Entry Level Network Engineer

Hi guys,

Is $65k a good amount for an entry level network engineer?

My role will be assisting network engineers and senior network engineers to deploy networks. Documentation and first line troubleshooting network issues.

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initiald

In USD? Man, sounds good to me? They still hiring?

How big is the place? You supporting one location or several? Country-wide? Worldwide?

mrkorean

Yes in USD, its a global company deploying networks around the world.

Yes they are hiring... me :P

georgemc

Depend upon the location, your educational background and of course, experience level. Also be sure to consider the breadth of responsibility involved. But it sounds pretty good at first glance. And LOL, as initiald said, are they still hiring?

mrkorean

Lets presume the location is in US. My experience level is basic troubleshooting and prechecking the configs, never done a change on a live network before. We will be deploying networks over MPLS and during the interview I was asked to name all the components of a MPLS network ie CE/CPE, RD, RT, LSP, LDP, VRF, VPN, iBGP MP-BGP etc.

Ye Gum Noki

That is an excellent salary for an entry level network engineer, no matter where you are.

Congratulations,

mrkorean

Thank you, its my first real network job and I only passed my CCNA 3 months ago.

drakhan2002

mrkorean wrote:

Is $65k a good amount for an entry level network engineer?

That's a bit on the high side for an entry level network engineer. I would have pegged it closer to 45K-50K. But more power to you! Congrats on getting 65K.

mikej412

mrkorean wrote:

its my first real network job and I only passed my CCNA 3 months ago.

SCORE!

mrkorean wrote:

I was asked to name all the components of a MPLS network ie CE/CPE, RD, RT, LSP, LDP, VRF, VPN, iBGP MP-BGP etc.

Sounds like you may be driving some of the big rigs real soon now!!

iDShaDoW

65k is really good. I'm really envious. :P

How much prior IT experience did you have even if it wasn't networking, etc?

You have a Bachelor's degree too?

deneb829

That's a great salary!
What city do they pay that much? You must be in the Bay Area!

Mishra

www.salary.com

bmauro

Agreed that for the Bay Area, or someplace like NYC, then the salary would be a good starting salary (65K in NYC is around 30k where I live). So if you live in one of the more expensive areas, then 65K sounds reasonable, if you live in a small market, then good find!

Location, location, location - why do people always forget that??

Nonetheless, sounds like an awesome job - congrats!

TechJunky

Where are you located? I would check salary.com as described by others.

65k for an entry level Network Engineer is not bad here, but by no means anything above average.

Most IT guys here make 60k for an Administrator, analyst, engineer position. However, I personally hate salary due to all the overtime hours you spend working on projects in this state.

Good luck, and congrats on the new job! I dont know anything about your background, but with just the CCNA cert I am impressed you were able to land a Network Engineer position. Most poeple wouldnt even get an interview where I live for a Network Engineer position with just a CCNA, let alone a network analyst position.

royal

TechJunky wrote:

65k for an entry level Network Engineer is not bad here, but by no means anything above average.

Where is "here?" You do not have a location specified in your profile?

TechJunky

Anchorage, Alaska.

IT is BIG here.

kaynaan

"I was asked to name all the components of a MPLS network ie CE/CPE, RD, RT, LSP, LDP, VRF, VPN, iBGP MP-BGP"

if im not mistaken, the above mentioned ****, (i only got vpn ), is not CCNA level knowledge, ??? otherwise im a very deficient CCNA.

EdTheLad

kaynaan wrote:

"I was asked to name all the components of a MPLS network ie CE/CPE, RD, RT, LSP, LDP, VRF, VPN, iBGP MP-BGP"

if im not mistaken, the above mentioned ****, (i only got vpn ), is not CCNA level knowledge, ??? otherwise im a very deficient CCNA.

Yep all mpls terms.

markzab

EdTheLad wrote:

kaynaan wrote:

"I was asked to name all the components of a MPLS network ie CE/CPE, RD, RT, LSP, LDP, VRF, VPN, iBGP MP-BGP"

if im not mistaken, the above mentioned ****, (i only got vpn ), is not CCNA level knowledge, ??? otherwise im a very deficient CCNA.

Yep all mpls terms.

Under his name he has...

Certifications: CCNA CVOICE

I don't know much about that cert but is that the MPLS stuff?

bmauro

Describe the similarities and differences between PSTN and VoIP including call transport, call signalling and bandwidth requirements

* Identify PSTN characteristics, transport
* Explain TDM and statistical multiplexing as it relates to telephony
* Identify VOIP characteristics, transport
* Compare operation of PSTN call signalling to VoIP call signalling

Configure a router so that a basic IP Telephony call can be completed

* Configure dial-peer settings for VoIP or POTs
* Configure POTs ports (FXS and FXO)
* Configure E&M
* Explain default dial-peer
* Explain matching inbound/outbound dial peers
* Configure hunt groups
* Explain digit collection, consumptions and manipulations
* Configure gateway/gatekeeper
* Configure call signalling

Troubleshoot a basic IP telephony configuration

* Use show/debug commands to troubleshoot invalid dial-peer configurations
* Use show/debug commands to troubleshoot invalid port configuration and operation
* Use show/debug commands to troubleshoot invalid signalling configuration
* Use show/debug commands to troubleshoot invalid hunt-group configurations
* Use show/debug commands to troubleshoot invalid digit manipulation

Successfully integrate a basic IP telephony network into the existing PSTN network

* Explain port requirements for connection to a PBX
* Explain signalling requirements for connection to a PBX
* Choose correct connection type between PBX and VoIP networks
* Compare and contrast a traditional dial plan to a VoIP Dial Plan
* Identify telephony infrastructure terms (ie. LEC, CLEC, RBOC, ILEC, IXC)

Converse with traditional TDM support personnel using their terminology

* Identify TDM signaling
* Identify port and line types
* Identify addressing signalling

Describe the basic operation and components involved in a VoIP call

* Explain RTP, RTCP, cRTP
* Explain H323
* Explain MGCP
* Explain SIP
* Explain E&M
* Describe the process of analog to digital conversion
* Describe the process of compounding and compressing
* Explain the process of packetization (frames, codec types)
* Choose the appropriate codec for a given situation
* Explain the function/operation/purpose of call-legs
* Explain voice quality considerations
* Explain the purpose and value of QoS

Successfully connect a basic VoIP net to the PSTN

* Choose the correct gateway connection to the PSTN
* Determine proper signalling options
* Describe digit manipulation
* Explain E164 addressing

markzab

Err, was that an answer to my question?

If it was...a simple yes may have been easier.

mikej412

markzab wrote:

Err, was that an answer to my question?

No -- it's the tasks from the CVOICE blueprint.

MPLS is a CCIP exam, but some MPLS has been added to one of the new CCNP exams.

From the 642-825 ISCW exam blueprint

Implement Frame-Mode MPLS.

    * Describe the components and operation of Frame-Mode MPLS (e.g., packet-based MPLS VPNs).
    * Configure and verify Frame-Mode MPLS.

Compare that to the 642-611 MPLS exam

snadam

65k is more towards the 75th pertentile for an entry level network engineer in my area (AZ). They generally make about 57k. From my standpoint, and having no knowledge of location/requirements, thats not a bad starting salary.