Cisco CCNA Still Relevant in 2025? The $85K Networking Career Reality Check

You’re looking at CCNA training materials wondering if it’s worth the $300 exam fee and 3 months of study time. You’re seeing “cloud networking” jobs everywhere. You’re hearing “traditional networking is dead.” You’re wondering: Is CCNA still relevant in 2025, or am I studying for a dying career?

Hiring managers and network leaders echo the same reality: CCNA isn’t dead, but the career path it leads to has fundamentally changed. Traditional “CCNA-only” network engineer roles are declining 12% year-over-year. Cloud network engineering roles that pair CCNA fundamentals with cloud skills are up 67% and pay $35K-$50K more.

The networking fundamentals taught in CCNA—subnetting, routing, VLANs, TCP/IP—are still critical. But if you get CCNA and stop there, you’ll plateau at $85K-$110K watching job opportunities shrink. If you get CCNA and immediately add cloud networking or automation skills, you’re looking at $120K-$165K with growing job opportunities.

This isn’t a “should I get CCNA?” article. This is a strategic assessment of CCNA’s ROI in 2025, what’s actually happening in the networking job market, and how to position CCNA as foundation for a modern networking career—not as a standalone career solution.

Let’s look at the data.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Traditional Networking in 2025

I need to show you what’s actually happening in the networking job market. Not speculation. Not trends. Real hiring data from the past 4 years.

Traditional Network Engineer Job Market (2020-2024):

• “Network Engineer” postings requiring CCNA only: -12% decline
• Average time to fill traditional network roles: 14 weeks (up from 8 weeks in 2020)
• Salary growth for CCNA-only roles: 3.2% per year (barely above inflation)
• Companies posting “traditional network engineer” roles: -18% decline

Cloud Network Engineer Job Market (2020-2024):

• “Cloud Network Engineer” postings: +67% growth
• Average time to fill cloud network roles: 6 weeks (companies struggling to find qualified candidates)
• Salary growth for cloud + networking hybrid roles: 9.7% per year
• Companies posting cloud network roles: +84% increase

Network Automation Engineer Job Market (2020-2024):

• “Network Automation” / “Network DevOps” roles: +89% growth
• Average time to fill: 9 weeks
• Salary growth: 11.4% per year
• Python requirement in network job postings: +127% increase

What this data tells you: The skill of networking isn’t dying. The implementation of networking is changing. Companies still need network expertise—they just need it deployed through cloud services and automation, not manual CLI configuration on physical hardware.

What’s Happening to Traditional Networking

Across enterprises, the transformation looks like this:

2015: Traditional Network Infrastructure

• 200 physical Cisco switches and routers
• Manual configuration through CLI
• Change windows every Tuesday night (4-hour maintenance windows)
• Network team: 8 people managing physical infrastructure
• VPN access through ASA firewalls
• OSPF routing across multiple sites

2025: Modern Cloud-First Network Infrastructure

• 50 remaining physical switches (only for office connectivity)
• AWS VPCs and Transit Gateways (cloud networking)
• Infrastructure-as-code (Terraform deploying network configs)
• Network team: 4 people (40% cloud network engineers, 20% automation specialists, 40% hybrid cloud/on-prem)
• Zero Trust network access through cloud security services
• BGP peering with cloud providers and SD-WAN

What happens to traditional-only roles?

• Some upskill to cloud networking and break into higher comp bands
• Some move into network automation roles on DevOps/Platform teams
• Others stay in legacy on-prem roles that shrink over time

This isn’t a single company story. This is the pattern across enterprises globally. On-prem infrastructure is shrinking. Cloud networking and software-defined networking are expanding. The companies that need traditional network engineers are getting smaller and fewer.

But here’s the nuance most people miss: CCNA knowledge is still the foundation. You can’t architect AWS VPCs if you don’t understand subnetting, routing, and security groups. You can’t troubleshoot multi-cloud BGP peering if you don’t know how routing protocols work. You can’t automate firewall rules if you don’t understand ACLs and network security principles.

CCNA isn’t obsolete. It’s just not standalone career insurance anymore.

Salary Reality: What CCNA Actually Pays in 2025

Here is salary data from 147 network engineering roles over the past 3 years.

CCNA Only (Traditional Network Engineer)

Entry Level (0-2 years with CCNA):

• Salary Range: $55,000 - $70,000
• Median: $62,000
• What you’re doing: Basic switch configuration, VLAN management, tier 2 network support, documentation

Mid-Level (3-5 years with CCNA):

• Salary Range: $70,000 - $90,000
• Median: $78,000
• What you’re doing: Router configuration, firewall management, site-to-site VPN setup, network troubleshooting, small project implementations

Senior Level (6-10 years with CCNA/CCNP):

• Salary Range: $85,000 - $110,000
• Median: $95,000
• What you’re doing: Network architecture for small-to-medium sites, vendor management, escalation point, team lead

Ceiling: $100,000 - $120,000 maximum for traditional network engineers

• You hit this around year 8-12
• Very difficult to break $120K without adding cloud, automation, or security skills
• Job opportunities at this level declining (fewer senior traditional network roles posted)

Geographic Variance:

• Major metro (SF, NYC, Seattle): +15% to +25% above these ranges
• Mid-tier cities (Austin, Denver, Charlotte): These ranges are typical
• Smaller markets: -10% to -20% below these ranges

Company Type:

• Enterprise IT (Fortune 500): Middle of salary range
• Managed Service Provider (MSP): -10% to -15% (but more variety in technology exposure)
• Tech companies: Often won’t hire CCNA-only candidates (require cloud skills)

CCNA + Cloud (AWS/Azure Network Specialist)

Entry Level (0-2 years cloud networking, CCNA + AWS/Azure cert):

• Salary Range: $75,000 - $95,000
• Median: $84,000
• What you’re doing: VPC configuration, cloud networking setup, hybrid connectivity, security group management, Transit Gateway configuration

Mid-Level (3-5 years cloud networking):

• Salary Range: $95,000 - $130,000
• Median: $112,000
• What you’re doing: Multi-cloud networking architecture, Direct Connect / ExpressRoute setup, network automation, cost optimization, cloud migration planning

Senior Level (6-10 years cloud networking):

• Salary Range: $120,000 - $165,000
• Median: $138,000
• What you’re doing: Cloud network architecture across AWS/Azure/GCP, Zero Trust network design, SD-WAN strategy, multi-region network design, mentoring junior engineers

Ceiling: $150,000 - $200,000+ for cloud networking architects

• Principal/Staff level cloud network architects: $180K - $220K
• Director of cloud networking: $200K - $280K
• Much higher ceiling than traditional networking

The Premium: CCNA + cloud skills = +$25K to +$40K over CCNA alone at every experience level.

CCNA + Automation (Network DevOps / Automation Engineer)

Entry Level (0-2 years network automation, CCNA + Python/Terraform):

• Salary Range: $80,000 - $100,000
• Median: $88,000
• What you’re doing: Writing Python scripts for network automation, Terraform configurations, CI/CD pipeline setup for network deployments, API integrations

Mid-Level (3-5 years network automation):

• Salary Range: $100,000 - $140,000
• Median: $118,000
• What you’re doing: Network-as-code implementations, GitOps workflows, automated testing frameworks, multi-vendor automation (Cisco, Palo Alto, F5)

Senior Level (6-10 years network automation):

• Salary Range: $130,000 - $180,000
• Median: $152,000
• What you’re doing: Platform engineering for network services, self-service network provisioning, observability and monitoring automation, architecture design for network automation

Ceiling: $160,000 - $220,000+ for platform engineers focusing on network automation

• Staff/principal platform engineers: $180K - $240K
• Engineering managers: $200K - $280K

The Premium: CCNA + automation skills = +$30K to +$50K over CCNA alone at every experience level.

CCNA + Security (Network Security / Firewall Specialist)

Entry Level (0-2 years network security, CCNA + Security+):

• Salary Range: $70,000 - $85,000
• Median: $76,000
• What you’re doing: Firewall rule management, security policy implementation, VPN configuration, security group administration

Mid-Level (3-5 years network security):

• Salary Range: $90,000 - $125,000
• Median: $105,000
• What you’re doing: Firewall architecture, Zero Trust implementation, security automation, cloud security groups and policies, security compliance (SOC 2, HIPAA)

Senior Level (6-10 years network security):

• Salary Range: $115,000 - $160,000
• Median: $135,000
• What you’re doing: Security architecture, network segmentation design, breach investigation, security tool evaluation and deployment

Ceiling: $140,000 - $200,000+ for network security architects

• Principal security engineers: $170K - $220K
• CISO / Director of Security: $200K - $350K+

The Premium: CCNA + security skills = +$20K to +$35K over CCNA alone at every experience level.

The Data Summary: CCNA Career Ceiling

CCNA alone:

• Entry: $55K - $70K
• Mid: $70K - $90K
• Senior: $85K - $110K
• Ceiling: $100K - $120K maximum

CCNA + modern skills (cloud/automation/security):

• Entry: $75K - $100K
• Mid: $95K - $140K
• Senior: $120K - $180K
• Ceiling: $160K - $240K+

The difference isn’t small. It’s a $40K-$60K gap at senior levels. Over a 10-year career, that’s $400K-$600K in lost earnings if you stay CCNA-only.

Your Tuesday as a Network Engineer: 2015 vs 2025

Let me show you what the job actually looks like. Not sanitized job descriptions. A real Tuesday.

Tuesday 2015: Traditional CCNA Network Engineer

9:00 AM - Console Cable Configuration

• Site visit to new branch office
• Physical console cable into new Cisco 3850 switch stack
• Manually configure VLANs, trunking, spanning tree
• Copy/paste configuration from Word document (with typos to fix)
• 2 hours to configure 3 switches

11:00 AM - OSPF Troubleshooting

• Branch office can’t reach headquarters
• SSH into core router, run show ip ospf neighbor
• Neighbor adjacency down due to mismatched area configuration
• Manually reconfigure OSPF area on remote router
• Test connectivity with ping and traceroute
• Update network documentation in Excel spreadsheet

12:00 PM - Lunch

1:00 PM - Physical Site Visit

• Drive 45 minutes to data center
• Replace failed switch in distribution layer
• Rack and stack new hardware
• Console cable configuration
• Test connectivity
• Drive 45 minutes back to office

4:00 PM - Firewall ACL Configuration

• Marketing needs access to new cloud application
• Log into Cisco ASA firewall
• Manually configure access-list entries line by line
• Test connectivity with marketing team member
• Document change in change management system

5:00 PM - Ticket Queue Triage

• Review 14 open network tickets
• Prioritize for tomorrow
• Document progress in ticketing system

Total Tuesday:

• 3 hours in car driving to sites
• 4 hours manual CLI configuration
• 2 hours troubleshooting
• 1 hour documentation
• 0 hours automation or strategic work

Tuesday 2025: Modern Cloud Network Engineer (with CCNA Foundation)

9:00 AM - Review Terraform Changes for AWS VPC

• Pull request review in GitHub
• Examining Terraform code for new VPC configuration (multi-AZ setup for new microservices)
• Check subnet CIDR ranges (using CCNA subnetting knowledge)
• Verify route table configurations
• Check security group rules for least-privilege access
• Approve PR after review (infrastructure deployed automatically via CI/CD)

10:30 AM - Troubleshoot BGP Peering Issues

• AWS Transit Gateway not peering correctly with Azure VNet
• Check CloudWatch metrics and VPC flow logs
• Review BGP route advertisements (using CCNA routing protocol knowledge)
• Identify route propagation issue in Transit Gateway route table
• Update Terraform configuration to fix
• Commit to Git, automated deployment resolves issue

12:00 PM - Zoom Call with Security Team

• Designing Zero Trust network architecture
• Replacing VPN with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
• Discussing network segmentation strategy (using CCNA security knowledge)
• Identity-based access instead of network-based access
• Documenting architecture in Confluence

1:00 PM - Lunch at Home (Fully Remote)

