How To Become A Network Associate: What It Is and Career Path

What is a network associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted Expert

Laura Kier

The average network associate salary is $67,481. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an electrical engineering major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a network associate. Network associates with a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 18,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a Network Associate?

Laura Kier

Network Design and Administration Instructor

Students graduating from the Computer Network Design and Administration program will enter the job market with a solid foundation in networking technologies. Above that they should also be able to develop and demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Networking has a strong emphasis on teamwork and being able to communicate well with customers, co-workers and teammates is vital. Attaining certifications in Cisco, Linux, Windows, and security will also help the student stand out within the industry (classes in the program help to learn the knowledge needed to attain certifications). Students should participate in any local or online communities and groups to enhance skills and knowledge and find networking opportunities.

ScoreNetwork AssociateUS Average

Salary

5.3

Avg. Salary $67,481

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.7

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 13.67%

Black or African American 7.85%

Hispanic or Latino 11.58%

Unknown 5.00%

White 61.59%

Gender

female 28.40%

male 71.60%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress Level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.7

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.1

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a network associate

Explore network associate education requirements

Most common network associate degrees

Bachelor's

65.6 %

Associate

19.6 %

Master's

7.5 %

Start to develop specific network associate skills

Skills	Percentages
Troubleshoot	11.63%
Switches	9.85%
Network Devices	5.40%
Technical Support	4.89%
Lan	3.87%

Complete relevant network associate training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New network associates learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a network associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real network associate resumes.

Gain additional network associate certifications

Network associate certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific network associate certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for network associates include Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

More About Certifications

Research network associate duties and responsibilities

Manage site to site as well as remote access VPN solutions.
Manage remote host through by accessing it through VPN to manage the network remotely.
Create locally manage and centrally manage gateways on checkpoint firewall.
Work with network technologies: WAN/LAN, TCP/IP, VLAN, VTP, HSRP and NAT.

Prepare your network associate resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your network associate resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a network associate resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Network Associate Resume templates

Build a professional Network Associate resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Network Associate resume.

Apply for network associate jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a network associate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do network associates rate their job?

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Network Associate reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019

Pros

talking to people

Cons

outside weather, I work as a network technician and the main problem I always encounter is the cold weather.