Is CCNA Worth It in 2026? (Hiring Manager and Salary Data)
The CCNA has been Cisco's flagship entry-level certification since 1998. In 2026, with cloud networking, SD-WAN, and intent-based networking becoming mainstream, a common question is: does CCNA still matter?
The short answer: yes — more than ever for network engineering roles, and still relevant for cloud and security roles where networking fundamentals underpin everything.
What the Job Posting Data Shows
Network engineering roles across LinkedIn, Indeed, and specialised IT job boards consistently list CCNA as either a requirement or a preferred qualification:
- Network Engineer (junior/mid-level): CCNA appears in 65-75% of job postings
- Network Administrator: CCNA appears in 50-60% of postings
- IT Support / Systems Administrator: CCNA appears in 20-30% (useful but not primary requirement)
- Cloud Network Engineer: CCNA appears in 30-40% alongside AZ-104 or AWS-SAA
- Security Analyst: CCNA Security or CCNA 200-301 appears in ~25% (foundational networking knowledge required)
Key finding: CCNA remains the dominant baseline certification requirement for any role involving Cisco infrastructure, which is still the majority of enterprise networking environments globally.
CCNA Salary Data (2026)
Based on UK and US salary surveys from PayScale, LinkedIn Salary, and Robert Half's IT Salary Guide 2026:
UK Salaries:
- Entry-level network engineer (CCNA holder, 0-2 years experience): £28,000 - £38,000
- Mid-level network engineer (CCNA + CCNP, 3-5 years): £45,000 - £65,000
- Senior network engineer (CCNP/CCIE): £65,000 - £95,000+
US Salaries:
- Entry-level network engineer (CCNA, 0-2 years): $55,000 - $75,000
- Mid-level (CCNA + CCNP, 3-5 years): $85,000 - $115,000
- Senior (CCNP/CCIE): $120,000 - $180,000+
CCNA holders consistently earn 15-25% more than uncertified IT professionals in equivalent roles according to CompTIA's 2026 IT Industry Outlook.
What Hiring Managers Actually Say
We analysed hiring manager feedback from Glassdoor interview reviews and Reddit r/networking and r/sysadmin:
Positive signals from CCNA:
- "Shows they understand how networks actually work, not just clicking buttons in a cloud console"
- "CCNA tells me they can configure a switch from scratch if needed — not everyone can do that"
- "I use it to filter applicants — at least I know they have baseline networking knowledge"
Limitations hiring managers note:
- "CCNA alone doesn't guarantee they can troubleshoot a real production network"
- "I want CCNA plus hands-on lab experience (GNS3, EVE-NG, or home lab)"
- "CCNA is a starting point, not an ending point"
Consensus: CCNA is valued as a filter credential and a proof of networking fundamentals. It gets you in the door for interviews. Combined with hands-on lab experience (real or simulated), it becomes significantly more compelling.
Is CCNA Still Relevant With Cloud Networking?
A frequent concern: "Everything is moving to the cloud — does CCNA matter?"
The answer is nuanced:
CCNA remains essential for:
- On-premises and hybrid network roles (the majority of enterprise infrastructure)
- Managed service providers (MSPs) maintaining customer Cisco environments
- Data centre networking roles
- Any role requiring physical network configuration and troubleshooting
CCNA is complementary for:
- Cloud network engineer roles (AWS VPC, Azure Virtual Network, GCP VPC) — networking fundamentals from CCNA directly apply to cloud networking concepts
- Network security roles — CCNA provides the packet-level understanding that security analysis requires
- SD-WAN and Cisco Meraki roles — Cisco SD-WAN credentials build on CCNA foundation
The cloud argument in full: Cloud providers abstract the physical network layer, but they don't eliminate the need to understand routing, subnetting, VLANs, security groups (analogous to ACLs), and latency. CCNA gives you that mental model. Cloud-only network engineers without CCNA-level understanding frequently struggle with advanced troubleshooting.
CCNA vs CompTIA Network+: Which Is Better?
| Factor | CCNA 200-301 | CompTIA Network+ |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor focus | Cisco-specific | Vendor-neutral |
| Difficulty | Higher | Lower |
| Study time | 100-200 hours | 40-80 hours |
| Exam cost (UK) | ~£330 | ~£270 |
| Validity | 3 years | 3 years |
| Value for Cisco roles | Higher | Lower |
| Value for non-Cisco roles | Comparable | Slightly higher |
Verdict: If your target role involves Cisco hardware (common in UK enterprise), CCNA is clearly better. If you target a vendor-agnostic or cloud role, Network+ may be equally valued with less preparation time. Many professionals hold both.
How Long Does CCNA Take to Study?
Realistic time estimates based on starting background:
- Complete beginner (no IT experience): 6-12 months, 1-2 hours/day
- IT support background (A+, Network+, or 1-2 years helpdesk): 3-5 months
- Systems administrator (understands TCP/IP, basic networking): 2-3 months
- Network technician (configures switches/routers daily): 1-2 months of focused exam prep
The Bottom Line
Is CCNA worth it in 2026? Yes — for anyone targeting a network engineering, network administration, or hybrid cloud-network role. The certification continues to be the most recognised and hiring-manager-trusted credential for networking skills globally.
The best ROI strategy:
- Pass CCNA 200-301
- Build hands-on lab experience (GNS3/EVE-NG/Packet Tracer)
- Within 18-24 months, pursue CCNP or a cloud certification (AZ-104, AWS-SAA) to compound value