What is the salary and career path for a director of network operations?
Director of network operations maps, on a broad basis, to Computer and Information Systems Managers (SOC 11-3021), the BLS code for managers who plan and direct technology operations. OEWS May 2025 sets the median at $175,140 a year ($84.20 an hour), from $107,550 at the 10th percentile to $297,510 at the 90th, with company size and the scale of infrastructure owned setting the range. Employment Projections show 15.2% growth over 2024–2034, much faster than average, with roughly 55,600 openings a year across the code. No license is required; the role is reached through years of network engineering and operations leadership, and a degree plus ITIL and vendor certifications are typical.
- Director of Network Operationss earn a national median $175,140/yr ($84.20/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3021); the top 10% clear $297,510.
- No license is required; the role is reached through network-engineering experience plus ITIL and Cisco certifications and operations leadership.
- BLS projects 15.2% growth for 2024–34 across the computer-and-information-systems-manager code, much faster than average, with about 55,600 openings a year.
- The ladder runs from NOC manager through director to VP of network operations near $297,510.
Career Path
How do you become a director of network operations?
Network Operations Manager
Runs a NOC shift or region under the director; pay near the BLS 10th percentile for the code.
Director of Network Operations
Owns NOC, incident and capacity across the network — around the $175,140 median.
Senior Director / AVP Operations
Leads multi-site operations and engineering budgets; earnings near the 75th percentile.
VP of Network Operations
Sets network-operations strategy company-wide; top-decile pay near the 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays director of network operationss the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3021. National median: $175,140. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does director of network operations pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles director of network operationss most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: director of network operationss rank 1 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +15.2% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly director of network operationss clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3021 (director of network operationss) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do director of network operationss need?
The standard framework for incident, problem and change management a NOC director owns. See all state licences →
Advanced networking certifications that establish the technical depth behind the leadership role.
Program-management and people-leadership credentials for running budgets and teams.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do director of network operationss use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 11-3021
Salary Levers
How do director of network operationss earn above the $175,140 BLS median?
Scale of infrastructure owned
Directing a large carrier-grade network moves pay from the $175,140 median toward the top decile.
Availability and SLA record
A proven reliability and incident-reduction track record lifts earning power above the $107,550 entry tier.
Advancement to VP operations
Senior-director and VP-of-network-operations roles reach toward the $297,510 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a director of network operations worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3021. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Director of Network Operations Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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