Salary Woes for Cisco Pros
6/3/2002 -- Think you'll make six-figures as a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)? Think again. According to TCPMag.com's second annual salary survey, released last week, the average salary for CCIEs dropped 21 percent between 2000 and 2001, from $115,000 to $91,000.
The news isn't good for those with other Cisco titles, although the decline isn't quite as steep: Average salaries for those holding CCNAs are down 8 percent, CCNPs 7 percent and CCDAs 6 percent. The only Cisco title to see a rise was the mid-level CCDP, with a modest 1.5 percent increase:
| Title |
2001
Average Salary*
|
2000
Average Salary* |
Change
(+/-) |
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert
(CCIE) |
$91,000 |
$115,00 |
- 21% |
Cisco Certified Design Professional
(CCDP) |
$80,000 |
$79,000 |
+ 1/5% |
| Cisco Qualified Specialist -- Security |
$80,000 |
N/A** |
N/A** |
| Cisco Qualified Specialist -- IT Telephony |
$78,000 |
N/A** |
N/A** |
| Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) |
$74,000 |
$79,000 |
- 6% |
Cisco Certified Design Associate
(CCDA) |
$70,000 |
$74,000 |
- 5% |
Cisco Certified Network Associate
(CCNA) |
$64,000 |
$70,000 |
- 9% |
|
*Results rounded to the nearest thousand
** Certification debuted in 2001. |
Dian Schaffhauser, editorial director of TCPMag.com (as well as this site and MCPMag.com), said that the decline is a reflection of the overall economic climate. "Across the board we're seeing softer salaries," she said. "We're just now evaluating the results for our annual Microsoft Certified Professional salary survey, and we expect we'll see softer numbers there as well."
According to Schaffhauser, the growing popularity of certification is also having an impact. "Certification has become a requirement for the job in many cases," she continued. "I think what we're going to see is that experience is really what will make the difference when it comes to salary negotiation. Certification is less of a factor."
TCPMag.com will be posting information about the above averages and how they relate to the experience levels of those reporting them over the next few weeks. In the meantime, to see the initial results of the survey as well as what Cisco professionals expect for 2002, go to http://TCPMag.com/salarysurveys/. - B.N.
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There are 73  user Comments for “Salary Woes for Cisco Pros”
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Page 7 of 8
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| 11/13/02: Bob from USA says: |
tech pros: i'm not familiar with Cisco's certification programs first-hand but if they are anything like Microsoft's, then certification can only be accepted as a base-line knowledge indicator. I personally took the MCSE/MCDBA tract and I can tell you that it is relatively easy to become certified without having ANY technical troubleshooting experience whatsoever. While the certifications are necessary to get noticed in the IT recruiting world, it is REAL experience, work ethic and aptitude that really count. Think of the 1990s as a time of IT desperation, as many systems were implemented/upgraded for the very first time. As such, anyone with a pulse and minimal training could get a job in the field. As with all economic cycles, this boom has ended, and so has the overpayment of salaries (for many individuals) that were just lucky enough to experience such a long upward growth economy coupled with new technology. If you honestly compare earnings for IT positions versus other positions, the case can easily be made that there were a lot of overpaid "professionals." This is NOT to say that there are a lot of IT PROFESSIONALS with SIGNIFICANT experience that aren't worth their pay. It's really the ones drawn into the field without any work experience or any understanding of economic cycles....as always, show what you can do for the prospective employer and you will be hired, even in this "more challenging" job environment. |
| 1/3/03: BigDawg from South says: |
What we all fail to grasp here is the cost of living, the logistics of the survey respondents & the cost of living in respective areas of the country. Now, I make $75k with a CCNA, CCDA and CCNP. I am studying for my CCIP now, but that is just for me. I have witnessed my own salary increase but it was NOT related to my CCNP, rather my networking experience, hardwork ethics and willingness to get the job done. I never thought that certifications were a shoe-in nor a "title of passage" for more money without the attitude and work ethics to go along with them. I live in the south where $75 here is like $150k in LA or the NE. My home on 25 acres costs less than 25% of what it would cost in Atlanta or LA. It is all about location and the willingness to find a place where you can work hard and make that $ work for you. I will guarantee you though that with my BSCE degree and my 10 years of experience in the networking field (real-life) I could easily make $125k as a CCIE. In fact, I am planning on leaving and taking a job for $95 in 2 months. I think what we need to remember is that the base line averaging of the curve is the composite salary numbers you are seeing above. You own results can and WILL vary greatly. Make your own course and make yourself more money but having a great attitude and a hard work ethic. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be truly happy with yourself. Have fun. -A |
| 1/19/03: David from ATL says: |
I agree with the BigDawg! A combination of experience, certs, education and desire is the formular for success. Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life. |
| 1/23/03: Dan from Miami says: |
Ok, Im hearing alot of "People without experience and just have certs need to be weeded out" My question is HOW THE HELL DO YOU GET THE EXPERIENCE IF YOUR WEEDED OUT? You have to start some where. Im coming from telecommunications and Im already thinking of changing my mind about the IT feild because of all the people with the experience thinking there GOD. There was a time where you didnt know anything! |
| 1/23/03: Dan from Miami says: |
My comment was from what I was reading on page two, just need to vent :) |
| 2/19/03: ToolboksAdmin from NYC says: |
I have had my CCNA since 2000, and it helped me get to 70K. I recently changed employers after a contract ended and now even with the depressed salaries I am still getting 60K. I was working toward the CCIE, but now I am not so sure. Any advice? |
| 2/27/03: TOM from texas says: |
Cisco is really different than a+ thats why i didnt get involved with all the cisco technican certifications. I would tell yall to stick with a and make more than cisco....around 20,000 more than cisco techs. |
| 4/3/03: Mike from California says: |
You guys need to be patient the salaries for the certificates is dynamic not statis and it differs from one location to another and from one company to another the best thing to do is not to get a certificate and go find a job the best thing to do is to get a bachelor degree or higher degree then take 2 or more certificates related to the field that you studied in the IT field that you chose in your BS or BA degree. certificates alone dont work so good even experience sometimes it does but most of the time it doesnt. CCNA and CCNP can get you good money after a lot of experience and you need to know where to apply and most important where to search for openings. IT field is a good secure field for the future but the problem is that u need to keep your skills up to the minute WHY because before 20 years there was no computers look now how many computer languages and stuff we got NO body can know everything in the IT field even if he has a PHD in computer science plus 5 certificates. SO imagine the IT field after 25 years how many new things will be blowing up from underground are we going to be out of business or what if u say this crazy then think about the one who studied Pascal can he find a job now? can he get paid as much as someone with C++ skills. I DONT THINK SO!! |
| 5/20/03: Kenny from Alabama says: |
I can't believe all the whining over making 50-70 grand a year salary doing something I love. I'm now taking classes to get Certifications, as I should've done this over 10 years ago. Instead, I took the first job (not computer related) that came my way after high school. And after 10 years there I'm only making $30K and they're trying to cut me back from there. I only hope and pray that after I get a few certifications a-plus, ccna, mcse, and maybe a few more, that I can get a techie job making 30k a year so I can keep up with my bills. 40-50k would be a godsend, and the 50-70k everyone is complaining about would be a dream for me. I've been repairing, troubleshooting networks, and tutoring at work for 10 years now, but like I said it's not a computer related business, and I've been doing it for free. |
| 8/9/03: guy in the middle from kentucky says: |
i think you guys are a bunch of cry babies. i am working on my CCNA and would love to make 45k starting out. i mean really. i just did four years in the military....now there is something to cry about. really people you got it good. |
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