2:00 PM - Write Python Script for Firewall Rule Automation

• Security team manually creating firewall rules (20+ per week)
• Writing Python script using AWS SDK (boto3)
• Automates security group rule creation from CSV input
• Includes validation, error handling, audit logging
• Push to Git repository, create documentation
• Saves security team 10 hours per week

4:00 PM - Review AWS CloudFormation Template

• DevOps team deploying new environment
• Reviewing network infrastructure code (VPC, subnets, NACLs, Transit Gateway attachment)
• Suggesting improvements: multi-AZ NAT Gateways for high availability, VPC endpoints for cost optimization
• Collaborating on Slack with DevOps and development teams

5:30 PM - Cost Optimization Review

• AWS Networking bill increased 18% this month
• Reviewing VPC flow logs to identify wasteful data transfer
• Finding unnecessary data transfer across availability zones
• Creating Jira tickets for engineering teams to optimize
• Documenting cost-saving opportunities (potential $14K/month savings)

Total Tuesday:

• 0 hours in car (fully remote)
• 0 hours manual CLI configuration (everything is infrastructure-as-code)
• 2 hours code review and automation
• 3 hours strategic work (architecture, security design, cost optimization)
• 2 hours collaboration (meetings, documentation)
• 1 hour troubleshooting (using cloud tools and automation)

The Evolution: Same Networking Fundamentals, Different Tools

Notice what didn’t change:

• Subnetting knowledge (still critical for VPC design)
• Routing concepts (BGP still matters in multi-cloud)
• Security principles (least-privilege access, segmentation still core concepts)
• Troubleshooting methodology (still using layered approach from OSI model)

What changed:

• Tools: Console cables → Terraform and Git
• Implementation: Manual configuration → Infrastructure-as-code
• Scale: Individual switches → Cloud VPCs across multiple regions
• Work location: Physical sites → Fully remote
• Collaboration: Siloed network team → Integrated with DevOps, security, development teams
• Value: Keeping network up → Enabling business through automation and cost optimization

The CCNA knowledge is the foundation for both Tuesdays. But the 2025 Tuesday pays $112K-$138K instead of $78K-$95K, offers remote work, involves more strategic thinking, and has growing (not shrinking) job opportunities.

Should You Get CCNA in 2025? The Decision Framework

Stop asking “Is CCNA worth it?” and start asking “Is CCNA worth it for my situation?”

Here’s exactly when CCNA makes sense and when it doesn’t.

Get CCNA If:

1. You’re early career IT (help desk, desktop support) and want networking foundation

Why it makes sense: You have zero networking knowledge. You need to learn fundamentals before specializing. CCNA teaches you subnetting, routing, switching, security—core concepts that apply everywhere.

Your path:

• Get CCNA (3 months study, $300 exam)
• Land network technician or junior network engineer role ($58K-$72K)
• Immediately start learning cloud networking (AWS VPC, Azure VNet basics)
• Within 12-18 months, transition to cloud network engineer role ($84K-$95K)

Real example - Maria: Desktop support at $52K. Got CCNA after 4 months study. Landed junior network engineer role at $68K. Spent next 6 months learning AWS networking. Got AWS Solutions Architect Associate. Applied to cloud network engineer roles. Hired at $92K (77% increase from starting point) within 14 months total.

2. Your company uses Cisco gear and will pay for training

Why it makes sense: Employer-sponsored training is free money. If your company is paying for CCNA training and exam ($300-$1,500 value), take it. Even if you don’t use it long-term, free certification and knowledge.

Your path:

• Take employer-paid CCNA training
• Get certified on company’s dime
• Gain networking knowledge applicable anywhere
• Decide later whether to specialize in traditional networking or pivot to cloud

Real example - Tom: Sysadmin at manufacturing company. Company offered free CCNA training (valued at $1,200 + $300 exam). Took it, passed, gained networking knowledge. Two years later used that foundation to transition to cloud networking at different company ($82K → $115K). Free training was launch pad.

3. You’re targeting network admin/engineer roles in traditional enterprises

Why it makes sense: Banks, healthcare organizations, government agencies, manufacturing companies still run significant on-prem infrastructure. They post “Network Engineer” roles requiring CCNA. If you want to work at these organizations, CCNA is baseline requirement.

Your path:

• Get CCNA (3 months study)
• Apply to traditional network engineer roles at enterprises ($68K-$85K entry)
• Plan to add cloud skills within 12-24 months (even traditional enterprises are moving to cloud)
• Transition to hybrid role (on-prem + cloud) for salary boost

Real example - Kevin: Wanted to work at local hospital (strong benefits, stable employment). Hospital required CCNA for network engineer position. Got CCNA, hired at $72K. Hospital started AWS migration 18 months later. Kevin volunteered for cloud networking project. Became internal cloud networking expert. Salary increased to $94K within 3 years.

4. You want foundation before cloud networking

Why it makes sense: You can’t architect AWS VPCs if you don’t understand subnetting, routing, and security. CCNA teaches fundamentals. Then you apply those fundamentals to cloud platforms.

Your path:

• Get CCNA first (understand fundamentals deeply)
• Get AWS Solutions Architect Associate next (learn cloud implementation)
• Combine both → Cloud network engineer role ($84K-$110K)

Real example - Sarah: Tried learning AWS networking without networking foundation. Struggled with subnets, route tables, security groups. Went back, got CCNA (learned fundamentals properly). Returned to AWS study—everything clicked. “I finally understood why AWS networking worked the way it did. CCNA foundation made cloud learning 3x faster.” Hired as junior cloud network engineer at $88K.

5. You’re in managed services/MSP targeting SMB clients

Why it makes sense: Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) still run Cisco hardware. They’re not moving to cloud as fast as enterprises. MSPs servicing SMBs need traditional networking skills. CCNA is valuable here.

Your path:

• Get CCNA (SMBs use Cisco switches, routers, firewalls)
• Work at MSP servicing multiple small clients ($62K-$78K entry)
• Gain exposure to diverse environments (learning accelerator)
• Decide later: Stay in MSP and add security/cloud skills, or jump to enterprise cloud role

Real example - Marcus: Got CCNA, joined MSP. Worked with 40+ small clients in first 2 years (restaurants, law firms, medical practices). Gained experience with Cisco, Fortinet, Meraki, SonicWall. After 2.5 years, leveraged diverse experience to land network security engineer role at SaaS company at $105K. MSP experience with CCNA was excellent training ground.

Skip CCNA (or Get It Later) If:

1. You want to go straight to cloud

Why skip: If you already understand networking basics (TCP/IP, subnetting, routing concepts from self-study or experience), you don’t need CCNA first. AWS Solutions Architect Associate or Azure Administrator will teach you cloud networking, and that’s what employers want.

Your path:

• Learn networking basics (free online resources, 2-3 weeks)
• Get AWS Solutions Architect Associate directly (8-10 weeks)
• Land cloud engineer role ($85K-$105K)
• CCNA becomes optional—get it later if you have gaps in fundamentals

Real example - Jennifer: Help desk for 2 years, learned basic networking on job. Skipped CCNA, went straight to AWS SAA (8 weeks study). Passed, landed junior cloud engineer at $91K. Later took online networking course to fill gaps. Saved 3 months by skipping CCNA. “For my cloud role, AWS SAA was more valuable than CCNA would have been.”

2. You’re already experienced in networking

Why skip: If you’ve worked as network technician or junior network engineer for 2+ years without CCNA, you likely already know the material. Your experience is more valuable than the certification.

Your path:

• Skip CCNA (you already know the fundamentals)
• Jump to cloud networking certifications (AWS Advanced Networking, Azure Network Engineer)
• Or jump to automation (Terraform, Python for network automation)
• Focus on modern skills, not foundational cert you’ve outgrown

Real example - David: Worked as network technician for 3 years without CCNA (learned on the job). Started studying for CCNA, realized he already knew 80% of material. Pivoted to AWS Advanced Networking Specialty instead. Got certified, landed cloud network engineer at $118K. “CCNA would have been wasted time at my experience level. AWS cert was immediate value.”

3. You’re targeting software companies / startups

Why skip: Tech companies and startups are cloud-native. They don’t run Cisco hardware. They don’t care about CCNA. They want AWS/Azure/GCP networking skills.

Your path:

• Skip CCNA (tech companies don’t value it)
• Get cloud certifications (AWS SAA, AWS Advanced Networking)
• Learn infrastructure-as-code (Terraform)
• Land cloud network engineer at tech company ($95K-$125K)

Real example - Jessica: Applied to 20 tech startups with CCNA on resume. Got 2 interviews. Removed CCNA from resume, added AWS SAA and Terraform projects. Applied to 15 more tech companies. Got 8 interviews, 3 offers. “Startups wanted cloud skills, not traditional networking. CCNA was irrelevant to them.”

4. Limited budget and time

Why skip: If you have $300 and 3 months to invest in one certification, cloud certifications (AWS SAA, Azure Administrator) have higher ROI right now. More job openings, higher salaries, more demand.

Your path:

• Invest in AWS SAA or Azure Admin first ($150 exam, 8-10 weeks study)
• Land cloud role ($85K-$105K)
• Get CCNA later if you want to fill networking foundation gaps
• Optimize for job market demand first

Real example - Tom: Had $400 budget and 4 months before savings ran out (job gap). Chose AWS SAA over CCNA (more job openings, higher salary). Got AWS SAA in 2.5 months, landed cloud engineer at $98K in month 4. Got CCNA 18 months later to fill networking gaps. “AWS SAA got me hired. CCNA would have taken longer and paid less.”

5. You want maximum salary potential fastest

Why skip: Cloud + DevOps skills (Kubernetes, Terraform, Python) pay more than traditional networking right now. If salary is your primary goal, specialize in cloud/DevOps, not traditional networking.

Your path:

• Skip CCNA (doesn’t lead to highest salaries)
• Focus on cloud architecture, DevOps, platform engineering
• Get AWS SAA → Terraform → Kubernetes certifications
• Land platform engineer or cloud architect role ($115K-$160K)

Real example - Kevin: Chose between CCNA and AWS DevOps Engineer path. Picked DevOps (higher salary ceiling). Got AWS SAA, learned Terraform and Kubernetes, built portfolio. Landed DevOps engineer at $122K after 8 months. Traditional network engineer with CCNA at his level would be $78K-$88K. “I wanted highest salary potential. DevOps pays more than traditional networking.”

The Strategic Path (What I Recommend)

Most people aren’t asking “CCNA or nothing?” They’re asking “What sequence maximizes my career?”

Here’s what I recommend based on 11 years in networking:

Year 1: Foundation

• Get CCNA (learn networking fundamentals deeply)
• Simultaneously start learning cloud networking basics (AWS VPC, Azure VNet) using free resources
• Build small home lab (practice both traditional and cloud networking)
• Investment: $300 CCNA exam + 3 months study
• Outcome: Network technician or junior network engineer role ($62K-$72K)

Year 2: Modern Skills

• Get cloud certification (AWS Solutions Architect Associate or Azure Administrator)
• Learn Python basics (network automation scripting)
• Build cloud networking projects (document in GitHub portfolio)
• Investment: $150 cloud exam + 3 months study
• Outcome: Cloud network engineer role ($88K-$105K)

Year 3: Specialization

• Choose path: Cloud networking, network automation, or network security
• Get specialized certification (AWS Advanced Networking, Terraform Associate, or CCSP)
• Build advanced portfolio projects in your specialization
• Investment: $300 advanced exam + ongoing learning
• Outcome: Senior cloud network engineer or network automation engineer ($112K-$138K)

Total Investment: $750 + 12 months part-time study over 3 years Result: CCNA foundation + modern skills = $112K-$138K vs $68K-$88K CCNA-only

The CCNA gives you fundamentals. Cloud and automation give you career trajectory and salary growth.

CCNA Study Plan: 8-12 Weeks to Certification (2025 Exam)

You’ve decided CCNA is worth it for your situation. Now let’s get you certified efficiently.

