Is Network+ (N10-007) Worth It? Career Scope, Roles, and ROI

Network+ as a certification is still very much relevant. The current exam series is N10-009, launched June 20, 2024, with up to 90 questions in 90 minutes and a passing score of 720.
N10-007 as a course syllabus can still be valuable as a networking foundation—if you position it as “core networking skills” and map learners to current objectives for exam readiness.

So the right question in 2026 becomes: Is Network+ (the credential) worth it—and how does N10-007 training fit into that journey?

Why Network+ is still a smart career move

Network+ is a widely recognized, vendor-neutral credential that validates practical networking capability—things employers quietly expect you to know before they trust you with production traffic.

Even CompTIA’s own exam framing emphasizes real-world ability (mix of multiple-choice + performance-based questions).

In plain business terms: it reduces hiring risk. In human terms: it helps you stop guessing.

Career scope: where Network+ fits in 2026

Network+ sits in a sweet spot:

Above “I know basic IT”
Below “I’m a specialized network architect”

It supports roles across:

IT support → network support
network operations → junior network admin
cloud and security pathways (because networking is the substrate)

CompTIA also frames Network+ as relevant to roles like network/systems administrator, network/systems support specialist, systems analyst, and even network/cloud engineer tracks depending on experience.

Job roles you can target after Network+ (with realistic positioning)

Here are role clusters Network+ commonly aligns with (titles vary by company):

1) Operations Support (fastest entry)

Network Support Specialist
NOC Technician
Service Desk (Network-focused)
Junior Network Administrator

These roles reward troubleshooting maturity more than theory.

2) Infrastructure Systems (next step)

Systems Administrator (with stronger networking)
Network Administrator
IT Operations Engineer

This is where “I can configure and maintain” becomes your differentiator.

3) Cloud Security on-ramp (when you add one more skill)

Cloud Support / Cloud Ops (network-heavy environments)
SOC Analyst (stronger network visibility)
Network Security Analyst (with additional security depth)

CompTIA’s own job-role mapping shows Network+ being associated with broader systems and cloud/network engineering pathways (role availability depends on experience, not just the cert).

ROI: what you gain vs what you spend

ROI has two layers: salary upside and time-to-opportunity.

Salary and market-value signals

Public salary analyses suggest certified professionals can earn meaningfully more than non-certified peers, with entry-level salary ranges commonly cited in the ~$50k–$65k band in some markets and uplift estimates in the ~20% range (varies by region, experience, and role).
CompTIA also cites role-based salary expectations in their Network+ “worth it” discussion, indicating the credential can align with a range of mid-level pay bands when paired with experience.

The ROI that’s hard to measure (but very real)

Network+ often pays back by: