Is CCNA Worth It in 2026? US Salaries, Job Outlook and Our Answer
Network jobs still pay well above the US median, but the market has shifted. We looked at the newest Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers so you can decide with real data.
“Is the CCNA still worth it?” is one of the most searched certification questions in the US, and the answers online range from “absolutely” to “networking is dead.” Neither is true. The honest answer depends on which job you want and what else you bring to the table.
We pulled the newest figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), released with May 2025 wage data and projections for 2025 to 2035, and added the practical context we give learners in class. Here is the full picture.
What network jobs pay in the US
The BLS groups networking work into a few occupations. These are national median annual wages from May 2025, meaning half of workers earn more and half earn less.
| Occupation (BLS) | Median pay, May 2025 | Projected change 2025 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|
| Computer network support specialists | $76,220 | Support roles overall: about 3% decline |
| Network and computer systems administrators | $99,130 | About 4% decline |
| Computer network architects | $134,050 | 8% growth |
| Information security analysts | $129,180 | 21% growth |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Two things jump out. First, every networking role pays well above the national median for all jobs. Second, the classic “network administrator” title is projected to shrink slightly, while network architects and security analysts are growing.
That does not mean admin jobs are disappearing overnight. The BLS still expects about 13,400 openings for network and systems administrators every year, because people retire, get promoted or change careers. Network support specialists and user support roles add tens of thousands more openings a year. There are jobs. They just reward people who can do more than one thing.
Where pay is highest
Location matters a lot in the US. Pay for the same title runs much higher in expensive metro areas like the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, New York and the Washington DC region than in smaller markets. Federal contractors in Northern Virginia, Maryland, San Antonio, Colorado Springs and San Diego hire heavily for network and security staff, and many of those roles also require a security certification such as Security+ under the Department of Defense 8140 rules.
Remote work has narrowed the gap somewhat, but hands-on network jobs still lean toward on-site or hybrid, because someone has to touch the switches. If you live outside a major metro, look at hospitals, school districts, state agencies, banks and managed service providers. They hire steadily and value a CCNA.
What the CCNA actually proves
Employers do not hire a certificate. They hire someone who can keep the network running. The CCNA is useful because it is one of the few entry-level credentials that proves practical skill:
- You can subnet quickly and plan an IP addressing scheme.
- You can configure VLANs, trunks and inter-VLAN routing on Cisco gear.
- You can read a routing table and get OSPF neighbors up.
- You can secure a switch port, write an ACL and configure NAT.
- You can troubleshoot with
showcommands instead of guessing.
Hiring managers for network operations center (NOC) roles, junior network engineer positions and field technician jobs use the CCNA as a filter. It will not guarantee an offer, but it often decides who gets the first phone call.
When the CCNA pays off fastest
In our experience, the certification pays for itself quickest in four situations.
You are already in IT support. Help desk technicians with a CCNA can move into network support or NOC roles, often with a real raise. This is the most common and most reliable path.
You work in a Cisco shop. If your company runs Cisco switches and routers, the CCNA is the natural next step and is often tied to promotion criteria.
You are leaving the military. Veterans with any technical background tend to land network and security roles quickly, especially near bases and federal contractors. The GI Bill can reimburse certification exam fees, and many transition programs cover training.
You plan to go into security. Security analysts spend their days reading network traffic. A CCNA plus Security+ (or CCNA Cybersecurity) is a strong combination for SOC analyst roles, and that is the fastest-growing job in the table above.
When it pays off slowly
The certification on its own is a weaker bet if:
- You have no IT experience at all and are not willing to start in a support role. Very few employers hire a junior network engineer with zero work history, CCNA or not.
- You only memorize answers. Interviews for network roles almost always include live troubleshooting or whiteboard subnetting. If you cannot do it under pressure, the certificate will not help.
- You stop at the CCNA forever. Pay climbs when you add automation (Python, Ansible, APIs), cloud networking or security on top.
The real cost in dollars and hours
The exam costs $300 to Cisco. Self-study materials can run from almost nothing to a few hundred dollars. Structured training ranges much higher.
Time is the bigger cost. Most beginners need 120 to 200 hours of study and lab practice to pass, which works out to three to five months at 8 to 10 hours a week. People already working in IT often finish faster.
If you compare that to the pay gap between a help desk role and a network support role (roughly $61,860 versus $76,220 median, according to the BLS), the math works out quickly for most people who make the move.
Where AI fits
A lot of people worry that AI will replace network engineers. What we see is different: AI tools are making good engineers faster, and Cisco has added AI in network operations to the CCNA v2.0 exam starting in 2027. The work that gets automated first is repetitive configuration. The work that stays human is design, troubleshooting unusual failures and deciding what the automation should do. The CCNA teaches exactly the fundamentals you need to supervise those tools instead of being replaced by them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a job with just a CCNA and no experience?
It is possible, but it is the hard way. Most people who land a network role with no prior IT job do it through an internship, a NOC night shift, a field technician role or a contract position. Applying for help desk roles at the same time as network roles roughly doubles your chances, and many employers promote from the help desk once you are inside.
Do I need a college degree for network jobs?
The BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for network administrators, but many US employers accept certifications and experience instead, especially for support, NOC and technician roles. Government and large enterprise jobs are more likely to require a degree. Smaller companies and managed service providers care far more about what you can do.
How long does the CCNA stay valid?
Three years. You can renew it by passing the current CCNA exam again, by passing a higher-level Cisco exam such as a CCNP concentration exam, or by earning continuing education credits through Cisco training.
Is the CCNA harder than Security+?
Most people find the CCNA harder because of the hands-on configuration and troubleshooting. Security+ covers more breadth but less depth, and it does not ask you to configure live devices.
Our honest answer
Yes, the CCNA is worth it in 2026 for most people who want a career in networking or security, with two conditions. Pair it with real hands-on practice, and plan your next step (security, automation or cloud) before you finish.
If you are deciding between starting now or waiting for the new exam, read our guide to CCNA v2.0 changes in 2027. If you are completely new to IT, our comparison of CCNA vs Network+ will help you pick the right first certification.
Salary and outlook figures come from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 wages, 2025 to 2035 projections). Individual pay varies by location, experience and employer.