How to become a network engineer in Australia
Computer Network and Systems Engineers plan, develop, deploy, test and optimise network and system services, taking responsibility for configuration management and overall operational readiness of network systems, especially environments with multiple operating systems and configurations, and provide troubleshooting and fault-finding services for network problems.
Pay and growth are for the wider computer network professionals group, which is as fine as the data goes. The all-jobs median is $1,852 a week. Jobs in the computer network professionals group are projected to grow 25.2% between May 2025 and May 2035, faster than the 13.3% projected for all jobs. Projections are indicative, not forecasts, and JSA says they don't yet reflect generative AI.
What the job involves
- Analyses, develops, interprets and evaluates complex system design and architecture specifications, data models and diagrams in the development, configuration and integration of computer systems.
- Researches, analyses, evaluates and monitors network infrastructure to ensure networks are configured to operate at optimal performance.
- Assesses and recommends improvements to network operations and integrated hardware, software, communications and operating systems.
How to get there
What it usually takes. A bachelor degree or higher. This is the skill level Jobs and Skills Australia gives the computer network professionals group, and some roles differ.
What people in the job have. Highest qualification held: 62% a degree or higher, 15% a diploma, 7% a Certificate III or IV.
Many jobs also need registration, a licence or a specific accredited course. Check the professional body or regulator before you choose.
Courses that can lead here
Estimate your ATAR and this page shows the gap to each course. Your marks stay on your device.
Victoria56 matches
VTAC lowest selection ranks, December 2025 offer round.
Information Technology (Professional) · RMIT, City85.00 Information Technology · Monash, Clayton75.00 Information Technology (Degree) · RMIT, City70.15 Information Technology · Deakin, Melbourne Burwood65.70 Information Technology (Software Engineering major) · La Trobe, Melbourne58.25 Information Technology (Bachelor) · La Trobe, Melbourne56.45 Information Technology (Cybersecurity) · Federation, Berwick54.75Diplomas and other ways in
Information Technology (Associate Degree) · RMIT, City46.50 Information Technology (Associate Degree) / Information Technology (Degree) · RMIT, City47.40Showing 12 of 56 matches. Search every course.
NSW and ACT72 matches
UAC lowest selection ranks, December Round 2, 2025-26 admissions.
Bachelor of Information Technology (Dean's Scholar) · Wollongong96.25 Bachelor of Information Technology Dip Information Technology Professional Practice · UTS83.20 Bachelor of Information Technology · UTS82.15 Bachelor of Information Technology · Wollongong75.80 Bachelor of Information Technology · Macquarie75.30 Bachelor of Information Technology · Newcastle70.50 Bachelor of Information Technology · Charles Sturt66.25 Bachelor of Information Technology · Canberra61.60Diplomas and other ways in
Showing 12 of 72 matches. Search every course.
Queensland94 matches
QTAC course pages, ATAR/Selection Rank profile for semester 1, 2026.
Bachelor of Information Technology · UQ, St Lucia85.90 Bachelor of Information Technology · QUT, Gardens PointOnline70.00 Bachelor of Information Technology · UNE, Armidale67.20 Bachelor of Information Technology · Griffith, Brisbane South (Nathan)63.25 Bachelor of Information Technology · JCU, Townsville63.05Diplomas and other ways in
Showing 12 of 94 matches. Search every course.
Western Australia12 matches
TISC Course Search: lowest ATAR offered for 2026 entry and guaranteed offer ATARs.
Bachelor of Information Technology · Curtin, Perth70.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Information Technology · ECU, Joondalup70.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Information Technology and Business · Murdoch, Perth70.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Information Technology in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems · Murdoch, Perth70.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Technology (Computer Systems and Networking) · Curtin, Perth70.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Information Technology in Business Information Systems · Murdoch, Perth60.05 Bachelor of Information Technology in Computer Science · Murdoch, Perth60.05 Bachelor of Information Technology in Cyber Security and Forensics · Murdoch, Perth60.05Showing 8 of 12 matches. Search every course.
Matched on course names, 234 across four admissions centres. A lowest selection rank includes adjustment points and moves every year. Check prerequisites and whether the course is accredited for this job.
Graduate outcomes, national
Undergraduates surveyed about four to six months after finishing, in 2025, across all providers. Full-time work is among those available for it. All graduates: 75.4% and $77,000. These are national figures for the study area, not for this course or uni, and a first-year salary says little about later pay. Source: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025.
Does it fit your interests?
Strongest interest areas for this kind of work: Investigative, Conventional, Realistic.
From O*NET ratings for "Computer Network Architects", the closest US occupation in JSA's correspondence (a acceptable match). US ratings are a guide to Australian jobs, not a measurement of them.
Careers with similar interests
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Share your storyJob data: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, February 2026 and Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (Victoria University), CC BY 4.0. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.2 to O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy correspondence.
Graduate outcomes: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025, National Report Tables (Social Research Centre, for the Australian Government).
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Curve ATAR has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.