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
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
Best Study Resources
CompTIA Network+ Official Study Guide
CourseProfessor Messer Network+ Training
Practice ExamsJason Dion Practice Exams — Udemy
Comparisons Featuring CompTIA Network+
Cisco CCNA vs CompTIA Network+
CCNA and Network+ are the two certifications every aspiring network professional considers — but they serve different pu...
CompTIA A+ vs CompTIA Network+
CompTIA A+ vs Network+: two foundational IT certifications that launch tech careers. A+ focuses on hardware, troubleshoo...
CompTIA Network+ vs Security+: Which to Get First?
CompTIA Network+ and Security+ are two of the most popular entry-to-intermediate IT certifications, and the question of ...
Career Paths With CompTIA Network+
More Networking Certifications
View all →AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty
Amazon Web Services · Professional
Cisco CCNP Enterprise
Cisco · Professional
Cisco CCNA (200-301)
Cisco · Associate
CompTIA Server+
CompTIA · Entry-level
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CompTIA Network+ worth it in 2026?
How hard is the Network+ exam?
Should I get Network+ or CCNA?
Explore other options in networking: AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty, Cisco CCNP Enterprise, and more in our Networking Certifications hub.
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