What would be the average wage for a ccna beginer?

Discussion in 'General Cisco Certifications' started by stuntbat, Dec 28, 2006.

  1. stuntbat

    stuntbat New Member

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    Hi there, I'm new to this kind of thing so I sharn't keep you long. I have just started a long distance study for comptia A+, N+ and ccna.

    And my question is

    Once I have gained my ccna. What is the average wage I could expect?

    I would like to get everyones view on this.

    Regards

    Stuntbat
     
  2. zebulebu

    zebulebu Terabyte Poster

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    Welcome to CF!

    Unfortunately, the question you've asked doesn't have a definitive answer.

    There are so many factors to take into account that it wouldn't really be worth answering it at all without a little bit more info, such as where you are based/looking for work, experience in the industry (and related experience outside it), your age, the quality of your CV, the type of role you're looking for etc etc.

    Also, your CCNA is (although it may not seem like it when starting out!) an entry-level cert and will not hold much weight with a lot of employers. Don't get caught in the trap of thinking 'oh, I've got a CCNA, I'm going to get a networking job'. You should expect to put in at least 18 months' graft in a second line support role somewhere before someone even lets you touch a Cisco router in the 'real world'. This will more likely NOT be in a networking environment - like every other profession you'll need to demonstrate a decent all-round knowledge before you are let loose on critical equipment/systems in a specialised role.

    Although you could post up a bit more info on your particular circumstances and probably get a good idea of the type of sums involved, you would probably be better off talking to a couple of agencies and bullshitting them about your qualifications then asking them how much they are likely to be able to secure for you if they place you in a role (just don't go back to the same agencies when you are qualified in a year's time!)

    For what its worth, in Central London, with no experience and those certs, you would probably be looking at about 18-22k in a first or first/second line role.

    Hope that helps!
     
    Certifications: A few
    WIP: None - f*** 'em
  3. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    Zeb's right. Without knowing your experience level and location, there's no way to know. Certification isn't really a good indicator of how much you should make. Experience level plays a far greater role in determining your salary than certifications do.
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  4. NetEyeBall

    NetEyeBall Kilobyte Poster

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    Is that in Pounds or Dollars?
     
    Certifications: CCNA, A+, N+, MCSE 4.0, CCA
    WIP: CCDA, CCNP, Cisco Firewall
  5. zebulebu

    zebulebu Terabyte Poster

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    Well (and no offence here, as Americans often don't 'get' the British sense of humour) since I'm based in the UK, and not likely to be talking about London, Kentucky, you can safely assume thats Pounds I'm talking about :biggrin :biggrin :biggrin
     
    Certifications: A few
    WIP: None - f*** 'em
  6. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    In Central London, KY, he could probably expect 18-22K in USD as well... if he can even find a Cisco device anywhere in the town. :biggrin
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  7. zebulebu

    zebulebu Terabyte Poster

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    LOL

    Hicksville huh?
     
    Certifications: A few
    WIP: None - f*** 'em
  8. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    City Statistics (from city-data.com):
    Population (year 2000): 5,692
    Males: 2,653 (46.6%), Females: 3,039 (53.4%)

    Median household income: $27,283 (year 2000)
    Median house value: $74,100 (year 2000)

    White Non-Hispanic (95.7%)
    Black (1.8%)
    American Indian (1.0%)
    Two or more races (1.0%)


    Beautiful, extremely high-tech Web site. 8)
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  9. zebulebu

    zebulebu Terabyte Poster

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    LOLOLOL

    Viewing that site was like taking a step back in time to 1998... 'The site that design considerations forgot'.

    I looked as hard as I could, but I'm disappointed I couldn't find one of these anywhere...

    53.4% female population huh? I might have to take a trip there... although I guess that the majority of the 'women' there could barely be classed as female - you'd probably have to conduct a series of gender-defining experiments to confirm the latest census findings... :twisted:
     
    Certifications: A few
    WIP: None - f*** 'em
  10. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    Oh, they're female... might be a little inbred, but female nonetheless. :p

    (to those from the fine Commonwealth of Kentucky, I kid! I kid! But in all humor, there's a little bit of truth. :twisted: )
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  11. Pete01

    Pete01 Kilobyte Poster

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    Then you have to factor what type of experience you have:

    Take me for example - 7 years in MS networking, desktop support - server stuff, exchange etc - yadda yadda - I did CCNA to find that different road and no one wants to know.

