What is the highest salary of CCNA?

As of January 2026, the highest salaries for a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) in the United States can exceed $ 135 , 000 $ 1 3 5 , 0 0 0 – $ 150 , 000 $ 1 5 0 , 0 0 0 annually, typically for senior roles in high-cost-of-living areas or specialized positions. While the average salary is around $ 82 , 000 $ 8 2 , 0 0 0 – $ 103 , 000 $ 1 0 3 , 0 0 0 , top earners in the 90th percentile reach up to $ 123 , 500 $ 1 2 3 , 5 0 0 – $ 141 , 000 + $ 1 4 1 , 0 0 0 + .

Is CCNA still worth in 2025?

Yes, the CCNA is still very much worth it in 2025 for a networking career, offering essential foundational skills, strong job prospects in network administration and security, and a great ROI as a gateway to advanced certifications, despite the evolving landscape with cloud and automation. While some manual tasks are changing, the core understanding of network fundamentals provided by the CCNA remains critical for supporting modern, complex IT environments and cybersecurity roles, making it a valuable entry-point and foundational credential. 

Is CCNA higher than Security+?

Neither CCNA nor Security+ is universally "better"; they serve different career paths, with Security+ being a vendor-neutral cybersecurity baseline for general security roles (especially government/DoD), while CCNA is a deeper, vendor-specific networking certification for building network infrastructure on Cisco systems, though both offer strong foundations and entry points into IT, with CCNA often considered harder due to its technical depth. Choose Security+ for broad security principles and CCNA for hands-on network engineering.
 

How much does a CCNA make in 2025?

Average CCNA salary in 2025

According to CyberSeek, there are 240,971 job openings for networking professionals, and the CCNA is the most requested certification. In the U.S., the average CCNA salary falls between $75,319 and $87,000, with a rough average of around $81,828.

Which cisco certification is the highest paying?

The Top-Paying Cisco Certifications

• CCNP Data Center pays on average $152,793.
• CCNP Enterprise pays on average $144,912.
• Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist pays on average $141,008.
• CCNP Collaboration pays on average $134,694.
• Cisco Certified Cybersecurity Associate pays on average $130,611.
• CCNA pays on average $112,333.

Is it worth getting the CCNA in 2026 ? - Jobs, Salaries and More!

Can I make $200,000 a year in cyber security?

Yes, making $200,000 a year in cybersecurity is achievable, especially in senior roles like CISO, Security Architect, or Lead Software Security Engineer, or with specialized skills in high-demand areas, though it's less common and typically requires significant experience, certifications, and potentially strategic career moves like moving into sales engineering or management. Entry-level to mid-level roles usually start lower, but a clear career path with continuous learning can lead to six-figure incomes and beyond, with some tech giants even offering $200k+ for early-career security engineers. 

Is CCNA or CCNP higher?

CCNA is an associate-level certification that evaluates a professional's understanding of switching and routing fundamentals. In contrast, CCNP is an advanced certification that demands a more in-depth knowledge of WANs, LANs, and their integration.

Is CCNA worth IT now?

The answer to the question of CCNA worth is yes, CCNA is absolutely worth it in 2026 and beyond. The networking industry continues to evolve, but the fundamental skills taught in CCNA remain critically important. With the increasing complexity of digital networks, networking professionals are more valuable than ever.

Is $50,000 a good entry level salary?

Yes, $50k is generally a decent starting salary, often considered middle-class and comfortable for a single person in lower to medium cost-of-living areas, but its value heavily depends on your location, field of work, and expenses, potentially requiring budgeting in expensive cities or certain industries. It's a solid baseline for recent graduates, especially in high-demand fields, and provides a good foundation for career growth, but managing it requires awareness of your local market. 

What is the CCNA salary in the USA?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $135,000 and as low as $30,500, the majority of Ccna salaries currently range between $60,000 (25th percentile) to $103,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $123,500 annually across the United States.

Is network+ or CCNA better?

The choice between CCNA vs CompTIA Network+ depends on your goals. CompTIA Network+ offers versatility and a flexible starting point for networking careers. CCNA provides technical depth for those focused on Cisco-based networking roles.

Is CompTIA still relevant in 2025?

Yes, CompTIA certifications, especially CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+, remain highly relevant and valuable in 2025 for launching and advancing IT careers, serving as globally recognized credentials for foundational skills, opening doors to entry-level jobs (like help desk, support), meeting employer requirements (including for the DoD), and providing building blocks for advanced specializations, with new, more targeted certifications also being introduced to keep pace with tech evolution. 

What's above CCNA?

Cisco offers three main levels of certification—CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE—each of which builds upon the previous level and provides increasingly advanced networking knowledge. In this article, we will compare these certifications and explain what each entail.

What is the hardest Cisco exam?

The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) is widely regarded as Cisco's most challenging certification. Earning the CCIE requires passing both a rigorous written exam and an extensive eight-hour, hands-on lab exam.

Is CCNA changing in 2026?

Very helpful. In this regard, I came across the news that beginning Feb. 3, 2026, Cybersecurity certifications will get new names: CCNA Cybersecurity and CCNP Cybersecurity. Exam topics will remain the same.

Is CCNA equivalent to a degree?

They signal to recruiters that you have relevant knowledge and give you an advantage over candidates without a cert or degree. So, if they both provide similar benefits, is the CCNA equivalent to a degree? Not exactly. There are some scenarios where a CCNA won't act as a good substitute for a traditional degree.

Is $63,000 a year a good salary?

Yes, $63,000 is generally a good salary, often considered middle-class and above the median individual income, allowing for a comfortable life in many areas for a single person; however, its value significantly depends on your location's cost of living (high-cost cities require more) and your individual financial needs/expenses, supporting basic needs plus savings in most places but requiring careful budgeting in expensive areas like NYC or San Francisco. 

Is Cisco better than CompTIA?

CompTIA provides vendor-neutral IT fundamentals (like Network+ for broad knowledge), focusing on theory and universal concepts, making it a great starting point; while Cisco certifications (like CCNA) are vendor-specific, diving deep into practical, hands-on configuration and management of Cisco hardware, ideal for specializing in enterprise networking, often requiring foundational CompTIA knowledge first. Think of CompTIA as the "what" and "why" of IT, and Cisco as the "how" with a specific, industry-leading brand.
 

What career path is best after CCNA?

You can pursue roles like Network Support Engineer, Help Desk Technician, Junior Network Engineer, and Technical Support Associate.

Is CCNA forever?

CCNA certification is valid for three years from the date of certification. For example, if you earned your CCNA certification on October 1, 2021, it remains valid until October 1, 2024. After that point, recertification is necessary.

Is CCNA good for 2025?

In 2025, the CCNA remains a worthwhile investment for anyone aspiring to a career in networking, network security and even technical project management or sales. It not only provides a strong foundation in networking principles but also enhances your job prospects, and can lead to higher earning potential.

What is the fail rate for CCNA?

The exam is challenging, and according to Certstaffix, 95 percent of test takers fail on their first attempt. However, that shouldn't put you off because the overall pass rate is still around 85 percent, according to different sources.

Can I complete CCNA in 3 months?

Yes, you can complete your CCNA studies in 3 months with a focused and structured study plan. Dedicate consistent daily hours to cover all exam topics and engage in hands-on practice.