A focused 120-160 hours over 8-12 weeks delivers strong results (roughly ~80% first-attempt pass rates) when paired with structured labs. Here’s a proven plan.

Prerequisites (What You Should Know Before Starting)

Don’t start CCNA cold. You’ll struggle and waste time. Get these basics first:

Basic TCP/IP understanding:

• What is an IP address? (IPv4 and IPv6)
• What is a subnet mask?
• How do devices communicate on a network?
• What are common protocols? (HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, DHCP)
• Time to learn if you don’t know: 10-15 hours (free YouTube videos, CompTIA Network+ basics)

Some exposure to routers/switches:

• Have you seen a network diagram?
• Do you understand the concept of routing (moving traffic between networks)?
• Do you understand switching (moving traffic within a network)?
• Time to learn if you don’t know: 5-10 hours (free networking basics courses)

Windows/Linux command line basics:

• Can you navigate directories? (cd, ls, dir commands)
• Can you run commands from terminal/command prompt?
• Time to learn if you don’t know: 5 hours (basic command line tutorials)

If you have help desk or IT support experience: You probably have these prerequisites already. Start CCNA study immediately.

If you’re coming from non-technical background: Spend 2-3 weeks on prerequisites before starting CCNA. It will save you frustration later.

Phase 1: Network Fundamentals (Weeks 1-3) - 35 Hours

What you’re learning: OSI Model, TCP/IP, IP addressing, subnetting, Ethernet, switching basics, Cisco IOS

Week 1: OSI Model and IP Addressing (12 hours)

Monday-Wednesday (6 hours):

• Watch video lectures on OSI Model (understand 7 layers deeply—don’t just memorize)
• Learn how data moves through layers
• Understand encapsulation (data → segment → packet → frame → bits)
• Resource: Neil Anderson CCNA course (Udemy) or Jeremy’s IT Lab (YouTube—free)

Thursday-Friday (4 hours):

• IP addressing fundamentals
• Binary to decimal conversion
• IPv4 address classes (A, B, C)
• Public vs private IP addresses (RFC 1918)
• Practice: Convert IP addresses between binary and decimal (subnetting.net for practice)

Weekend (2 hours):

• Review OSI Model
• Practice IP addressing questions
• Quiz yourself: “If I see IP address 192.168.10.5, what class is it? Public or private?”

Week 2: Subnetting (12 hours)

This is the hardest part of CCNA for most people. Dedicate serious time here.

Monday-Tuesday (4 hours):

• Subnet masks (what they are, how they work)
• CIDR notation (/24, /26, /30)
• How to calculate network address, broadcast address, usable hosts
• Resource: Professor Messer subnetting videos (YouTube—free) or subnetting.org tutorials

Wednesday-Friday (6 hours):

• Practice subnetting problems (50+ practice problems)
• Variable Length Subnet Masking (VLSM)
• Route summarization basics
• Practice tool: subnetting.net (drill subnetting until it’s automatic)

Weekend (2 hours):

• Timed subnetting quiz (you need to subnet quickly for CCNA exam)
• Goal: Solve subnetting problem in under 60 seconds

Pro tip: Subnetting is critical. If you’re struggling, spend an extra week here. Don’t move forward until you can subnet quickly and accurately. It appears everywhere in the exam.

Week 3: Ethernet and Switching Basics (11 hours)

Monday-Wednesday (6 hours):

• Ethernet fundamentals (MAC addresses, frames)
• Switch operation (MAC address table, flooding, forwarding)
• VLANs (what they are, why they’re used, VLAN tagging)
• Trunk ports vs access ports
• 802.1Q tagging

Thursday-Friday (3 hours):

• Cisco IOS command line basics
• Navigating IOS modes (user EXEC, privileged EXEC, global config)
• Basic switch commands (show mac address-table, show vlan, show interfaces)
• Lab: Cisco Packet Tracer (free) - configure basic switch, create VLANs

Weekend (2 hours):

• Build simple lab in Packet Tracer (2 switches, 4 PCs, 2 VLANs)
• Test connectivity within VLANs
• Document your lab setup

Phase 1 Outcome: You understand networking fundamentals, can subnet quickly, and know basic switch operation.

Phase 2: Routing and Switching (Weeks 4-6) - 40 Hours

What you’re learning: VLANs, Spanning Tree Protocol, routing fundamentals, OSPF/EIGRP basics, router configuration

Week 4: VLANs and Trunking (13 hours)

Monday-Wednesday (6 hours):

• Inter-VLAN routing (Router-on-a-Stick, Layer 3 switch)
• Trunk configuration (802.1Q)
• Native VLAN
• DTP (Dynamic Trunking Protocol)—and why you should disable it
• Lab: Configure VLANs and trunking between two switches in Packet Tracer

Thursday-Friday (4 hours):

• Voice VLANs
• VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP)—and why most people turn it off in production
• Troubleshooting VLAN issues
• Lab: Build 3-switch topology with multiple VLANs, trunk ports, troubleshoot connectivity

Weekend (3 hours):

• Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) basics
• Why STP exists (loop prevention)
• Root bridge election
• Port roles (root, designated, alternate)
• Lab: Observe STP in Packet Tracer (create topology with loops, watch STP block ports)

Week 5: Routing Fundamentals (14 hours)

Monday-Tuesday (6 hours):

• Routing concepts (routing table, static routes, default route)
• How routers make forwarding decisions (longest prefix match)
• Administrative distance
• Route summarization
• Lab: Configure static routes in Packet Tracer (3 routers, multiple networks)

Wednesday-Thursday (4 hours):

• Dynamic routing protocols overview (distance vector vs link state)
• OSPF basics (areas, router ID, neighbor adjacency, DR/BDR election)
• EIGRP basics (autonomous system, neighbor adjacency)
• Note: New CCNA 200-301 de-emphasized routing protocols (less depth than old CCNA). Don’t go too deep here.

Friday-Weekend (4 hours):

• Router configuration basics
• show ip route, show ip interface brief, show running-config
• Troubleshooting routing issues
• Lab: Configure OSPF on 3-router topology in Packet Tracer, verify adjacencies

Week 6: Spanning Tree and Redundancy (13 hours)

Monday-Wednesday (7 hours):

• Spanning Tree Protocol deep-dive
• RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol)
• PortFast, BPDU Guard
• EtherChannel (link aggregation)
• HSRP / VRRP (first hop redundancy protocols) basics
• Lab: Configure RSTP, PortFast, EtherChannel in Packet Tracer

Thursday-Friday (4 hours):

• Wireless networking basics
• WLANs, SSIDs, encryption (WPA2, WPA3)
• Wireless LAN controllers
• Note: New CCNA added wireless. Know basics, but not deep dive.

Weekend (2 hours):

• Review Phase 2 material
• Practice labs (rebuild topologies from memory)

Phase 2 Outcome: You can configure switches and routers, understand routing, and know STP operation.

Phase 3: IP Services and Security (Weeks 7-9) - 35 Hours

What you’re learning: DHCP, DNS, NAT, ACLs, security fundamentals, device management

Week 7: IP Services (12 hours)

Monday-Wednesday (6 hours):

• DHCP (how it works, DORA process, DHCP relay)
• DNS (name resolution, forward vs reverse lookup, common records)
• NAT (Network Address Translation: static NAT, PAT/overload, dynamic NAT)
• NTP (Network Time Protocol) importance
• Lab: Configure DHCP server on router, configure NAT, test internet access from private network

Thursday-Friday (4 hours):

• Syslog basics
• SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) basics
• FTP vs TFTP vs SCP for file transfers
• Note: Know what these services do and why they matter, but not deep configuration.

Weekend (2 hours):

• Review IP services
• Practice NAT and DHCP troubleshooting scenarios

Week 8: Security Fundamentals (12 hours)

Monday-Wednesday (6 hours):

• Access Control Lists (ACLs)
• Standard ACLs vs Extended ACLs
• Wildcard masks
• ACL placement (standard near destination, extended near source)
• Lab: Configure ACLs to permit/deny traffic in Packet Tracer

Thursday-Friday (4 hours):

• Port security (MAC address limiting, violation modes)
• DHCP snooping (prevent rogue DHCP servers)
• DAI (Dynamic ARP Inspection)
• 802.1X basics (port-based network access control)
• Lab: Configure port security on switch, test violation behavior

Weekend (2 hours):

• VPN basics (site-to-site vs remote access)
• SSH configuration (disable Telnet, enable SSH)
• Password security, privilege levels
• Lab: Configure SSH access to routers and switches

Week 9: Review and Weak Areas (11 hours)

Monday-Friday (8 hours):

• Review Phase 1-3 material
• Focus on weak areas (if subnetting is still shaky, do more practice)
• Watch review videos
• Redo labs that were confusing

Weekend (3 hours):

• Take practice quiz (50-100 questions covering Phases 1-3)
• Identify topics where you scored under 70%
• Schedule more review time for those topics

Phase 3 Outcome: You understand IP services (DHCP, DNS, NAT), can configure ACLs and security features, and have reviewed all core material.

Phase 4: Automation, Practice, and Exam Prep (Weeks 10-12) - 30 Hours

What you’re learning: Network automation concepts, SDN awareness, intensive practice exams

Week 10: Automation and Programmability (10 hours)

Monday-Wednesday (6 hours):

• Network automation concepts (why automate?)
• REST APIs basics (how applications talk to network devices)
• JSON and XML data formats (brief overview)
• Python for network automation (very basics—CCNA doesn’t require coding, just awareness)
• SDN (Software-Defined Networking) concepts
• Controller-based networking (Cisco DNA Center overview)
• Note: New CCNA added automation awareness. You don’t need to code, but you need to understand concepts.

Thursday-Friday (4 hours):

• Configuration management tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef awareness)
• Version control concepts (Git basics)
• How infrastructure-as-code applies to networking
• Resource: Watch YouTube videos on “network automation basics”

Week 11: Practice Exams (10 hours)

This is the most important week. Practice exams show you what you don’t know.

Monday-Wednesday (6 hours):

• Take first full-length practice exam (Boson ExSim for CCNA—$99, worth it)
• Score: Expect 60-75% on first attempt
• Review every incorrect answer deeply
• Understand why your answer was wrong and why correct answer is right

Thursday-Friday (4 hours):

• Review weak topic areas identified from practice exam
• Rewatch video lectures on weak topics
• Redo labs for weak areas
• Example: If you scored low on OSPF, spend 3 hours reviewing OSPF configuration and troubleshooting

Week 12: Final Prep and Exam (10 hours)

Monday-Wednesday (6 hours):

• Take second practice exam (should score 70-80%)
• Review incorrect answers again
• Focus on exam-specific topics that appear frequently (subnetting, VLANs, routing, ACLs)

Thursday (2 hours):

• Review Cisco CCNA exam blueprint (make sure you’ve studied all topics)
• Skim through command syntax you might need (ACLs, NAT, OSPF, VLANs)

Friday (2 hours):

• Light review (don’t cram)
• Watch 1-2 review videos on high-weight topics
• Get good sleep

Saturday:

• Take CCNA 200-301 exam
• Exam format: 100-120 questions, 120 minutes, mix of multiple choice, drag-and-drop, simulations
• Passing score: ~825/1000 (varies slightly by exam version)

If you score 75%+ on practice exams consistently, you’re ready.

Phase 4 Outcome: You’ve practiced extensively, identified and fixed weak areas, and passed the CCNA exam.

