NOC Technician Jobs: Salary and Career Facts

Find out what it takes to become a NOC Technician. Find out about education and certification requirements, activities and salary information to find out if this is the career for you. Schools offering diplomas on the net can also be found in these popular choices.

What is a NOC Technician?

Network Operations Center (NOC) technicians help computer users to troubleshoot problems with the operation of a computer network. These technicians ensure that IT operators on a given network can do their job with the least amount of problems and can be very practical in customer service and technical support. Their work may also involve training new users in case of software installation or system updates.

What will I do as a NOC Technician?

Your job as a NOC technician is to provide assistance to computer users within a specific network. You can solve problems, provide solutions, and help users understand the system. By working with engineers and other network professionals, you also solve network problems and make sure the network is working properly.

Additional tasks may include answering support calls or email and helping computer users identify their problems. You can also test and collect data to identify the problem. As you work to find a solution, record what you do and document problems.

Your work may also include assisting users when a new system is installed. In this situation, you help users learn how to use the new system, answer user questions and monitor the system for problems. You can also do routine checks to make sure everything is working properly.

How do I prepare for this job?

Formal education is not always required by employers, but you may want to consider completing a computer science curriculum or related computer field to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. Experience and knowledge may be more important than training for employers, according to several Monster.com job openings in March 2015.

Employers may wish that you have a few years of experience working with computers, networks, and troubleshooting. You can also demonstrate your knowledge through certification. Certification is available from various software vendors and can usually be obtained by passing a knowledge or skill test.

For example, Cisco offers a joint certification for NOC Jobs. Cisco offers several levels of certification, including associated level certification options for those who are just entering the field (www.cisco.com). Cisco options include Cisco Certified Networking Technician (CCENT) and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). These certifications allow you to show your skills in network security, troubleshooting, installation, and network operations.

What can I earn?

The 10th to 90th percentiles of NOC technicians made between $ 36,000 and $ 70,000 in November 2019. Hourly rates reported by PayScale.com ranged from $ 14 to $ 29.