The following article discusses the career path of Network Analyst. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Network Analysts.
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Job Duties
Network analysts are a specialized type of IT professional. Their goal is to maintain the computer network system of their organization. They assist and work together with network engineers and a range of other IT professionals to ensure all software, hardware, and peripherals are properly maintained. Specifically, they monitor and maintain servers, workstations, and connectivity devices. Furthermore, they are responsible for the development, design, implementation, and review of the entire network.
Network analysts have a very varied job. While they usually have a desk in an office, they often have to work outside of this in a climate-controlled room. Additionally, they have to be physically fit, as they often have to work outdoors in different temperature extremes, climb machinery, and generally work in unfriendly environments. Often, they also have to work unsociable hours.
Other job duties of a network analyst are:
- To coordinate the servicing, testing, monitoring, and planning of the network system
- To install cables and otherwise maintain the overall data communications network
– To organize and develop the load configuration of the organization’s central communication processor
- To resolve issues with the network
- To find new and improved products from third party vendors and make recommendations on these
Where We Work
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 100,000 information security analysts in 2016, a profession closely related to that of the network analyst. The largest employers of these professionals were:
- Computer systems design and related services: 28%
- Finance and insurance: 19%
- Management of companies and enterprises: 9%
- Information: 8%
- Administrative and support services: 6%
How to Become
A network analyst is generally expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in a field related to telecommunications or computer science as a minimum. That said, experience does weigh heavily in this industry, not in the least because computer systems change so regularly and rapidly.
Education Requirements
A network analyst should hold a bachelor’s degree in a field related to programming, information assurance, or computer science as a minimum. It is becoming common for employers to look for those who hold a master’s degree, wit the master of business administration (MBA) being particularly popular.
That said, work experience is often even more important for a network analyst. This ensures that they understand computer systems and networks, and that their knowledge is current and up to date. Additionally, it is common for them to become network analysts in industries in which they previously worked. For instance, someone who worked as an IT support officer in a health care environment will be more likely to be hired as a network analyst in that same environment.
A number of different licenses and certifications exist that a network analyst could choose to complete. Certification is not mandatory in most cases, but it is preferred as it demonstrates someone’s commitment towards excellence, while at the same time showcasing that their knowledge is up to date, as continuous education is generally required to maintain certification. The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is a particularly popular certification.
Traits & Qualities
The most effective network analysts have the following traits to some degree or other:
- Strong analytical skills
- Detail oriented
- Ingenuity
- Excellent problem solving skills
- Ability to think outside of the box
- Strong communication skills, particularly verbal
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s Degree
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$20,000
$144,000
The following section lists Network Analyst salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Utah had the largest quoted salary of $137,798 while Kentucky had the smallest quoted salary of $43,123.
According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Network Analyst. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.
| Employer Name | Location | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Access Staffing LLC | Texas | $130,820 |
| Career Elites | Maryland | $129,806 |
| Piper Companies | Virginia | $120,901 |
| Progressive Global Energy | Texas | $111,174 |
| Department of Homeland Security | California | $110,910 |
| ProFound Staffing, Inc. | Texas | $110,714 |
| CyberCoders | Maryland | $110,208 |
| Robert Half Technology | Iowa | $104,527 |
| i10 Agile | Virginia | $98,882 |
| Wavsys | Nevada | $98,000 |
| TEKsystems | Kansas | $95,966 |
| Revolution Technologies | South Carolina | $95,000 |
| Meggitt Sensing Systems | California | $95,000 |
| Phacil, Inc | Maryland | $92,633 |
| Request Technology | Ohio | $92,103 |
| ComputerPeople | New York | $91,667 |
| Humboldt State University | California | $91,122 |
| MBL Technologies | DC | $90,431 |
Learn More
- Information Security Analysts : Occupational Outlook …
- How Can I Become a Computer Network Analyst? – Learn.org
- Network Analyst: Career and Salary Facts – learn.org
| Career Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Compliance Officer | $69,393 |
| Human Resources Manager | $69,342 |
| Procurement Analyst | $69,088 |
| Communications Manager | $68,895 |
| Hospitality Manager | $68,555 |
| Treasury Analyst | $68,044 |
| Business Operations Manager | $68,007 |
| Insurance Manager | $67,560 |
| Network Administrator | $66,871 |
| Financial Analyst | $66,611 |
