CompTIA Network+

networking Entry-level Updated: 2026-04-15 Methodology

CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) validates the essential skills needed to establish, maintain, troubleshoot, and secure networks in any environment. It covers network architecture, security, troubleshooting, and industry standards across wired and wireless networks.

$75K
Avg Salary
78%
Pass Rate
28.0K
Job Listings
80h
Study Time
$358
Exam Cost

Is the CompTIA Network+ Worth It?

Strengths

  • Solid salary potential at $75,000 average
  • High employer demand with 28.0K active job listings
  • Achievable exam with 78% community-reported pass rate

Considerations

  • Moderate exam investment at $358
  • Has prerequisites — not suitable for complete beginners

Bottom line: At $358 exam cost with an average salary of $75,000, the CompTIA Network+ offers a solid return on investment for networking professionals. Not sure if this is the right choice? See how it stacks up in our CompTIA Network+ vs Cisco CCNA (200-301) comparison.

Who Should Get the CompTIA Network+?

This certification is a good fit if you are:

  • Anyone targeting roles that list CompTIA Network+ as preferred or required

This certification is a key step on the Network Engineer career path.

Exam Details

Exam CodeN10-009
Exam Cost$358 USD
Duration90 minutes
Questions90
Passing Score720/900
ProviderCompTIA
Difficulty4/10

Salary Data

Professionals holding the CompTIA Network+ certification earn between $50,000 and $105,000 annually, with an average of $75,000. For context, the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty averages $145,000.

Job market demand trend: Stable (+4% YoY)

Disclaimer: Salary figures are US-median estimates compiled from BLS wage statistics, Glassdoor, and job-posting aggregates. They are estimates only, not financial advice or a guarantee of earnings. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, employer, and negotiation.

Prerequisites

  • No formal prerequisites
  • CompTIA A+ certification recommended
  • 9-12 months of networking experience recommended

Skills Covered

Network ArchitectureNetwork SecurityNetwork TroubleshootingIP Addressing & SubnettingWireless NetworkingNetwork ServicesCable & ConnectivityCloud & Virtualization Concepts

Best Study Resources

Comparisons Featuring CompTIA Network+

Career Paths With CompTIA Network+

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is CompTIA Network+ worth it in 2026?
Yes. Network+ remains a widely recognized vendor-neutral networking certification. It's valued for help desk, network admin, and junior infrastructure roles. It also meets DoD 8570 requirements for certain government IT positions.
How hard is the Network+ exam?
Network+ is moderately challenging. It requires understanding of subnetting, network protocols, and troubleshooting scenarios. Most candidates with 2-3 months of dedicated study pass on the first attempt.
Should I get Network+ or CCNA?
Network+ is vendor-neutral and broader, ideal if you're unsure about specializing. CCNA is Cisco-specific, deeper on routing/switching, and better if you're targeting Cisco environments. Network+ is often the stepping stone before CCNA.

Sources for every data point

Each quantitative claim on this page is mapped to a verifiable source. Official vendor pages and government datasets are preferred; community estimates and editorial extrapolations are flagged explicitly.

Data point Source Tier Last checked
Exam duration CompTIA — official exam guide
Pattern-generated from vendor URL convention. Pending manual verification against the current exam guide PDF.
Official verified 29d ago
Exam code CompTIA — official certification page
Pattern-generated from vendor URL convention. Pending manual verification against the current exam guide PDF.
Official verified 29d ago
Passing score CompTIA — official exam guide
Pattern-generated from vendor URL convention. Pending manual verification against the current exam guide PDF.
Official verified 29d ago
Exam price CompTIA — official certification page
Pattern-generated from vendor URL convention. Pending manual verification against the current exam guide PDF.
Official verified 29d ago
Question count CompTIA — official exam guide
Pattern-generated from vendor URL convention. Pending manual verification against the current exam guide PDF.
Official verified 29d ago
Job listings LinkedIn — active US postings mentioning "CompTIA Network+"
Count sampled quarterly; fluctuates daily.
Aggregate verified 29d ago
Average salary Glassdoor — CompTIA Network+ role salary (US)
Aggregate from public salary postings. Cross-checked against BLS OEWS for the closest SOC category.
Aggregate verified 29d ago
Salary range Glassdoor + Payscale — CompTIA Network+ salary distribution
10th–90th percentile derived from public salary aggregators.
Aggregate verified 29d ago
Pass rate Community consensus — CompTIA pass-rate discussions
Most vendors do not publish pass rates. Community data is self-reported with survivor bias.
Community verified 29d ago
Study hours Community consensus — certification subreddits and TechExams threads
Typical range for candidates with modest prior experience in the domain.
Community verified 29d ago
Demand trend LinkedIn + Indeed — multi-quarter listing comparison
Editorial summary of YoY listing change.
Editorial estimate verified 29d ago

Data Sources & Transparency

  • Salary data — Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor, and job posting aggregates (US median)
  • Job listings — LinkedIn, Indeed, and Dice active postings (sampled quarterly)
  • Pass rates — Community-reported estimates from Reddit, TechExams, and certification forums
  • Exam details — CompTIA official certification documentation