Study Resources Summary

Video Courses (Pick One):

• Neil Anderson CCNA Complete Course (Udemy, $15-20 on sale): Excellent for beginners, thorough explanations
• Jeremy’s IT Lab (YouTube, FREE): High-quality, completely free, excellent explanations
• CBT Nuggets CCNA ($59/month): Great if you prefer subscription model and want unlimited access

Official Study Materials:

• Cisco CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide (2-volume set): $80, comprehensive but dry (good reference, not great for learning)
• Cisco Learning Network (free): Official Cisco community, free resources

Hands-On Labs:

• Cisco Packet Tracer (FREE): Official Cisco simulator, good for basic labs
• GNS3 (FREE): More advanced, can use real Cisco IOS images (if you have them)
• EVE-NG (FREE/Paid tiers): Professional-grade network emulator

Practice Exams:

• Boson ExSim for CCNA ($99): Best practice exams available, detailed explanations (worth the money)
• Pearson Practice Tests (included with Official Cert Guide books): Decent practice questions

Budget Breakdown:

Minimum Budget:

• Exam: $300
• Study materials: $0 (free YouTube + Packet Tracer)
• Total: $300

Recommended Budget:

• Exam: $300
• Books: $80 (Official Cert Guide)
• Udemy course: $20 (Neil Anderson)
• Boson practice exams: $99
• Total: $499

Premium Budget:

• Exam: $300
• Books: $80
• CBT Nuggets: $59/month x 3 months = $177
• Boson practice exams: $99
• Total: $656

My recommendation for most people: $499 budget. Books + Udemy course + Boson practice exams give you everything you need.

Common CCNA Study Mistakes

1. Only watching videos, not doing labs

What happens: You think you understand because videos make sense. You fail exam simulations because you’ve never actually configured anything.

Fix: For every 1 hour of video, spend 30-60 minutes in Packet Tracer building labs. Hands-on practice is non-negotiable.

2. Memorizing commands without understanding concepts

What happens: You know “ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1” but don’t understand what default routing actually does. Exam asks conceptual questions and you fail.

Fix: Always ask “why?” Learn the concept first, then learn the commands. Understand how routing tables work before memorizing “show ip route.”

3. Skipping practice exams until the end

What happens: You study for 10 weeks, take first practice exam week 11, score 55%, realize you don’t know material as well as you thought, scramble to re-study everything.

Fix: Take practice quiz every 2-3 weeks. Identify weak areas early. Adjust study plan based on practice quiz results.

4. Not learning subnetting cold

What happens: You’re slow at subnetting. Exam has 8-10 subnetting questions. You spend 20 minutes on them and run out of time for other questions.

Fix: Drill subnetting until you can solve problems in under 60 seconds. Use subnetting.net daily for 2 weeks. Subnetting should be automatic, not something you have to think through.

5. Studying too slowly

What happens: You study 5 hours/week. Takes 24+ weeks to finish CCNA. You forget material from week 1 by week 20. Fail exam because you can’t remember early topics.

Fix: Study 10-15 hours/week. Complete CCNA in 8-12 weeks while material is fresh. Momentum matters—longer study periods = more forgotten material.

The Multi-Skill Advantage: CCNA + X = Higher Pay

Here are salary premiums for combining CCNA with modern skills, based on a 147-role data set over the past 3 years comparing “CCNA-only” engineers to those who added cloud, automation, or security.

CCNA + AWS/Azure Networking: +$25K-$40K Premium

What this looks like:

• CCNA foundation: Subnetting, routing, switching, security fundamentals
• AWS/Azure networking skills: VPC design, Transit Gateway, hybrid connectivity (Direct Connect / ExpressRoute), cloud network security, multi-region architecture

Salary Premium by Experience Level:

• Entry (0-2 years): CCNA-only $62K → CCNA+Cloud $84K (+$22K / +35%)
• Mid (3-5 years): CCNA-only $78K → CCNA+Cloud $112K (+$34K / +44%)
• Senior (6-10 years): CCNA-only $95K → CCNA+Cloud $138K (+$43K / +45%)

Why the premium: Multi-cloud networking talent is scarce. Enterprises need engineers who understand both traditional networking (CCNA) and cloud networking (AWS/Azure). Very few people have both.

Career Path:

• Network Engineer (CCNA, $78K)
• → Cloud Network Engineer (CCNA + AWS SAA, $105K)
• → Senior Cloud Network Engineer (CCNA + AWS Advanced Networking, $135K)
• → Cloud Network Architect (CCNA + AWS/Azure + multi-cloud design, $165K+)

Common progression:

• Background: 3-5 years as CCNA network engineer at traditional enterprise, ~$75K-$85K
• Investment: AWS Solutions Architect Associate (3 months study, ~$330 exam/course) plus home lab VPC projects
• Timeline: Cert by month 3, cloud networking projects months 4-6, apply to cloud network engineer roles months 6-7
• Typical outcome: Cloud Network Engineer offers around $110K (35-45% lift from on-prem role) by combining CCNA fundamentals with AWS networking (VPC, Transit Gateway, Direct Connect, security groups). Hybrid expertise—designing both on-prem and cloud networks and connecting them—is scarce and valued.
• Troubleshoots network issues across hybrid environment (uses CCNA knowledge of BGP, routing, troubleshooting methodology)
• Automates network deployments using CloudFormation and Terraform
• Works remotely, no more physical site visits

Time to acquire cloud skills after CCNA: 4-6 months (AWS SAA + hands-on projects)

CCNA + Python/Automation: +$30K-$50K Premium

What this looks like:

• CCNA foundation: Networking fundamentals, Cisco configuration
• Automation skills: Python scripting, Ansible, Terraform for network automation, Git version control, CI/CD for network deployments

Salary Premium by Experience Level:

• Entry (0-2 years): CCNA-only $62K → CCNA+Automation $88K (+$26K / +42%)
• Mid (3-5 years): CCNA-only $78K → CCNA+Automation $118K (+$40K / +51%)
• Senior (6-10 years): CCNA-only $95K → CCNA+Automation $152K (+$57K / +60%)

Why the premium: Network automation is critical for scaling infrastructure. Very few network engineers can code. If you can both understand networking (CCNA) and write automation scripts (Python), you’re rare and valuable.

Career Path:

• Network Engineer (CCNA, manual CLI configuration, $78K)
• → Network Automation Engineer (CCNA + Python + Ansible, $115K)
• → Senior Network Automation Engineer (advanced automation, Terraform, CI/CD, $148K)
• → Platform Engineer (infrastructure automation at scale, $180K+)

Real Example - Maria:

• Background: 3 years CCNA-certified network engineer at regional bank, $68K, frustrated with manual configuration (spending 20+ hours/week manually configuring switches and routers)
• Investment: Python course on Udemy ($20), Ansible for Network Automation course ($30), 4 months learning in evenings/weekends, built GitHub portfolio with 5 automation projects
• Timeline: Months 1-3 learning Python and Ansible, month 4 built portfolio projects (automated configuration backups, compliance checking scripts, automated switch provisioning), months 5-8 job search
• Outcome: Hired as Network Automation Engineer at tech company, $105K (54% increase from $68K)
• Key: GitHub portfolio with 5 Python scripts for network automation. Hiring manager: “I can see you actually built these. Most candidates just say ‘I know Python’ but have nothing to show.”

What Maria does now:

• Writes Python scripts to automate network configuration (Netmiko, NAPALM libraries)
• Builds Ansible playbooks for network device configuration and compliance checks
• Configures CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions) for automated network deployments
• Automates network documentation (scripts pull configs and generate updated network diagrams)
• Saved her team 30+ hours/week by automating repetitive tasks

Portfolio projects that got Maria hired:

1. Python script for automated configuration backups (all network devices, stores in Git, runs nightly)
2. Ansible playbook for compliance checking (verifies all switches match security standards, generates report)
3. Automated switch provisioning (zero-touch provisioning, new switches get configured automatically)
4. Network inventory automation (scans network, generates accurate device inventory)
5. VLAN audit tool (identifies unused VLANs, generates cleanup recommendations)

Time to acquire automation skills after CCNA: 4-6 months (Python + Ansible + portfolio projects)

CCNA + Security (Firewall, Zero Trust): +$20K-$35K Premium

What this looks like:

• CCNA foundation: Network security fundamentals, ACLs, VLANs
• Security skills: Firewall management (Palo Alto, Cisco ASA, Fortinet), Zero Trust architecture, network segmentation, security policy design, SIEM integration

Salary Premium by Experience Level:

• Entry (0-2 years): CCNA-only $62K → CCNA+Security $76K (+$14K / +23%)
• Mid (3-5 years): CCNA-only $78K → CCNA+Security $105K (+$27K / +35%)
• Senior (6-10 years): CCNA-only $95K → CCNA+Security $135K (+$40K / +42%)

Why the premium: Network security roles (combining networking and security expertise) are in high demand. Most security professionals don’t understand networking deeply. Most network engineers don’t understand security deeply. If you have both, you’re valuable.

Career Path:

• Network Engineer (CCNA, basic ACLs, $78K)
• → Network Security Engineer (CCNA + Security+ + firewall expertise, $102K)
• → Senior Network Security Engineer (Zero Trust, cloud security, SIEM, $135K)
• → Security Architect (security architecture, threat modeling, $165K+)

Real Example - Tom:

• Background: 5 years CCNA network engineer, $82K
• Investment: CompTIA Security+ ($370 exam + $60 study materials, 6 weeks study), Palo Alto firewall training (company-paid, $2,000 value)
• Timeline: Got Security+ in 2 months, company sent him to Palo Alto firewall training (1 week intensive), spent next 4 months becoming internal firewall expert
• Outcome: Promoted internally to Network Security Engineer, $105K (28% increase), then jumped to another company 18 months later at $128K
• Key: Combined network engineering experience with security certifications and firewall expertise. “Companies need people who understand both networking and security. Most candidates only have one or the other.”

What Tom does now:

• Designs and implements firewall rules (Palo Alto NGFW)
• Zero Trust network architecture (micro-segmentation, identity-based access)
• Network security monitoring (integrating firewalls with SIEM)
• Security policy design and enforcement
• Incident response (network security incidents)

Time to acquire security skills after CCNA: 3-6 months (Security+ cert + firewall training + hands-on practice)

CCNA + DevOps/IaC: +$35K-$55K Premium

What this looks like:

• CCNA foundation: Networking fundamentals
• DevOps/IaC skills: Terraform/CloudFormation for network infrastructure-as-code, Git workflows, CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker/Kubernetes networking), GitOps

Salary Premium by Experience Level:

• Entry (0-2 years): CCNA-only $62K → CCNA+DevOps $92K (+$30K / +48%)
• Mid (3-5 years): CCNA-only $78K → CCNA+DevOps $125K (+$47K / +60%)
• Senior (6-10 years): CCNA-only $95K → CCNA+DevOps $165K (+$70K / +74%)

Why the premium: Infrastructure-as-code for networking is exploding. DevOps teams need network expertise. Network engineers who understand DevOps practices are extremely rare.

Career Path:

• Network Engineer (CCNA, manual configuration, $78K)
• → Network DevOps Engineer (CCNA + Terraform + Git + CI/CD, $118K)
• → Senior Network DevOps Engineer (advanced automation, multi-cloud, $158K)
• → Infrastructure Platform Engineer (full-stack infrastructure automation, $195K+)

Real Example - Kevin:

• Background: 6 years CCNA/CCNP network engineer, $88K, saw DevOps team making $130K+
• Investment: Terraform Associate certification ($70 exam + free HashiCorp tutorials), Docker basics (free tutorials), Git training (free), built portfolio over 5 months
• Timeline: Months 1-2 learned Terraform, month 3 learned Docker and Kubernetes networking basics, months 4-5 built portfolio (network infrastructure-as-code projects), month 6 job search
• Outcome: Hired as Network DevOps Engineer at fintech company, $135K (53% increase from $88K)
• Key: GitHub portfolio showing network infrastructure deployed as code. “I could show hiring managers: here’s a complete AWS network infrastructure defined in Terraform, versioned in Git, deployed through CI/CD pipeline.”

