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SOC 2137 Science, research, engineering and technology professionals

IT network professionals Salary

Median salary £48,294 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £48,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For it network professionals, £48,907 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +25% versus the national average. Experienced it network professionals (top 25%) earn over £65,107.

About this role

IT network professionals design, implement, manage and troubleshoot computer networks, telecommunications systems and cloud infrastructure. They ensure reliable connectivity, optimise performance and maintain security across an organisation's networking environment.

Key responsibilities

  • Designing and implementing network architectures
  • Configuring and managing routers, switches, firewalls and load balancers
  • Monitoring network performance and troubleshooting connectivity issues
  • Managing cloud networking and hybrid infrastructure
  • Ensuring network security and implementing access controls

Qualifications and entry routes

Typically requires a degree in networking, computer science or IT. Cisco certifications (CCNA, CCNP) are widely recognised. Cloud networking certifications (AWS Advanced Networking, Azure Network Engineer) are increasingly important.

Career outlook

Steady demand, though the role is evolving from physical networking towards cloud and software-defined networking (SDN). SD-WAN and zero-trust networking are growth areas.

Key skills

Network design and configuration Cloud networking (AWS, Azure) Network security Troubleshooting Protocol knowledge (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF)

Common industries

  • Telecommunications
  • Managed service providers
  • Financial services
  • Data centres
  • All enterprise environments

Data coverage

SOC code 2137
Data source ONS ASHE
Years available 2021–2025
Estimated jobs 38,000

Median Salary

£48,294

Mean Salary

£52,576

Jobs (000s)

38k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £33kP25: £39kMedian: £48kP75: £65kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£32,961

0-2 years

Mid Level

£39,410

3-7 years

Senior

£65,107

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +98% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Nominal growth: +23.7%Real growth: +0.1%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£48,294

Full-time Only

£48,907

Full-time premium: +£613

IT network professionals salary: common questions

How much do it network professionals earn in the UK?
IT network professionals earn a median of £48,907 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £39,410 and £65,107.
Is £48,907 a good salary in the UK?
For it network professionals, £48,907 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +25% versus the national average. Experienced it network professionals (top 25%) earn over £65,107.
What is the starting salary for it network professionals?
Entry-level it network professionals typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £39,410, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £32,961.
Have it network professionals salaries kept up with inflation?
Since 2021, median it network professionals pay has risen from £39,170 to £48,907 — +25% in cash terms, or +1.0% after CPIH inflation. That is roughly in line with inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).