070 | $80.81 | +25% |
| New Jersey | $162,350 | $78.05 | +21% |
| Maryland | $159,460 | $76.66 | +19% |
| California | $158,870 | $76.38 | +19% |
| Massachusetts | $155,060 | $74.55 | +16% |
| South Dakota | $153,390 | $73.75 | +14% |
| Delaware | $148,390 | $71.34 | +11% |
| Connecticut | $143,890 | $69.18 | +7% |
| Virginia | $141,340 | $67.95 | +5% |
| New York | $140,390 | $67.49 | +5% |
| United States | $134,050 | $64.45 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many senior network engineers are there?
BLS counts about 179,740 senior network engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Computer Network Architects”. The most jobs are in Colorado (16,380), California (14,870) and Texas (13,650).
The mean (average) annual wage is $139,580, higher than the median of $134,050.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $11,171
- Biweekly
- $5,156
- Weekly
- $2,578
- Daily (8 hours)
- $516
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do senior network engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for senior network engineers is $64.45. The middle 50% earn between $50.30 and $80.86 an hour.
Which state pays senior network engineers the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for senior network engineers at $168,070, +25% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for senior network engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of senior network engineers earn less than $79,900 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.