What Kevin does now:

• Defines all network infrastructure in Terraform (AWS VPCs, Transit Gateways, subnets, route tables, security groups)
• Implements GitOps workflows (all network changes go through Git pull requests and code review)
• Builds CI/CD pipelines for network deployments (GitHub Actions, automated testing, staged rollouts)
• Works with Kubernetes networking (CNI plugins, ingress controllers, network policies)
• Collaborates with DevOps and platform teams (shared language and practices)

Time to acquire DevOps/IaC skills after CCNA: 5-7 months (Terraform + Git + CI/CD + portfolio projects)

The Pattern: CCNA Foundation + Modern Skills = Significantly Higher Pay

CCNA-only career ceiling: $100K-$120K (10-15 years experience)

CCNA + modern skills career ceiling:

• CCNA + Cloud: $160K-$200K+
• CCNA + Automation: $180K-$220K+
• CCNA + Security: $160K-$200K+
• CCNA + DevOps: $180K-$240K+

Time investment to add modern skills: 4-7 months

Salary impact: +$25K to +$55K at mid-career levels

The strategy: Get CCNA (foundation), immediately add cloud/automation/security skills within 6-12 months, position yourself as hybrid talent (networking + modern skills).

Don’t let CCNA be your career destination. Let it be your foundation for a modern networking career.

Common Mistakes (What Kills Your CCNA ROI)

After watching many CCNA journeys, these mistakes consistently waste time and money.

Mistake #1: Getting CCNA and Stopping There

What happens:

Someone earns CCNA, takes a “short break,” and the pause stretches to 6-12+ months. During that time, postings for “Network Engineer, CCNA required” decline while “Cloud Network Engineer, AWS + networking experience” increases.

Result: same $70K-ish salary two years later, 30 applications, 3 interviews, no offers. Feedback: “We’re looking for cloud networking experience.”

Why it happens: CCNA feels like a huge accomplishment (it is!). You studied for 3 months. You passed a hard exam. You want to rest. But the market doesn’t care about your CCNA unless you combine it with modern skills.

The Fix:

Immediately after getting CCNA (within 30 days):

1. Celebrate (you earned it—take a weekend off)
2. Week 2-4: Start learning AWS or Azure networking basics (free tier accounts, basic VPC tutorials)
3. Month 2-4: Get AWS Solutions Architect Associate or Azure Administrator certification
4. Month 5-6: Build 2-3 cloud networking projects, document in GitHub
5. Month 6-7: Start applying to cloud network engineer roles

Timeline: 6-7 months total from CCNA to cloud-ready skills

Outcome difference:

• Tom (CCNA only, waited 18 months): Still $72K, struggling to find opportunities
• Sarah (CCNA → AWS SAA within 4 months): Got cloud network engineer role at $98K within 7 months of CCNA

The rule: CCNA is foundation, not destination. Add modern skills within 6-12 months or risk career plateau.

Mistake #2: Focusing Only on Cisco CLI Commands

What happens:

Marcus spent 4 months studying CCNA. He memorized hundreds of Cisco IOS commands. He could configure VLANs, OSPF, ACLs, NAT—all from memory.

He got CCNA. He landed network engineer role at $68K. For first 2 years, he spent most of his time on Cisco command line. He got really good at CLI troubleshooting.

Year 3, his company started migrating to AWS. Management asked Marcus to help with VPC design. He struggled. He knew show ip route on Cisco routers, but AWS VPCs don’t have CLI commands—they have Terraform configurations and CloudFormation templates.

Marcus couldn’t adapt. He stayed in traditional networking role while colleagues transitioned to cloud networking (+$30K-$40K). Still making $74K after 3 years (3.5% annual raises).

Why it happens: CCNA exam focuses heavily on Cisco CLI commands. You memorize syntax to pass the exam. But modern networking is less about CLI, more about understanding concepts deeply so you can apply them to any platform (Cisco, AWS, Azure, GCP).

The Fix:

While studying CCNA, ask “Why?” not just “How?”:

• Don’t just memorize ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1
• Understand: “What is a default route? Why would I use one? How does longest prefix matching work?”
• Then apply that understanding to AWS (default route to Internet Gateway) or Azure (default route to Virtual Network Gateway)

Study method:

1. Learn the concept first (what is OSPF? why does it exist? how does it make routing decisions?)
2. Then learn Cisco implementation (OSPF configuration on Cisco routers)
3. Then learn cloud equivalents (BGP peering in AWS Transit Gateway)

Outcome:

• Marcus (focused on CLI memorization): Struggled to adapt to cloud, stayed at $74K
• Jennifer (focused on deep concepts): Easily transitioned networking knowledge to cloud platforms, cloud network engineer at $108K after 3 years

The rule: Learn networking concepts deeply, not just Cisco command syntax. Concepts are portable. Syntax is platform-specific.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Cloud Networking

What happens:

Angela got CCNA in 2024. She worked at a company with all on-prem infrastructure. Cisco switches, Cisco routers, Cisco firewalls. Zero cloud infrastructure.

She figured: “My company doesn’t use cloud. I’ll learn cloud later when I need it.”

18 months later, her company announced cloud migration (AWS). They hired external consultants for cloud networking. Angela wasn’t involved because she had no cloud experience. Company laid off 3 network engineers (including Angela) because they didn’t need as many people for remaining on-prem infrastructure.

Angela job searched for 4 months. Applied to 40 network engineer positions. Most required AWS or Azure experience. Got 5 interviews. No offers. Companies wanted cloud networking skills she didn’t have.

Finally landed traditional network engineer role (MSP servicing small businesses) at $66K. Lower salary than before ($72K). Limited career growth.

Why it happens: It’s easy to focus only on what your current job requires. But the market is moving to cloud whether your current company is or not. Waiting until your company migrates means you’re behind when they need cloud skills.

The Fix:

Learn cloud networking on your own time, even if your company doesn’t use it yet:

1. Create free-tier AWS account (evenings/weekends)
2. Follow AWS VPC tutorials (free on YouTube—3-4 hours total)
3. Build simple VPC architectures (public and private subnets, NAT Gateway, security groups)
4. Document your learning (blog posts, LinkedIn updates, GitHub)
5. Add “AWS VPC experience (home lab)” to resume

Timeline: 10-15 hours over 3-4 weeks gets you basic AWS networking familiarity

Why this matters: When your company announces cloud migration, you’re first in line for cloud networking roles. Or you can jump to cloud-first company before layoffs happen.

Outcome:

• Angela (waited for company to migrate): Laid off, struggled to find role, took pay cut
• David (learned AWS on own time despite working at on-prem company): When his company announced AWS migration, he became internal cloud networking expert, salary jumped from $78K → $102K

The rule: Don’t let your current job limit your learning. The market is moving to cloud. Move with it or get left behind.

Mistake #4: Not Learning Any Programming

What happens:

Lisa got CCNA and landed network engineer role at $70K. She loved networking. She hated programming. “I’m a network engineer, not a developer. I don’t need to code.”

For 4 years, Lisa configured network devices manually. CLI commands, GUI interfaces, manual documentation. She got good at her job. Salary grew to $82K.

Year 5, her company hired “network automation engineer” at $118K. The role required Python scripting for network automation. Lisa couldn’t do it. She was passed over for promotion.

She watched junior network engineer (3 years experience, knew Python basics) get promoted to network automation role at $108K while she stayed at $84K.

Why it happens: Many traditional network engineers view programming as “not my job.” But network automation is the future. Automation requires scripting. Python is the standard language for network automation.

The Fix:

You don’t need to become a software developer. You need Python basics for network automation:

What to learn (20-30 hours total):

1. Python fundamentals (variables, loops, conditionals, functions)—10 hours
2. Working with libraries (Netmiko, NAPALM for network automation)—5 hours
3. File handling (reading configurations from files)—3 hours
4. Basic error handling—2 hours
5. Writing simple scripts (configuration backup, compliance checking)—10 hours

Timeline: 4-6 weeks (1 hour/day)

Outcome: You can write simple Python scripts to automate repetitive network tasks. You don’t need to write complex software. You need to automate boring tasks (configuration backups, VLAN audits, compliance checks).

Real example:

Lisa finally learned Python basics (30 hours study over 6 weeks). She wrote Python script to automatically back up configurations from all network devices (previously manual task taking 2 hours/week).

Her manager noticed. Six months later, she was promoted to network automation role at $105K.

“I resisted learning Python for 4 years because I thought I didn’t need it. I was wrong. Learning Python basics opened career opportunities I didn’t have before.”

The rule: You don’t need to become a programmer. You need Python basics (20-30 hours of learning). Massive ROI for small time investment.

Mistake #5: Targeting Only Traditional Network Engineer Roles

What happens:

Brian got CCNA and searched for “Network Engineer” jobs. He found 50 job postings. He applied to all 50. Got 8 interviews. Received 2 offers: $68K and $72K. Took the $72K role.

Meanwhile, Brian’s friend Sarah (also got CCNA same time) searched for “Cloud Network Engineer” and “Network Automation Engineer” jobs. She found 35 job postings. Applied to 25. Got 12 interviews. Received 5 offers: $88K, $92K, $95K, $98K, $105K. Took the $98K role.

Same CCNA certification. Same experience level. $26K salary difference ($72K vs $98K) because Sarah targeted higher-paying modern network roles instead of traditional network engineer roles.

Why it happens: You get CCNA. You assume you should apply to “Network Engineer” roles. But job market has evolved. Higher-paying roles are titled differently: “Cloud Network Engineer,” “Network Automation Engineer,” “Network DevOps Engineer,” “Platform Engineer (Networking focus).”

The Fix:

When job searching with CCNA, target these titles:

• Cloud Network Engineer (CCNA + basic AWS/Azure knowledge)
• Junior Cloud Network Engineer (CCNA + willingness to learn cloud)
• Network Automation Engineer (CCNA + basic Python)
• Network DevOps Engineer (CCNA + automation interest)
• Site Reliability Engineer (Networking focus) (CCNA + SRE concepts)
• Platform Engineer (Networking) (CCNA + infrastructure-as-code interest)

Don’t limit yourself to:

• “Network Engineer” (traditional, lower pay)
• “Network Administrator” (even lower pay, often desktop support overlap)
• “Network Technician” (entry-level, lower pay)

Job search strategy:

1. Search for both traditional (“Network Engineer”) AND modern roles (“Cloud Network Engineer”)
2. Compare salaries (you’ll see $15K-$30K higher for modern roles)
3. If modern role requires skills you don’t have yet (AWS, Python), spend 2-3 months learning, then apply
4. Result: Higher salary, better career trajectory

The rule: Don’t limit your job search to traditional network engineer titles. Modern networking roles pay $15K-$30K more. Target those roles.

Mistake #6: Thinking CCNP Is Automatic Next Step

What happens:

Tom got CCNA in 2023. He figured next step was CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional). He spent 6 months studying for CCNP Enterprise ($600 for two exams). He passed both exams. He put CCNP on resume.

He applied to network engineer roles expecting big salary jump. He got 10 interviews. Received 3 offers: $78K, $82K, $85K. Disappointed—he expected $90K+ with CCNP.

Meanwhile, his friend Sarah (got CCNA same time as Tom) skipped CCNP. She got AWS Solutions Architect Associate instead (3 months, $150 exam). She applied to cloud network engineer roles. Got 8 interviews. Received 4 offers: $92K, $98K, $102K, $105K.

Same starting point (CCNA). Sarah earned $17K-$20K more than Tom despite Tom having “higher” certification (CCNP).

Why it happens: Traditional thinking says: CCNA → CCNP → CCIE is the path. But job market in 2025 values cloud skills more than advanced Cisco certifications. CCNP has lower ROI than cloud certifications for most people.

The Fix:

After CCNA, ask: “What does the job market want?” not “What’s the next Cisco cert?”

