A network automation engineer in the US earns between $109,000 and $128,000 a year on average, with senior professionals pulling in $160,000 or more. That’s roughly 15-25% higher than what traditional network engineers make at the same experience level.
Not bad for a role that barely existed a decade ago.
The catch? Gartner says 67% of enterprise network activity is still manual in 2026. That gap is exactly why demand for people who can automate it keeps climbing. If you’re wondering what this role actually involves, what it pays, and whether it’s worth retraining for, here’s the real data.
You’ll see pay ranges by experience level, the tools and skills that command the highest salaries, and a clear path into the field.
What Is a Network Automation Engineer?
A network automation engineer designs, builds and maintains systems that replace manual network configuration with code-driven workflows. Instead of logging into 200 switches one by one to push a config change, an automation engineer writes a Python script or Ansible playbook that does it in minutes.
Think of it this way. A traditional network engineer is a skilled mechanic who tunes each engine by hand. An automation engineer builds the assembly line that tunes thousands of engines with zero manual touch.
Core responsibilities include:
- Writing Python scripts to automate repetitive network tasks
- Building Ansible playbooks for configuration management across hundreds of devices
- Designing CI/CD pipelines for network infrastructure changes
- Creating self-healing systems that detect and fix network issues automatically
- Managing infrastructure as code with Terraform
- Integrating network systems through REST APIs, NETCONF and YANG models
This isn’t “networking with some scripting.” It’s a distinct discipline that combines deep networking knowledge with software development skills.
Network Automation Engineer Salary Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what three of the largest salary trackers show, cross-checked for 2026.
| Percentile | Annual Salary | What This Means |
|---|---|---|
| 25th (entry) | $89,000 – $103,000 | New to automation, 1-2 years experience |
| 50th (mid) | $109,000 – $128,000 | Solid experience, 3-5 years |
| 75th (senior) | $133,500 – $160,000 | Senior engineer, team lead |
| 90th (top) | $143,000 – $228,000 | Principal engineer, architect level |
That top-end number isn’t a typo. Salary.com lists the highest-paid network automation engineers at up to $228,589 a year, typically principal engineers or architects at major tech companies or financial institutions. ZipRecruiter’s own breakpoints line up closely with the table above ($89K at the 25th percentile, $133.5K at the 75th, $143K at the 90th), and Glassdoor’s current average sits higher still, around $131,000. The range above reflects that spread rather than picking one platform’s number over another.
The Automation Premium: How Much More Do You Earn?
Network automation engineers earn 15-25% more than traditional network engineers at the same experience level, and the gap widens at senior level.
| Role | Average Salary | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Network Engineer (traditional) | $95,000 – $110,000 | Baseline |
| Network Automation Engineer | $109,000 – $128,000 | +15-25% |
| Senior Network Automation Engineer | $133,000 – $160,000 | +25-35% |
Why the premium? Supply and demand. The pool of people who understand both networking and software development is small, and the demand keeps growing.
The pattern holds across career stages: engineers who add Python and Ansible to a CLI-only skill set see roughly a 35% salary jump, and the jump compounds further once cloud platforms are added on top.
Network Automation Engineer Salary by Experience Level
Your pay trajectory depends heavily on how quickly you stack skills and certifications.
Entry-Level (0-2 Years)
Salary range: $89,000 – $109,000
At this level, you’re expected to know the basics: Python scripting, basic Ansible playbook creation, and fundamental networking concepts (CCNA level or equivalent). Most entry-level roles ask for:
- CCNA or equivalent networking certification
- Basic Python proficiency
- Familiarity with version control (Git)
- Understanding of REST APIs
Entry-level automation engineers still out-earn entry-level traditional network engineers, who typically start around $66,000 to $75,000.
Mid-Level (3-5 Years)
Salary range: $110,000 – $135,000
Mid-level engineers build production automation systems, not just scripts. Employers want:
- Advanced Ansible and Terraform skills
- Python libraries like Netmiko, NAPALM and Nornir
- CI/CD pipeline design for network changes
- CCNP or DevNet Professional certification
- Experience with NETCONF, RESTCONF and YANG models
Senior Level (5-8+ Years)
Salary range: $135,000 – $175,000+
Senior automation engineers design the strategy: which tools to use, how to structure the automation framework, and how to train the rest of the networking team. At this level:
- Architecture design for enterprise-scale automation
- Multi-vendor, multi-cloud automation (AWS, Azure, GCP networking)
- Team leadership and mentoring
- CCIE or DevNet Expert certifications command top dollar
Architect / Principal (10+ Years)
Salary range: $175,000 – $228,000+
Principal engineers and automation architects at Fortune 500 companies or large cloud providers push well past $200K, especially in cities like San Jose, Seattle and Washington, DC.
