High Pay with Prestigious Credentials
The CCNP salary is based on many different variations in the career field. By understanding these variations, you can make an informed decision as to which direction to guide your career based on your hopes for the future. A certified CCNP is just one of the many credentials that are offered by Cisco Systems, Inc. It validates an IT professional’s capability to troubleshoot and maintain Cisco and related systems. This is a highly prestigious certification because it is so highly recognized and demanded by employers in many fields.
The CCNP salary can range from $45,000 to $140,000 depending on many factors. One factor that is common across all careers is how long an individual has been in the field and with a certain company. For example, many people who obtain their CCNP certification can make $45,000 a more within the first year. This number increases steadily with the biggest pay raises every three years. This is because the CCNP must be renewed and retested every three years in order to ensure the networker is up to speed on the latest developments.
Another factor in determining the CCNP salary is the company that you work for. It is not surprising that working for Cisco is one of the highest paying jobs with salaries ranging from $55,000 to $120,000. However, the highest paying company is General Dynamics Information Technology Inc. A CCNP certified worker can make up to $135,000 if they choose to stay with the company for several years. Other well paying positions are found in the U.S. Army, Verizon Business, Inc, and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). All these companies offer positions with salaries that exceed $100,000.
CCNP Salary – Location
CCNP salary depends much more on geographical location than it does specific companies. This is because if you find yourself in the best city, there will be ample opportunity for improvement and growth. For this reason, the best CCNP jobs are found in larger cities such as New York, Dallas, TX, and Chicago, IL. Larger cities tend to have more technological growth and needs than smaller cities. However, CCNP jobs are available in nearly every city in the country.
The most common job received by those with a CCNP certification is that of a network engineer. Within the network engineer position, there is room for growth and greater financial gain. The basic network engineer can make between $45,000 and $90,000 per year. An IT network engineer with a CCNP certification will make slightly more. A promotion to senior network engineer can result in a salary ranging from $65,000 to $115,000. Additional promotions within each of these sectors will also raise the annual salary. However, CCNP certified networkers make the highest salary when they combine many titles together by receiving another certification or gaining seniority within a company.
CCNP Salary – Education
Because the CCNP certification test is the same all around the country, where a student studies in preparation does not make a significant difference in salary. While the CCNP salary may be slightly higher upon initially entering the job market if you attend a more prestigious institution, the prestige disappears within three years when you must retake the test. The greater focus is on being fully prepared as opposed to uprooting your life to attend the “best” school.
The CCNP salary varies across the board, but one thing remains constant. Obtaining a CCNP certification promises a bright future. There are ample opportunities even in locations that are not renowned for their technological needs which still pay a high CCNP Salary.