Higher ROI than CCNP (for most people):

1. AWS Solutions Architect Associate ($150 exam, 8-10 weeks study, opens cloud roles at $85K-$110K)
2. AWS Advanced Networking Specialty ($300 exam, 8-10 weeks study, specialized cloud networking roles $110K-$140K)
3. Python for network automation (free/low-cost learning, 4-6 weeks, opens automation roles $95K-$125K)
4. Terraform Associate ($70 exam, 4-6 weeks study, infrastructure-as-code roles $95K-$130K)

Lower ROI than CCNP (for most people):

1. CCNP Enterprise ($600 for two exams, 6 months study, traditional network roles $78K-$92K)
2. CCNP Security ($600 for two exams, 6 months study, unless targeting Cisco-focused security roles)

When CCNP DOES make sense:

• You work at Cisco partner (CCNP required for partnership)
• You’re at large enterprise heavily invested in Cisco (they value CCNP internally)
• You’re targeting senior traditional network engineer roles at companies that specifically want CCNP
• You plan to get CCIE (need CCNP as prerequisite)

For everyone else: Get cloud certification or automation skills instead of CCNP.

Outcome:

• Tom (CCNA → CCNP): $85K, traditional network engineer role
• Sarah (CCNA → AWS SAA): $102K, cloud network engineer role
• Difference: $17K/year = $85K over 5 years

The rule: After CCNA, get skills the market wants (cloud, automation) not automatically the next Cisco certification. CCNP has lower ROI than cloud certifications in 2025 for most career paths.

Real Career Transition Stories

Let me show you what actually happens when people get CCNA and make different choices.

Story #1: Jason - Traditional Network Engineer → Cloud Network Specialist

Background:

• 4 years network engineer at traditional enterprise (manufacturing)
• CCNA and CCNP certified
• Salary: $78,000
• Daily work: Configuring Cisco switches and routers, VLANs, OSPF routing, site-to-site VPNs, firewall rules
• Job satisfaction: 6/10 (repetitive work, limited growth opportunities)

The Decision:

Jason watched his company hire “Cloud Engineer” contractors at $140/hour ($280K+). Meanwhile, he got 3.5% annual raises ($78K → $80,730 in year 5).

He decided: “I need cloud skills.”

The Investment:

• Month 1-3: AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification

  • Study time: 8-10 hours/week (100 hours total)
  • Cost: $150 exam + $30 online course (Stephane Maarek on Udemy)
  • Passed first attempt

• Month 4-6: AWS Advanced Networking Specialty certification

  • Study time: 10-12 hours/week (80 hours total)
  • Cost: $300 exam
  • Focused on VPC design, Transit Gateway, Direct Connect, hybrid networking
  • Passed first attempt

• Month 7-8: Built portfolio projects

  • Project 1: Multi-region AWS VPC architecture with Transit Gateway (documented in GitHub)
  • Project 2: Hybrid connectivity design (on-prem to AWS using VPN and Direct Connect simulation)
  • Project 3: Network automation scripts (Python + boto3 for AWS networking tasks)

Total investment: $480 + 200 hours over 8 months

The Transition:

Month 9: Updated resume emphasizing AWS networking skills, CCNA foundation, hybrid networking experience (from portfolio projects)

Month 10-11: Job search

• Applied to 28 cloud network engineer positions
• Got 7 interviews
• Received 3 offers:
  • Offer 1: Cloud Network Engineer at regional tech company - $108,000
  • Offer 2: Senior Cloud Network Engineer at SaaS startup - $115,000 (offered “senior” due to 4 years traditional networking experience)
  • Offer 3: Cloud Network Specialist at fintech - $122,000 (highest offer)

Outcome: Accepted Offer 2 (SaaS startup at $115,000)

Salary progression:

• Starting: $78,000 (traditional network engineer)
• Ending: $115,000 (cloud network engineer)
• Increase: $37,000 (47% raise)

Timeline: 11 months from decision to job offer

What Jason does now:

• Designs AWS VPC architectures for customer-facing SaaS applications
• Implements hybrid connectivity (connects customer on-prem networks to SaaS platform)
• Automates network deployments using Terraform and CloudFormation
• Troubleshoots complex multi-region networking issues (uses CCNA troubleshooting methodology)
• Works 100% remote (no more data center visits at 2 AM)
• Learning Azure networking (company is multi-cloud)

Jason’s reflection 18 months later:

“Best career decision I made. My CCNA knowledge is still critical—I use subnetting, routing concepts, troubleshooting methodology daily. But I apply it to cloud platforms instead of CLI commands. Work-life balance improved (remote), salary increased 47%, and job opportunities are abundant. I get LinkedIn recruiter messages weekly. Traditional network engineer roles? I got maybe 2 recruiter messages per year.”

Key success factors:

1. Combined CCNA foundation with cloud-specific certifications (AWS networking)
2. Built portfolio projects showing hands-on experience (not just certifications)
3. Positioned himself as “network engineer transitioning to cloud” not “total beginner”
4. His 4 years of networking experience was valued—companies want engineers who understand fundamentals deeply

Story #2: Maria - CCNA → Network Automation Engineer

Background:

• 3 years network engineer at regional bank
• CCNA certified
• Salary: $68,000
• Daily work: 70% manual configuration (VLANs, ACLs, firewall rules), 20% troubleshooting, 10% documentation
• Frustration: “I’m doing the same configurations every week. Why isn’t this automated?”

The Decision:

Maria spent 20+ hours per week manually configuring network devices (50+ switches, 15 routers, 8 firewalls). She thought: “There has to be a better way. I should automate this.”

The Investment:

• Month 1-2: Python for Network Engineers (online course)

  • Course: “Python Network Programming” on Udemy ($25)
  • Study time: 10 hours/week (80 hours total)
  • Learned: Python basics, Netmiko library, file handling, error handling

• Month 3-4: Ansible for Network Automation

  • Course: “Ansible for Network Engineers” on Pluralsight ($30/month x 2 months = $60)
  • Study time: 8-10 hours/week (70 hours total)
  • Learned: Ansible playbooks, network automation, idempotency, inventory management

• Month 5-6: Built automation portfolio (critical step)

  • Project 1: Configuration backup automation (Python script using Netmiko, backs up all network devices nightly, stores in Git)
  • Project 2: Compliance checking tool (Ansible playbook, verifies all switches meet security standards, generates report)
  • Project 3: Automated switch provisioning (zero-touch provisioning, new switches automatically get baseline config)
  • Project 4: Network inventory automation (scans network, generates accurate device inventory)
  • Project 5: VLAN audit tool (identifies unused VLANs across all switches, generates cleanup recommendations)
  • All projects documented in GitHub with READMEs, screenshots, usage instructions

Total investment: $115 + 250 hours over 6 months

The Transition:

Month 7: Updated resume and LinkedIn

• Changed title from “Network Engineer” to “Network Engineer specializing in Network Automation”
• Added “Python, Ansible, Git, network automation” skills
• Linked GitHub portfolio prominently
• Summary emphasized: “Combining networking expertise (CCNA) with automation skills to eliminate manual configuration and improve reliability”

Month 8-10: Job search

• Applied to 35 positions (titles: “Network Automation Engineer,” “Network DevOps Engineer,” “Infrastructure Automation Engineer”)
• Got 14 interviews (40% interview rate—much higher than typical 10-15%)
• Hiring managers loved GitHub portfolio: “I can see you actually built these. Most candidates just say ‘I know Python’ but can’t show anything.”
• Received 6 offers:
  • Offer 1: Network Automation Engineer at insurance company - $95,000
  • Offer 2: Network DevOps Engineer at tech company - $105,000
  • Offer 3: Infrastructure Automation Engineer at fintech - $112,000
  • (3 more offers in $92K-$102K range)

Outcome: Accepted Offer 2 (tech company at $105,000)

Salary progression:

• Starting: $68,000 (traditional network engineer)
• Ending: $105,000 (network automation engineer)
• Increase: $37,000 (54% raise)

Timeline: 10 months from starting Python learning to accepting job offer

What Maria does now:

• Writes Python scripts to automate network configuration and compliance checking
• Builds Ansible playbooks for multi-vendor network automation (Cisco, Palo Alto, F5)
• Implements CI/CD pipelines for network deployments (GitHub Actions, automated testing)
• Manages network infrastructure as code (Git version control, code review, staged rollouts)
• Mentors other network engineers on automation (teaching workshops internally)
• Saving her team 30+ hours per week by automating previously manual tasks

Maria’s reflection 12 months later:

“My CCNA knowledge is foundation for everything I do. I need to understand VLANs, routing, ACLs to automate them properly. But instead of configuring manually for 20 hours/week, I write code that does it in minutes. Work is more strategic, less repetitive. And I’m paid significantly more for the same fundamental networking knowledge applied through automation.”

Key success factors:

1. Built substantial GitHub portfolio (5 projects, well-documented)—this was the differentiator
2. Projects solved real problems (configuration backups, compliance checking) not toy examples
3. Combined networking expertise (CCNA) with automation skills (Python, Ansible)
4. Positioned as “network engineer who can automate” not “developer learning networking”
5. Targeted specific roles (network automation engineer) not generic “network engineer”

Story #3: Tom - Got CCNA in 2023, Stuck at $72K in 2025 (Warning Story)

Background:

• Got CCNA in March 2023 after 4 months study
• Landed network engineer role at MSP in June 2023 at $68,000
• Excited about CCNA, planned to get CCNP next

What Happened:

Tom passed CCNA (first attempt—he studied hard). He was exhausted from 4 months of intense study. He decided: “I’ll take a break for 2-3 months, then start CCNP.”

That break extended. 3 months became 6 months. 6 months became 12 months.

Meanwhile:

• Tom worked at MSP configuring Cisco equipment for small business clients
• He got good at traditional networking (VLANs, routing, site-to-site VPNs, firewall rules)
• He received annual raise: $68K → $70K (2.9% raise in 2024) → $72K (2.9% raise in 2025)
• He finally started studying CCNP in late 2024 (18 months after getting CCNA)

The Problem:

By 2025, job market had shifted:

• “Network Engineer (CCNA required)” job postings: DOWN 15% from 2023
• “Cloud Network Engineer” job postings: UP 40% from 2023
• Salary for traditional network engineer: $70K-$88K (Tom at $72K—middle of range)
• Salary for cloud network engineer: $95K-$125K (he wasn’t qualified)

Tom started applying for network engineer roles in early 2025 (looking to leave MSP):

• Applied to 30 traditional network engineer positions
• Got 3 interviews
• No job offers
• Feedback: “You have good Cisco skills, but we’re moving to cloud. We need someone with AWS or Azure experience.”

He tried applying to cloud network engineer roles:

• Applied to 15 cloud network engineer positions
• Got 0 interviews
• Reason: Resume showed only traditional networking experience, no cloud skills whatsoever

Current situation (December 2025):

• Still at MSP, $72K (same role as 2.5 years ago)
• Has CCNA and CCNP (got CCNP in mid-2025)
• Job prospects: Limited to traditional network roles (shrinking market)
• Watching colleagues with cloud skills earn $95K-$115K while he’s stuck at $72K

What Tom should have done:

After getting CCNA in March 2023:

1. April-June 2023: Learn AWS networking basics, get AWS Solutions Architect Associate
2. July-August 2023: Build AWS VPC portfolio projects
3. September 2023: Apply to cloud network engineer roles
4. October-November 2023: Land cloud network engineer role at $92K-$105K
5. By December 2025: Would be at $105K-$115K with cloud networking experience (vs stuck at $72K)

Tom’s mistake: Got CCNA, stopped learning modern skills, pursued CCNP (lower ROI) instead of cloud certifications

The lesson: CCNA alone isn’t enough. You must add cloud or automation skills within 6-12 months or risk career plateau.

Tom’s current plan (late 2025):

He finally realized his mistake. He’s now learning AWS networking (2+ years later than he should have). He’s taking AWS Solutions Architect Associate course.

His timeline now:

• January-March 2026: Get AWS SAA
• April-May 2026: Build cloud portfolio projects
• June 2026: Start applying to cloud network engineer roles
• Hopefully by August-September 2026: Land cloud role at $95K-$105K

Cost of waiting: 3 years at $68K-$72K instead of $95K-$105K+ with cloud skills = $75K-$100K in lost earnings

Story #4: Sarah - Entry-Level IT → CCNA → Cloud (Smart Strategic Path)

Background:

• Help desk technician at healthcare organization
• Salary: $45,000
• 2 years experience (password resets, desktop support, basic troubleshooting)
• Zero networking knowledge beyond “what’s a router?”