Network Automation Engineer Salary in Canada
There’s no single tracker that reports “network automation engineer” as its own line item for Canada the way the US platforms do, so the honest picture comes from the two closest adjacent roles:
| Role | Average (CAD) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Network Engineer | $96,663/yr | Indeed Canada, 2026 |
| Automation Engineer | $93,090/yr | Indeed Canada, 2026 |
| Automation Engineer (broader, incl. non-network) | $120,668/yr | Talent.com Canada, 2026 |
A network automation engineer in Canada sits somewhere in that band, likely toward the higher end given the role combines both skill sets. Toronto and Vancouver typically command a premium over the national figures. Compared to the US market, Canadian salaries are lower in absolute terms, but the exchange rate, lower cost of living in many Canadian cities, and universal healthcare narrow the real-world gap.
Top Skills That Boost Your Network Automation Salary
Not all skills pay equally. Ranked by salary impact:
1. Python (Non-Negotiable)
Python is the language of network automation, full stop. It hit a record 26.98% on the TIOBE Index in July 2025, the highest score any language has posted since the index began in 2001, and it’s held the top spot through 2026. Every serious automation job posting lists Python as a requirement.
But it’s not just “knowing Python.” The libraries matter:
- Netmiko – SSH automation for multi-vendor device management
- NAPALM – unified API for network device interaction
- Nornir – orchestration framework for large-scale automation
- pyATS – Cisco’s testing framework for network validation
2. Terraform
Terraform is the dominant tool in the Infrastructure as Code space. CNCF’s 2024 annual survey put its usage share at 76%, well ahead of every other IaC tool. For network automation engineers, Terraform handles the provisioning layer: spinning up cloud network resources, managing DNS zones, configuring load balancers.
3. Ansible
Ansible is the most widely used configuration management tool in network automation. It’s agentless (no software to install on network devices), uses simple YAML syntax, and has broad community support.
4. APIs and Programmability (NETCONF, RESTCONF, gRPC)
Modern network devices expose programmable interfaces. Engineers who can work with NETCONF, RESTCONF, gRPC and YANG data models are significantly more valuable than those who only know CLI-based automation.
5. CI/CD for Networking
Treating network changes like software deployments, with version control, automated testing and staged rollouts, is becoming standard practice. Git, GitHub Actions or GitLab CI, and automated testing frameworks are expected skills.
If you’re coming from a CCNA background, our CCNA 200-901 DevNet guide breaks down exactly which Python skills DevNet tests and how they map to real automation work.
Certifications That Impact Network Automation Salary
Certifications still matter in networking, possibly more than in any other IT discipline.
| Path | Median Salary | Range |
|---|---|---|
| CCNA (Associate Level) | $82,000 | $60,000 – $103,000 |
| DevNet Associate (Automation Entry) | $105,000 | $74,000 – $165,000 |
| CCNP (Professional Level) | $109,000 | $84,000 – $150,000 |
| CCNP + Automation (Professional + DevNet) | $128,000 | $115,000 – $190,000 |
Stacking CCNP with automation skills is a 56% jump over CCNA alone, and roughly a $46,000 difference in median pay versus CCNA on its own. About 32% of certification holders report getting a raise after certifying.
The biggest salary jump doesn’t come from one certification alone. It comes from stacking a networking cert (CCNA or CCNP) with automation skills. That combination signals to employers that you can bridge the gap between traditional networking and modern automation. Our CCNA vs Network+ comparison is the right starting point if you haven’t picked a foundational cert yet.
Why Network Automation Salaries Keep Rising
Two forces are pushing these salaries higher every year.
The 67% Manual Gap
According to Gartner’s Market Guide for Network Automation Platforms, 67% of enterprise network activity is still manual. That’s a lot of inefficiency in a world where every other IT discipline has embraced automation. The companies that want to close this gap need people who can build the automation, and there aren’t enough of those people.
The Growth Prediction
Gartner projects that 30% of enterprises will automate more than half of their network activities by 2026, up from under 10% in 2023. The network automation market itself is valued at $7.88 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $12.38 billion by 2030, a 9.4% CAGR (MarketsandMarkets).
When demand is high and supply is low, salaries go up. That’s exactly what’s happening here. Our AI in Networking guide covers how AI-assisted tooling is reshaping what “automation skills” means for 2026 and beyond.
How to Become a Network Automation Engineer
If you’re a network engineer looking to transition, or starting fresh, here’s the practical path.
