How To Become A NOC Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a noc engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Maryam Farahani

Network operations center (NOC) engineers are responsible for monitoring and controlling large computer networks from a central location. They monitor the performance and capacity of the computer systems and respond to network issues. They oversee the safe installation of hardware and cabling systems as well as perform regular checks on the network hardware and software. NOC engineers earn an average salary of $67,000 annually or $32 per hour.

NOC engineers respond to network alerts and hardware malfunctions and respond to user requests while providing network training. They prepare status reports and enhance integration to evaluate production infrastructures. They also oversee all production networks, servers, and services while maintaining network security systems and processes. A great NOC engineer is detail-oriented and possesses excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.

NOC engineers typically hold a bachelor's degree in computer networking, electrical engineering, computer science, or other relevant fields. They are expected to have proven experience as a NOC engineer and the ability to work flexible hours.

What general advice would you give to a NOC Engineer?

Maryam Farahani

Engineering Instructor, Bakersfield College

Thinking about the fields they want to experience or try. And to be intentional about their job search. The best advice is learning as much as they can about what company offers. Visualizing themselves in the next 5 years as a starting point. Do they want to travel a lot, or be in management positions? Do they want to be subject matter expert, or a hands-on engineer or technologist? Their goal may change as they progress in their career but having one makes a big difference in their career choices and keeping them on track.

ScoreNOC EngineerUS Average

Salary

5.1

Avg. Salary $64,721

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 12.51%

Black or African American 8.28%

Hispanic or Latino 11.99%

Unknown 5.03%

White 61.88%

Gender

female 9.36%

male 90.64%

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 noc engineer

Explore noc engineer education requirements

Most common noc engineer degrees

Bachelor's

57.7 %

Associate

28.2 %

Master's

5.9 %

Start to develop specific noc engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	9.91%
Troubleshoot	7.77%
Network Operations	4.40%
Tcp Ip	3.93%
Switches	3.59%

Complete relevant noc engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New noc engineers 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 noc engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real noc engineer resumes.

Gain additional noc engineer certifications

Noc engineer 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 noc engineer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for noc engineers include CCNP Service Provider Operations (CCNP) and Network 5 Certification.

More About Certifications

Research noc engineer duties and responsibilities

Install patches and manage requested software and OS packages on company and customer-own collocated servers.
Configure and manage redundant and high availability network design using HSRP, VRRP and GLBP.
Operate and manage BSS/BTS and RF equipment's, AbisLink and update support status of microwave radio.
Manage the F5 BigIP GTM/LTM appliances to include writing iRules, SSL offload and everyday task of creating WIP and VIPs.

Prepare your noc engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your noc engineer 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 noc engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable NOC Engineer Resume templates

Build a professional NOC Engineer 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 NOC Engineer resume.

Apply for noc engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a noc engineer 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 noc engineers rate their job?

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NOC Engineer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019

Pros

Working with new Technology