Network Operations Center Engineers
Overview
Introduction
A network operations center (NOC) is a centralized location where an organization’s network (routers, servers, switches, etc.), databases, firewalls, and other information technology (IT) infrastructure is located. Network operations center engineers design, install, configure, administer, monitor, repair, and maintain computer networks and other infrastructure to ensure that it’s functioning as designed and that systems are protected from cyberattacks. When a problem (connection issues, malware attack, etc.) is detected, they asses...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
NOC engineers earned salaries that ranged from $40,000 to $86,000 in 2021, according to PayScale.com. They received an average salary of $59,087.
Engineers receive benefits such as paid vacation and sick days, health and life insurance, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, and access to a savings and pension program. Some receive bonuses, professional development financial a...
Work Environment
Network operations centers are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so the work is shift-oriented. Many new hires are assigned night and weekend shifts until they gain seniority.
Travel is required for some positions since some large companies and government agencies have several NOCs—either to manage different networks or to provide a backup site in case one site becomes unavailable.
...Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor does not provide an employment outlook for NOC engineers, but it does report that job opportunities in the related field of network and computer systems administration are projected to increase about as fast as the average for all careers from 2019 to 2029. Demand is growing for NOC engineers as result of the increasing size and complexity of computer networks, the ...