Step 1: Build Your Networking Foundation
You can’t automate what you don’t understand. Start with solid networking fundamentals, CCNA level at minimum. Understand routing protocols, switching, firewalls, VLANs and basic network design.
Step 2: Learn Python for Networking
You don’t need to become a full-stack developer. Focus on:
- Data structures (lists, dictionaries, JSON handling)
- Libraries: Netmiko, Paramiko, NAPALM
- Working with APIs (requests library, JSON parsing)
- File handling for configs and templates (Jinja2)
Step 3: Master Ansible for Network Automation
Ansible is your bread and butter. Learn to write playbooks, build dynamic inventories, use network-specific modules (ios_config, nxos_config), and structure projects with roles.
Step 4: Add Infrastructure as Code (Terraform)
Terraform completes the automation stack. Learn provider configuration, state management, and how to automate cloud networking resources.
Step 5: Get Certified
Stack your certifications strategically:
- CCNA (networking foundation)
- DevNet Associate (proves programming and API skills)
- CCNP or DevNet Professional (senior-level credibility)
A structured workbook with real scenarios beats passive video for this stage. The CCNA Automation Workbook and the DevOps Workbook both walk through hands-on labs rather than just theory.
Step 6: Build a Portfolio
Create real automation projects. Automate a home lab. Build Ansible playbooks that configure virtual routers. Contribute to open-source network automation tools. Employers want to see what you’ve actually built, not just what you’ve studied. Our home lab setup guide covers building a practice environment in a weekend.
Network Automation Engineer vs Related Roles
How does this compare to similar positions?
| Role | Average Salary (2026) | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Network Automation Engineer | $109,000 – $128,000 | Automates network infrastructure |
| DevOps Engineer | $120,000 – $145,000 | Broader scope, app + infra automation |
| Cloud Network Engineer | $115,000 – $140,000 | Cloud-specific networking |
| Traditional Network Engineer | $85,000 – $110,000 | Manual configuration focus |
| Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) | $130,000 – $165,000 | Reliability + automation for all systems |
The network automation engineer role sits in a sweet spot. It pays more than traditional networking but doesn’t require the full software engineering depth of an SRE or DevOps role, and it’s a strong launchpad if you want to grow into DevOps or SRE later.
Top-Paying Cities for Network Automation Engineers
Location still matters, even with remote work options. ZipRecruiter’s 2026 city-level data for this specific role:
| City | Estimated Salary |
|---|---|
| Fremont, CA | $139,780 |
| Seattle, WA | $124,090 |
| New York, NY | $119,293 |
| Chicago, IL | $112,327 |
Remote roles based in lower cost-of-living areas while paying closer to major metro rates tend to offer the best effective salary. Check current listings for your specific city and experience level, since these figures shift month to month.
Bottom Line
Network automation engineers earn $109,000 to $128,000 on average in 2026, with senior roles pushing past $160,000 and top earners clearing $228,000. The automation premium over traditional network engineering is real: roughly 15-25% at equivalent experience levels, growing to 25-35% at senior level.
The market forces favour this path. With 67% of networking still manual and a 3x increase in automation adoption predicted by Gartner, demand for qualified automation engineers keeps growing.
The fastest path in:
- Get your networking fundamentals solid (CCNA)
- Learn Python and Ansible specifically for networking
- Add Terraform and CI/CD skills
- Stack a DevNet certification on top
- Build real projects to prove your skills
The salary data is clear, and the market trend is clear. The only question is whether you start building these skills now.
What does a network automation engineer actually do?
A network automation engineer replaces manual network configuration with code-driven workflows, writing Python scripts and Ansible playbooks that configure hundreds of devices at once instead of logging into each one by hand.
How much does a network automation engineer earn in the US?
The average is $109,000 to $128,000 a year, with senior engineers earning $160,000 or more and top earners (principal/architect level) clearing $228,000, according to 2026 data from Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter and Salary.com.
Is network automation engineering worth learning if I’m already a network engineer?
Yes. Automation skills carry a 15-25% salary premium over traditional network engineering at the same experience level, and the gap widens to 25-35% at senior level. Python and Ansible are the two skills that move the needle most.
What certification path leads to the highest network automation salary?
Stacking a Cisco certification (CCNA or CCNP) with DevNet automation skills produces the biggest jump: CCNP plus automation experience carries a median salary roughly 56% higher than CCNA alone.
Do I need a CCIE to work in network automation?
No. DevNet Associate or DevNet Professional, combined with Python and Ansible skills, is enough for most network automation roles. CCIE or DevNet Expert becomes relevant at the architect/principal level.
