Short answer: if you want a job configuring, running, or securing networks — yes, the CCNA is still the highest-leverage entry certification in IT, and 2026 hiring data backs that up. If you're headed for pure cloud, software, or security-analyst roles, there are cases where another certification earns more per study-hour. This guide covers both honestly.
What the CCNA gets you in 2026
The CCNA (200-301) is Cisco's associate-level certification covering networking fundamentals, IP connectivity, security basics, and automation. It matters because networking underlies everything else in IT — and because hiring managers use it as a filter that says "this person can be left alone with the switch closet."
CCNA salary: what the data shows
| Role | Typical range (US, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Network technician (entry) | $52,000 – $68,000 |
| Network administrator | $68,000 – $88,000 |
| Network engineer | $85,000 – $115,000 |
| Network engineer + security skills | $100,000 – $130,000+ |
The certification alone doesn't set your salary — the job does. What the CCNA changes is which job interviews you get. Postings that list "CCNA preferred" outnumber those listing any other single networking credential.
What the CCNA costs — in money and time
- Exam fee: $300 per attempt, which is why first-attempt passes matter.
- Study time: 8–12 weeks part-time for most people with some IT exposure; longer from zero.
- Prep materials: free videos exist; structured practice (labs + practice exams) is what separates one-attempt candidates from two-attempt candidates.
When the CCNA is NOT the right first move
Honesty builds trust, so: skip the CCNA (for now) if any of these describe you.
- You want security analysis, not network engineering. Security+ is the hiring filter for SOC and government roles; take it first, add CCNA later if the job touches network gear.
- You're going straight to cloud. Azure or AWS fundamentals plus an associate cloud cert maps closer to those job listings — though CCNA-level networking knowledge still shows up in every cloud interview.
- You need a job in four weeks. The CCNA is a two-to-three-month project done right. A+ or help-desk experience is the faster door; the CCNA is the better second door.
The verdict
For network-track careers, the CCNA remains the best return on study time in IT: a $300 exam standing between you and roles that pay $20–40K more than uncertified equivalents. The only expensive CCNA is the one you take twice — which is why we tell everyone to measure their readiness with a practice exam before booking the real thing.