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Infrastructure & Cloud2026 dataSalary by location

Network Engineer Salary in India 2026: Benchmarks, Range & Skills

+8.0% YoYMarket research summary
  • Hybrid infrastructure and rising cyber risk maintain demand for hands-on network-security expertise.

The median Network Engineer salary in India is ₹24L in 2026, with a typical range from ₹24L to ₹25.2L. Pay has moved +8.0% year-on-year. Bengaluru currently leads city pay at ₹25.9L. This is base salary for permanent employees. Contracting instead? See day rates for this role below.

What does A Network Engineer do?

A Network Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining network infrastructure including LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, and cloud networking.

Day-to-day responsibilities

  • Configuring Cisco or Juniper switches and routers
  • Managing SD-WAN deployments
  • Maintaining network monitoring tools
  • Troubleshooting connectivity issues
  • Designing network security controls
Low demand+16% SD-WAN (Cisco Meraki, Fortinet)+19% AWS / Azure networking+14% CCNP / CCIE

National Median Salary

₹24L

per year

India annual benchmark • 2026

Salary Range (P25 – P75)

₹24L
₹22.8L₹25.9L

Data quality & confidence

Confidence Score

60%

YoY Momentum

+8.0%

Median salary benchmark

₹24L

annual - 2026

Typical salary range

₹24L-₹25.2L

25th-75th percentile

Year-on-year pay movement

+8.0%

from market research

Forward pay outlook

₹25.9L

Forecasted market posture

Permanent Salary Benchmark for Network Engineer

Permanent salary benchmarks for Network Engineer in India, from the low end to the top of the range, based on published market compensation data.

₹24L
₹22.8L₹25.9L

Low

₹22.8L

P25

₹24L

Median

₹24L

P75

₹25.2L

High

₹25.9L

Network Engineer Take-Home Pay in India (FY 2026-27)

After Income Tax & Cess · single, standard payroll deductions

Entry

Take-home/year

₹21,07,500

Effective rate

12.2%

Median

Take-home/year

₹21,07,500

Effective rate

12.2%

Senior

Take-home/year

₹21,93,960

Effective rate

12.9%

See the full band-by-band breakdown for Network Engineer

Adjust for your actual salary, see each Income Tax (New Regime) and 4% health & education cess band, and get monthly and weekly figures.

Network Engineer market demand in India

Hiring outlook · remote rate · top employers

Hiring outlook

Stable

Remote / hybrid

46%

of roles offer remote or hybrid

Salary growth (YoY)

+8.0%

market is paying more

Top hirers:
Cisco IndiaTCSReliance JioWiproHCLTechInfosys

Full market demand breakdown for Network Engineer

Hiring drivers, remote rate detail, full employer list, and demand FAQs for India.

Market demand guide

Contract day rates available for this role

Median ₹14,842/day, see full breakdown, city rates, and take-home calculator

View Network Engineer day rates →
  • Hybrid infrastructure and rising cyber risk maintain demand for hands-on network-security expertise.

Market Demand & Outlook

Hiring demand, top locations, and career outlook for Network Engineer

Moderate Confidence

Demand level

Low

Based on hiring signals relative to similar roles in this market.

Top hiring locations

BengaluruMumbaiHyderabadDelhi NCR

Career outlook

Strong upward salary momentum

Network Engineer salaries are showing strong movement, with latest benchmark growth at +8.0%.

Network Engineer Salary by Seniority Level

Seniority is the biggest single driver of Network Engineer pay in India. Entry-level roles start at ₹16.3L, rising 147% to ₹40.3L at lead or principal level.

Junior

₹16.3L

₹16.3L-₹16.3L middle band

Mid-level

₹24L

₹24L-₹24L middle band

Senior

₹31.7L

₹31.7L-₹31.7L middle band

Principal/Lead

₹40.3L

₹40.3L-₹40.3L middle band

Skills That Command a Premium for Network Engineers

Certain technical skills push Network Engineer salaries in India significantly above the ₹24L median. These are the most impactful skills to develop or highlight when negotiating.

SD-WAN (Cisco Meraki, Fortinet)

+16%

salary premium vs median

AWS / Azure networking

+19%

salary premium vs median

CCNP / CCIE

+14%

salary premium vs median

Zero Trust networking

+18%

salary premium vs median

How Much Does a Network Engineer Earn by City in India?

Network Engineer salary varies meaningfully by location. Bengaluru commands a +8% premium over the national benchmark (₹25.9L), while Pune sits -5% at ₹22.8L. Location is worth factoring into any offer negotiation.

Why Network Engineer Salaries Are at This Level

Network Engineers in India earn a median salary of ₹24L in 2026, with a typical range from ₹24L at the 25th percentile to ₹25.2L at the 75th percentile. This benchmark reflects published market compensation data for annual pay across the India market.

Bengaluru currently leads city pay at ₹25.9L, which is 8% above the national benchmark. City coverage for this role includes Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi NCR, helping you compare local pay differences without needing separate city-role pages.

At experience level, entry roles start around ₹16.3L, senior roles sit near ₹31.7L, and lead-level roles reach about ₹40.3L. Demand is currently moderate for this role based on recent coverage and salary momentum signals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Network Engineer Salary in India

1

What is the median Network Engineer salary in India?

The median Network Engineer salary in India is ₹24L in 2026. The typical range runs from ₹24L at the 25th percentile to ₹25.2L at the 75th percentile, based on published market compensation data.

2

Is Network Engineer salary increasing in India?

Network Engineer salaries have moved +8.0% year-on-year in India.

3

How does Network Engineer salary vary by city in India?

Network Engineer salaries vary across India. Bengaluru leads at ₹25.9L (+8% vs the national benchmark), while Pune sits at ₹22.8L. Use the city breakdown above to compare all locations.

4

What does a Network Engineer take home after tax in India?

A Network Engineer earning the median ₹24L gross in India will take home a net amount after income tax and other deductions. Use the PayMetric Labs take-home calculator on this page for an exact breakdown by tax band.

5

What experience level earns the most as a Network Engineer in India?

Principal/Lead-level Network Engineers in India earn the most, with a median of ₹40.3L, compared to ₹16.3L at entry level. Seniority is the strongest single driver of pay in this role.

6

How reliable is this Network Engineer salary benchmark?

This benchmark is derived from verified market compensation data and is rated Moderate Confidence. High Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only.

7

Is Network Engineer pay increasing?

An indicative year-over-year signal of +8.0% is available from the latest market research for this role. This figure is directional market research rather than a matched prior-year observation in our own dataset.

8

What should employers and candidates take from this benchmark?

Candidates should compare offers against the ₹24L-₹25.2L middle-market band, while employers should treat ₹24L as the current market midpoint for this role.

Compare Network Engineer pay in another market

The same role has published benchmarks in these markets. Open each local page for its salary range, tax context, and city detail.

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