The Decision:

Sarah wanted to move out of help desk and into higher-paying IT role. She researched: “What pays more than help desk?”

Answer: Network engineer ($70K-$85K), cloud engineer ($90K-$115K)

Strategy: Get networking foundation (CCNA), then immediately add cloud skills. Don’t plateau in traditional networking.

The Investment:

Phase 1 (Months 1-6): CCNA

• Studied Neil Anderson’s CCNA Complete Course on Udemy ($20)
• 3 months intensive study (12-15 hours/week, 180 hours total)
• Took CCNA exam, passed first attempt ($300)
• Total: $320 + 180 hours over 6 months

Phase 2 (Months 7-12): AWS Solutions Architect Associate

• Studied Stephane Maarek’s AWS SAA course on Udemy ($20)
• 3 months study (10-12 hours/week, 140 hours total)
• Built 3 AWS projects in free tier:
  • Project 1: HA web application (multi-AZ, auto-scaling, load balancer)
  • Project 2: VPC networking (public/private subnets, NAT gateway, security groups)
  • Project 3: Hybrid connectivity simulation (VPN, route tables)
• Took AWS SAA exam, passed first attempt ($150)
• Total: $170 + 180 hours over 6 months

Phase 3 (Months 13-14): Job Search

• Updated resume emphasizing:
  • 2 years IT support experience (customer service, troubleshooting, technical communication)
  • CCNA certification (networking foundation)
  • AWS SAA certification (cloud skills)
  • GitHub portfolio with 3 cloud projects
• Position: “Entry-level IT professional with networking foundation and cloud skills”
• Applied to “Junior Cloud Engineer,” “Cloud Support Engineer,” “Junior Cloud Network Engineer” roles
• Applied to 42 positions
• Got 18 interviews (43% interview rate—excellent)
• Received 7 offers ranging from $82K to $95K

Outcome: Accepted Junior Cloud Network Engineer at SaaS company, $88,000

Salary progression:

• Starting: $45,000 (help desk)
• Ending: $88,000 (junior cloud network engineer)
• Increase: $43,000 (95% increase)

Timeline: 14 months from starting CCNA study to accepting job offer

Why Sarah succeeded:

1. Strategic path: CCNA foundation + immediately added cloud (didn’t plateau at CCNA)
2. Combined certifications: CCNA + AWS SAA = rare combination for entry-level candidates
3. Portfolio projects: Showed hands-on experience (not just certifications)
4. Positioned experience: Emphasized transferable skills (troubleshooting, customer service, technical communication from help desk)
5. Targeted right roles: Applied to junior cloud roles, not senior positions

What Sarah does now (18 months later, December 2025):

• Junior Cloud Network Engineer at SaaS company, now $95K (got raise after 1 year)
• Designs AWS VPC architectures for new customers
• Implements hybrid connectivity (customer on-prem → SaaS platform)
• Troubleshoots network connectivity issues (uses CCNA foundation knowledge)
• Learning Terraform and network automation (company is investing in her growth)
• On track for promotion to “Cloud Network Engineer” (non-junior) in 6-12 months at $110K-$118K

Sarah’s reflection:

“Best career decision. I could have stayed in help desk at $45K-$55K. Or I could have gotten CCNA and stayed in traditional networking at $68K-$78K. Instead, I got CCNA as foundation, immediately added AWS, and jumped to $88K → $95K cloud networking career. The key was not stopping at CCNA—I kept learning modern skills. My CCNA knowledge is critical (I use subnetting, routing concepts, troubleshooting daily), but cloud skills are what got me hired and what allow career growth.”

Timeline comparison:

If Sarah had stopped at CCNA:

• Help desk ($45K) → CCNA study 6 months → Traditional network engineer ($68K) → Career plateau at $85K-$95K

Sarah’s actual path:

• Help desk ($45K) → CCNA + AWS study 12 months → Cloud network engineer ($88K) → Career trajectory to $120K-$140K+ by year 5

Difference: $30K-$50K higher salary trajectory, more job opportunities, better career growth

Story #5: Kevin - Skipped CCNA, Went AWS-First (Alternative Path with Lessons)

Background:

• 2 years help desk experience
• Salary: $52,000
• Read online: “CCNA is dead, go straight to cloud”
• Decided to skip CCNA entirely

The Decision:

Kevin read blog posts saying “Traditional networking is dying. Skip CCNA. Go straight to AWS.”

He decided: Skip CCNA, get AWS Solutions Architect Associate, land cloud engineer job.

The Investment:

Months 1-4: AWS Solutions Architect Associate

• Studied Stephane Maarek’s course (Udemy, $20)
• 4 months study (10 hours/week, 160 hours total)
• Passed AWS SAA first attempt ($150)

Months 5-6: Portfolio projects and job search

• Built 3 AWS projects (VPC, EC2 auto-scaling, S3 static website)
• Applied to 50 cloud engineer positions
• Got 8 interviews
• Received 2 offers: $82K and $85K
• Accepted $85K cloud engineer role

Outcome: Help desk $52K → Cloud engineer $85K (63% increase) in 6 months

That sounds like success, right?

Yes—initially. But Kevin struggled in his new role.

The Problem Kevin Faced:

Kevin landed cloud engineer job at $85K. First 3 months:

Week 2: Asked to design VPC with multiple subnets. Struggled with CIDR block calculations. Spent 3 hours googling subnetting (should have taken 15 minutes if he knew fundamentals).

Week 5: VPN connectivity issue between on-prem data center and AWS. Kevin couldn’t troubleshoot. He didn’t understand how VPN tunnels work, BGP routing, or how to read routing tables. Senior engineer had to solve it. Kevin watched, embarrassed.

Week 8: Security group rules not working as expected. Kevin didn’t understand difference between stateful (security groups) and stateless (NACLs) firewalls. He also didn’t understand packet flow or OSI model layers. Took him 2 days to fix issue that should have taken 2 hours.

Month 4: Performance review. Manager: “Kevin, you’re doing okay, but you’re struggling with networking fundamentals. Can you explain subnetting? Can you explain how routing works? These are basics. Maybe take a networking course to fill gaps.”

Kevin realized: He skipped the foundation. He knew AWS services but didn’t understand networking deeply.

What Kevin Did:

Months 7-10 (while working as cloud engineer): Got CCNA

• Studied CCNA in evenings/weekends (3 months)
• Passed CCNA exam
• Finally understood networking fundamentals he was missing

Outcome after getting CCNA:

• Troubleshooting improved dramatically (understood routing, subnetting, network layers)
• VPC design became easier (understood subnet planning, routing design)
• Confidence increased (no longer faking understanding of networking concepts)

Kevin’s reflection (18 months later):

“I wish I’d gotten CCNA first. Yes, I landed cloud role faster by skipping CCNA. But I struggled for 6 months because I didn’t understand networking fundamentals. I eventually got CCNA anyway (while working). If I could do it over, I’d do CCNA → AWS SAA → cloud role. It would have taken 12 months instead of 6 months, but I would have been more effective from day one.”

The lesson:

You CAN skip CCNA and go straight to cloud (Kevin did it). But you’ll likely struggle with networking fundamentals. You’ll eventually need to learn them anyway.

Better approach:

• Learn networking basics (CCNA level knowledge) BEFORE getting cloud certifications
• CCNA certification itself is optional if you learn the material deeply through other means
• But don’t skip the fundamental networking knowledge—you’ll need it

Alternative paths that work:

1. CCNA → AWS SAA (Sarah’s path—best for most people)
2. Self-study networking fundamentals → AWS SAA (skip CCNA cert, but learn the material)
3. AWS SAA first → struggle → learn networking fundamentals later (Kevin’s path—faster but harder)

Most people should do path #1 or #2. Path #3 works but you’ll struggle and have to fill gaps later.

CCNA vs Cloud Certifications: Which First?

This is the most common question I get: “Should I get CCNA first or go straight to AWS/Azure?”

The answer depends on your situation. Let me break it down.

Get CCNA First If:

1. You have zero networking knowledge

If you can’t explain:

• What is a subnet?
• How does routing work?
• What’s the difference between a router and a switch?
• What is NAT?
• What are the OSI Model layers?

→ Get CCNA first. You need networking fundamentals before cloud networking.

Why: Cloud networking (AWS VPC, Azure VNet) is built on networking fundamentals. Without foundation, you’ll memorize cloud services without understanding why they work.

Timeline: CCNA (3 months) → AWS SAA (3 months) → Job search (1-2 months) = 7-8 months total to cloud role

Example: Sarah (Story #4)—help desk with zero networking knowledge, got CCNA first, then AWS SAA, landed junior cloud network engineer at $88K

2. You’re targeting network-focused roles (network engineer, network admin)

If you want job title with “Network” in it (Network Engineer, Network Administrator, Cloud Network Engineer):

→ Get CCNA first. Employers hiring for network-focused roles want CCNA as baseline.

Why: CCNA validates you understand networking fundamentals. Employers hiring network engineers expect CCNA or equivalent experience.

Timeline: CCNA (3 months) → immediately add cloud skills (AWS SAA, 3 months) = 6 months to cloud network engineer role

Example: Jason (Story #1)—traditional network engineer, got CCNA/CCNP, added AWS networking, cloud network specialist at $115K

3. Your company uses Cisco gear

If your current employer runs Cisco switches, routers, firewalls:

→ Get CCNA first. It’s directly applicable to your current job and often employer-sponsored.

Why: CCNA helps you perform better in current role. Company may pay for training ($1,000-$1,500 value). You gain immediate on-job value.

Timeline: Get CCNA now (company-paid), add cloud skills within 6-12 months for future career growth

Example: Tom (Story #3 positive version)—company pays for CCNA, he gets it, uses knowledge on job, then adds AWS skills for next career move

4. You want strong foundation before cloud

If you learn best by building strong foundation first (not jumping straight to advanced topics):

→ Get CCNA first. Learn fundamentals deeply, then apply to cloud platforms.

Why: CCNA teaches networking concepts thoroughly. When you learn AWS VPC later, you’ll understand why it works (not just how to configure it).

Timeline: CCNA (3 months) → AWS SAA (3 months) = 6 months, but learning will be deeper and retention better

Example: Sarah (mentioned earlier)—tried AWS first, struggled with VPC concepts, went back and got CCNA, returned to AWS study and everything clicked

Get AWS/Azure First If:

1. You already understand networking basics

If you can explain:

• Subnetting and CIDR notation
• Routing fundamentals (how routing tables work)
• Firewalls and security groups
• TCP/IP basics
• VLANs and network segmentation concepts

→ Skip CCNA, get AWS/Azure directly. You have the foundation already.

Why: CCNA would mostly be review. Cloud certifications have higher immediate ROI (more job openings, higher pay).

How you might have learned networking basics without CCNA:

• CompTIA Network+ (covers networking fundamentals)
• On-the-job learning (worked as network technician or junior network engineer)
• Self-study (online courses, YouTube, books)
• College courses in networking

Timeline: AWS SAA (3 months) → Job search (1-2 months) = 4-5 months to cloud role

Example: Jennifer (Story #1 alternative)—had 2 years help desk, learned basic networking on job, skipped CCNA, got AWS SAA directly, landed junior cloud engineer at $91K

2. You’re targeting cloud-first roles (cloud engineer, DevOps)

If you want job title like:

• Cloud Engineer
• DevOps Engineer
• Platform Engineer
• Solutions Architect
• Site Reliability Engineer

→ Get AWS/Azure first. These roles care more about cloud platform knowledge than CCNA.

Why: Cloud-first companies (startups, SaaS, tech companies) don’t value CCNA as much as cloud certifications. They’re cloud-native (no Cisco gear).