    - Why?

    Because I don't have commercial Cisco experience!

    It's a tough world out there - I can't afford to go back to 1st line on a NOC - I need an 'inbetweeny'

    Moral of that story? -

    ----- Choose your path early and stick to it!
     
    Certifications: MCP (NT4) CCNA
    WIP: 70-669, Learning MSI packaging
  12. NetEyeBall

    NetEyeBall Kilobyte Poster

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    Choose your path early...good advice! I wish I took it!!!

    I ended up floating around mostly due to the job market. I was hit hard in both the dot com bust and 9-11. So I have had lots of different IT jobs from Desktop Tech, Network Admin, Telecom Support, Hospital Information System Support, and NOC analyst.

    Now I am trying to go deep with Cisco. Specialize is my advice. Get a good well rounded background and then go deep in one area to get the decent money.

    Unfortunately I am in a Noc until an opening shows up in networking support. Still as Nocs go, mine is cool. We can go as deep as we can go with the exception we can't touch the firewalls. On the downside, nights suck ass.
     
    Certifications: CCNA, A+, N+, MCSE 4.0, CCA
    WIP: CCDA, CCNP, Cisco Firewall
  13. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    I must say that I'm not doing too awfully bad being a jack-of-all-trades... ;)
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  14. NetEyeBall

    NetEyeBall Kilobyte Poster

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    I am sure that you are doing very well! Hell...I might be following in your footsteps as work now wants me to do unix. lol...of course I don't think I will ever have as many letters after my name.
     
    Certifications: CCNA, A+, N+, MCSE 4.0, CCA
    WIP: CCDA, CCNP, Cisco Firewall
  15. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    Never say never... you could be the next overcertified Nashvillian!

    Speaking of Nashville... we ought to get together and do lunch.
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  16. NetEyeBall

    NetEyeBall Kilobyte Poster

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    Sounds like a plan! I think it is a great idea!
     
    Certifications: CCNA, A+, N+, MCSE 4.0, CCA
    WIP: CCDA, CCNP, Cisco Firewall
  17. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    Name the day/time/place. I'm near 100 Oaks, usually. Pick somewhere between us. :)
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  18. osiris

    osiris Bit Poster

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    I have already got CompTIA A+ Network + and CCNA. How much will you earn?

    Since I have been trying to get a job I have found that a lot of these employment agencies know nothing about CompTIA.
    So your A+ and Network+ will be of no interest to them,("Sorry I do not know what that is") it is easier for them to put "must have experience" in the description than to learn what these certifications are worth.
    They are valid in the industry - but if an agency decides not forward your details they are not seen by employers. They may get someone a job in the US but not here.

    So I then concentrated on passing CCNA, I was advised that when certified I should expect to start on about £20K. I have only applied for jobs paying around this but so far have not even had an interview. It would seem that some agencies expect to get an experienced CCNA for this sort of money (Don't Think So!) and will not forward your details unless you can show previous experience on your CV.

    So this is how it is, The employer wants someone to do the job and contact an agency.The agency then advertise the position by their rules.

    They have not got the certifications themselves and are not really sure what a CCNA actually does

    I have seen positions advertised for CCNA/CCNP. What do they want a CCNA or a CCNP Do they know the difference?

    If only the employers recruited directly - it should be for them to decide who is and who is not, suitable for the vacancies they have.
     
    Certifications: CompTIA A+ Net+ CCNA MCP 70-270 70-290
    WIP: 70-291 to make MCSA
  19. osiris

    osiris Bit Poster

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    18-22K in Central London - £ or $ ? Stupid question or what

    You are dead right mate tell them bullshit and lies.
     
    Certifications: CompTIA A+ Net+ CCNA MCP 70-270 70-290
    WIP: 70-291 to make MCSA
  20. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    You certainly have an axe to grind, don't you?
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!

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