Network Technicians: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of network technicians about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for network technicians to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of network technicians expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for network technicians.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Network Technicians?

Do network technicians need a degree? What kind of experience do network technicians typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for network technicians to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Network Technicians

No education was listed by most employers of network technicians. According to job data, no education was required for 46% of positions. In 28% of job listings a High School diploma or GED was required and in 23% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Network Technicians

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for network technicians. In 41% of job postings for Network Technicians, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 29% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 22% of job postings for network technicians.

What Kind of Degree Do Network Technicians Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for network technicians, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 17 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective network technicians, and in 2023 a total of 254,918 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective network technicians.

Top Degree Programs for Network Technicians

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Network Technicians

Certificates & Microcredentials for Network Technicians

What Skills Do Network Technicians Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by network technicians to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for network technicians, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Network Technicians
Based on 11,629 job postings

Based on 11,629 job postings related to network technicians, network routing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 25% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for network switches, telecommunications, local area networks, computer networks and networking hardware were also highly sought.

As for common skills, troubleshooting (problem solving) was the most desired skill found in job postings for network technicians, followed by communication, customer service, operations, management and problem solving.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about network technicians? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for network technicians.

What do network technicians do?
How much do network technicians make?

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