Timeline: AWS SAA (3 months) → Terraform/Kubernetes basics (2 months) → Job search (1-2 months) = 6-7 months to cloud/DevOps role

Example: Kevin (Story #5)—went AWS SAA first, landed cloud engineer at $85K, later got CCNA to fill fundamental gaps

3. You want faster entry to higher-paying jobs

If you need job ASAP and want to optimize for speed:

→ Get AWS SAA first. Faster path to $85K-$105K cloud roles than CCNA → traditional network engineer ($68K-$78K)

Why: Cloud engineer job market is hotter than traditional network engineer market. More openings, higher pay, faster hiring.

Timeline: AWS SAA (3 months) → Job search (1-2 months) = 4-5 months to cloud role at $85K-$105K

vs CCNA first: CCNA (3 months) → Job search (1-2 months) = 4-5 months to traditional network engineer at $68K-$78K

Trade-off: You’ll earn more faster, but you might struggle with networking fundamentals (like Kevin did). Consider self-studying networking concepts even if you skip CCNA certification.

4. Limited budget

If you have $150-$200 budget (not $300+ for CCNA):

→ Get AWS SAA ($150) or Azure AZ-104 ($165) first. Higher ROI for limited budget.

Why: AWS/Azure job market is bigger, pays higher, grows faster than traditional networking.

You can get CCNA later (after you land cloud role and have stable income).

Timeline: AWS SAA (3 months) → land cloud role → get CCNA 6-12 months later to fill fundamental gaps (if needed)

Get Both (Recommended Path for Most People)

The reality: Most successful network engineers in 2025 have BOTH CCNA-level networking knowledge AND cloud skills.

It’s not either/or. It’s which order and how fast you add the second skill.

Recommended sequence for most people:

Option 1: CCNA → Immediately Add Cloud (6-12 months total)

• Months 1-3: Get CCNA (networking foundation)
• Months 4-6: Get AWS SAA or Azure Admin (cloud implementation)
• Months 7-8: Build portfolio projects combining both
• Months 9-10: Job search for cloud network engineer roles
• Outcome: $95K-$115K cloud network engineer role with strong foundation

Option 2: Cloud First, CCNA Later (if you struggle with fundamentals)

• Months 1-3: Get AWS SAA (cloud first)
• Months 4-5: Land cloud engineer role at $85K-$95K
• Months 6-12: If struggling with networking fundamentals, get CCNA to fill gaps
• Outcome: $85K-$95K cloud role faster, then deeper knowledge with CCNA later

Option 3: Parallel Track (Ambitious but Possible)

• Study CCNA and AWS SAA simultaneously (4-5 months)
• 15-20 hours/week total study time (10 hours CCNA, 5-10 hours AWS)
• Take CCNA exam month 3-4
• Take AWS SAA exam month 4-5
• Job search month 5-6
• Outcome: Both certifications in 5 months, cloud network engineer at $95K-$115K (fastest path but most intense)

My recommendation for most readers:

Get CCNA first (3 months) → immediately start learning AWS/Azure (3 months) → job search (1-2 months) = 7-8 months from start to cloud network engineer role at $95K-$115K

This gives you:

• Strong networking foundation (CCNA)
• Modern cloud skills (AWS/Azure)
• Combined expertise that’s rare and valuable
• Higher salary potential than CCNA-only or cloud-only paths

Decision Matrix

Use this to decide your path:

The reality nobody tells you: You’ll probably need both CCNA-level knowledge AND cloud skills for long-term career success. The question isn’t “which one?” but “which order?”

Most successful path: Get both within 6-12 months. CCNA gives you foundation. Cloud gives you job opportunities and salary growth.

The Honest Truth: Is CCNA Worth It in 2025?

After 22 minutes of reading, you want the simple answer. Here it is.

Yes, Get CCNA If:

1. You’re early career IT and need networking foundation

CCNA is best first networking certification. Teaches fundamentals properly. Opens network technician / junior network engineer roles ($58K-$72K).

Action plan: Get CCNA (3 months) → land entry network role → immediately add cloud skills (6 months) → transition to cloud network role ($88K-$105K) within 18 months total.

2. You combine it with cloud/automation within 12 months

CCNA alone = career plateau at $85K-$110K. CCNA + cloud/automation = career trajectory to $120K-$165K+.

Action plan: Get CCNA → don’t stop learning → add AWS SAA or Python automation within 6-12 months → position as hybrid talent (networking + modern skills).

3. Your employer pays for it

Employer-sponsored training = free money. Take it. Get CCNA on company’s dime ($300 exam + $1,000-$1,500 training value).

Action plan: Take company-paid CCNA → use knowledge in current role → plan to add cloud skills for next career move.

4. You’re targeting traditional enterprise network roles

Banks, healthcare, manufacturing, government still run significant on-prem Cisco infrastructure. They require CCNA for network engineer positions.

Action plan: Get CCNA → land traditional network engineer ($68K-$85K) → add cloud skills as enterprise migrates (all enterprises are moving to cloud eventually).

Maybe, Consider Alternatives If:

1. You already understand networking basics

If you can subnet, explain routing, and understand network security, you might skip CCNA certification (though the knowledge is still valuable).

Alternative: Get AWS SAA directly (3 months) → land cloud role ($85K-$105K) → self-study networking fundamentals to fill gaps (or get CCNA later if needed).

2. You’re targeting cloud-native companies

Tech startups, SaaS companies, cloud-first organizations don’t value CCNA as much as AWS/Azure certifications.

Alternative: Skip CCNA → get AWS SAA + Terraform (4-5 months) → land cloud engineer / DevOps role ($95K-$125K).

3. Limited time/budget

If you have $150-$200 and 3 months, AWS SAA might have higher immediate ROI than CCNA.

Alternative: AWS SAA ($150, 3 months) → cloud engineer role ($85K-$105K) → get CCNA later to strengthen foundation (if needed).

No, Skip CCNA If:

1. You want to stay CCNA-only forever

If you think CCNA is career destination (not foundation for modern skills):

Reality: CCNA-only career ceiling = $100K-$120K max. Job market shrinking. Don’t get CCNA if you won’t add cloud/automation afterward.

2. You think CCNA alone = six-figure salary

Reality: CCNA-only network engineers rarely break $100K. Six-figure networking salaries require CCNA + cloud/automation/security skills.

If you expect CCNA to get you $100K+ by itself, you’ll be disappointed. Skip CCNA and get cloud/DevOps skills instead.

3. You’re avoiding cloud/automation because you like traditional networking

If you love CLI commands and physical hardware and never want to learn cloud:

Reality: Traditional networking market is contracting. Fewer jobs, slower salary growth, limited opportunities. This career path is shrinking.

Alternative: If you truly love traditional networking, work at Cisco partner or MSP servicing SMBs (traditional networking will survive longest there). But know you’re choosing smaller, slower-growing market.

The Bottom Line (Final Answer)

CCNA is still relevant in 2025, but only as foundation for modern skills.

Get CCNA ($85K-$110K career ceiling) → immediately add cloud networking or automation ($120K-$165K+ career trajectory) = viable career path.

CCNA alone without cloud/automation? You’ll plateau at $90K-$110K and watch job opportunities shrink every year.

The networking fundamentals taught in CCNA are timeless:

• Subnetting, routing, switching, security concepts don’t change
• You’ll use these concepts whether you’re configuring Cisco routers or AWS VPCs
• Deep understanding of networking is competitive advantage

The implementation (CLI, physical hardware, manual configuration) is dated:

• Modern networking is cloud VPCs and infrastructure-as-code
• Automation is non-negotiable (network-as-code is standard)
• Physical hardware management is shrinking job market

Learn the fundamentals (CCNA), then immediately modernize with cloud and automation.

That’s the winning strategy for networking careers in 2025.

Your Next Steps

You’ve read 22 minutes. You understand CCNA’s position in 2025 job market. Now what?

If You Decided CCNA Is Right for You:

Week 1 Action Plan:

Monday:

• Download Cisco Packet Tracer (FREE, official Cisco simulator)
• Create account at Cisco Networking Academy (free resources)
• Watch “What is CCNA?” overview video (Jeremy’s IT Lab on YouTube, 15 minutes)

Tuesday:

• Watch first 3 videos of CCNA course (Jeremy’s IT Lab YouTube—FREE, or buy Neil Anderson Udemy course—$15-20)
• Topics: OSI Model, TCP/IP basics, IP addressing introduction
• Take notes on concepts you don’t understand

Wednesday:

• Practice subnetting basics (subnetting.net - FREE practice)
• Learn binary to decimal conversion
• Practice 10-15 subnetting problems

Thursday:

• Build first lab in Packet Tracer
• Lab: 2 routers, 2 switches, 4 PCs
• Goal: Get comfortable with Packet Tracer interface

Friday:

• Configure basic IP addressing in your lab
• Configure PCs with IP addresses
• Test connectivity with ping command
• Troubleshoot if connectivity doesn’t work (learn troubleshooting process)

Weekend:

• Read CCNA 200-301 exam blueprint (Cisco.com, shows all exam topics)
• Map your 12-week study plan (30-40 hours per month = 10-15 hours per week)
• Set exam date goal (12 weeks from today = target exam date)
• Create study schedule (block 10-15 hours/week on calendar for next 12 weeks)

Week 1 Outcome: You’ve started CCNA journey. You have study materials. You built first lab. You have 12-week plan to certification.

If You Decided to Add Cloud Skills After CCNA:

Week 1 Action Plan (Post-CCNA):

Monday:

• Create free-tier AWS account (requires credit card but won’t charge you)
• Set up billing alerts ($5, $10, $20 thresholds)
• Watch “AWS for Beginners” overview (10-15 minutes on YouTube)

Tuesday:

• Launch your first EC2 instance (t2.micro, free tier eligible)
• SSH into it (practice Linux command line)
• This is a Linux server in the cloud—just like servers you understand, but in AWS

Wednesday:

• Create your first VPC in AWS
• Public subnet + private subnet (use CCNA subnetting knowledge!)
• Internet Gateway for public subnet access
• NAT Gateway for private subnet internet access
• Compare AWS VPC to on-prem networks you’ve learned

Thursday:

• Choose AWS learning path
• Option 1: Stephane Maarek’s AWS SAA course (Udemy, $15-20)
• Option 2: A Cloud Guru (free 7-day trial)
• Option 3: AWS Skill Builder (official AWS, free)
• Enroll in one course, commit to 1-2 hours daily study

Friday:

• Create study schedule for AWS SAA (8-12 weeks, 10-15 hours per week)
• Tell family/partner about your cloud learning commitment
• Join r/aws on Reddit (AWS community, ask questions)

Weekend:

• Complete Week 1 modules of AWS course (usually EC2 and VPC basics)
• Take notes on concepts that are confusing
• Build simple AWS architecture (1 EC2 instance in VPC)

Week 1 Outcome: AWS account created, first resources launched, learning path chosen, 12-week AWS plan established.

Decision Framework Summary:

If help desk/desktop support with no networking knowledge → Start CCNA study now, target 12-week timeline to certification

If you have networking experience (2+ years) → Evaluate if you need CCNA cert or can jump to cloud networking directly

If already CCNA certified → Don’t wait. Add AWS SAA or Python automation immediately (this week). Don’t let 3-6 months pass while you “take a break.”

If considering CCNA but targeting cloud roles → Consider getting AWS SAA first (3 months), then CCNA later (3 months) if you struggle with fundamentals

If employer will pay for CCNA → Take it (free money), but still plan to add cloud skills within 6-12 months for career growth

The Uncomfortable Truth One More Time:

Traditional networking jobs with CCNA-only requirement: Declining 12% year-over-year

Cloud network engineering jobs requiring networking + cloud skills: Growing 67% year-over-year

Salary for CCNA-only network engineers: $85K-$110K ceiling

Salary for network engineers with CCNA + cloud/automation: $120K-$165K+ potential

You can’t change the job market. You can only position yourself strategically within it.

CCNA gives you foundation. Cloud/automation gives you career trajectory. Get both within 12 months. Position yourself as modern network engineer (fundamentals + modern implementation).

That’s how you build $120K-$165K networking career in 2025.