Hiring a network engineer: the complete guide for clients
From cabling and firewalls to SD-WAN and Zero Trust — what does a freelance network engineer cost, which hiring structure fits, and how do you keep DBA risk under control? Everything you need to know before you hire.
Schedule a free intake callWhen do you hire a network engineer?
A network engineer designs, implements and manages your network infrastructure: LAN, WAN, VPN, firewalls and wireless networks. Unlike a cloud engineer, who mainly works in software-defined environments, a network engineer sits closer to the physical and hybrid infrastructure — switches, routers, data-centre links — and to securing it.
You hire one for an office move or new build where the network must be set up again, for a migration to SD-WAN, when your security needs review (firewalls, segmentation, Zero Trust), or simply when your permanent team cannot absorb a peak or a scarce specialism.
This guide walks through everything you need to choose well: the rates, the two hiring structures, the DBA risk and how to manage it, and what to look for during selection. Maedium places cloud and network engineers exclusively in the Randstad; this guide shares what we encounter in practice.
What does it cost to hire a network engineer?
In 2026 a freelance network engineer costs roughly €60 to €110 per hour, excluding VAT. The rate depends on experience, certifications and specialism. A generalist managing the office network sits lower; an engineer at CCIE level, or with an SD-WAN or security specialism, sits at the top or above, simply because that profile is scarce.
| Level | Indicative hourly rate (excl. VAT) | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Junior (0–3 yrs) | €60 – €75 | Management, support, CCNA level |
| Medior (3–6 yrs) | €75 – €95 | Independent design and implementation, CCNP |
| Senior (6+ yrs) | €95 – €110+ | Complex networks, SD-WAN, security, CCIE-adjacent |
Maedium's fee comes on top of the hourly rate: around 10% for brokerage, around 15% for intermediation. A worked example for intermediation: at an hourly rate of €85, around €12.75 is added, resulting in an invoiced rate of around €97.75 per hour. No hidden surcharges — you know in advance what you pay and what for.
Heading: Brokerage (fee ± 10%)
The contractor works directly for you and also invoices you directly. Maedium makes the match, keeps a finger on the pulse and safeguards DBA compliance through proper contract structuring. You remain the contractual client of the engineer. Suitable for shorter or incidental assignments, such as a clearly scoped implementation project.
Intermediation (fee ± 15%)
Maedium sits contractually between you and the engineer: you contract Maedium, Maedium contracts the contractor, and invoicing runs through Maedium. The engineer remains an independent contractor — no employment, no payroll tax. Through this structure Maedium carries the risk, safeguarded via a model agreement and contract structuring. Suitable for longer or more embedded assignments, such as structural network management.
No payroll, no secondment — and the DBA risk
Intermediation is not payrolling and not classic secondment. The engineer does not enter Maedium's employment, Maedium does not become an employer and pays no payroll tax. In both structures it remains a freelance assignment — that is the essential difference.
For network assignments the DBA risk is heightened, because network management is often long-term and on-site — exactly the situation that can tip towards misclassification. The risk hinges on authority and embedding: do you direct the engineer like an employee, or have they effectively become part of your team? A clearly scoped, results-oriented assignment without a relationship of authority points the other way. Maedium deliberately only takes on assignments that can genuinely be structured as independent. Read more about hiring safely under the Wet DBA.
What to look for when selecting
Mind the vendor match: a Cisco environment requires different knowledge than Juniper, Fortinet or Aruba. Ask for certifications that fit your stack (CCNP/CCIE for Cisco, NSE for Fortinet), but weigh them against demonstrable project experience — a certificate without practice says little. And consider whether you need a generalist or a specialist: management is something other than a complex SD-WAN migration.
And after the match?
Network work is often critical: if the network goes down, the business stops. So ask about availability and reachability during incidents, and about continuity if the assignment runs long. At Maedium we stay involved after placement and arrange replacement where needed — that is the difference between forwarding a CV and a match that lasts.
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to hire a network engineer in 2026?
Roughly €60 to €110 per hour excluding VAT. Junior €60-75, medior €75-95, senior €95-110 or more, depending on certification and specialism. On top comes Maedium's fee: around 10% for brokerage, around 15% for intermediation.
What is the difference between a network engineer and a cloud engineer?
A network engineer focuses on network infrastructure — switches, routers, firewalls, WAN, often partly physical and on-site. A cloud engineer works mainly in software-defined cloud environments. The roles overlap at cloud networking (VPC, Azure Virtual Network), but the core differs.
Which certifications are relevant for a network engineer?
For Cisco environments: CCNA (basic), CCNP (advanced), CCIE (expert). Plus Juniper (JNCIA/JNCIS/JNCIP), Fortinet NSE for security, and CompTIA Network+ as a broad base. Always weigh certifications against demonstrable project experience.
Do I run DBA risk when hiring a network engineer?
With direct contractor hiring, yes — and for network management especially, because it is often long-term and on-site. The risk hinges on authority and embedding. Maedium only takes on clearly scoped, independent assignments and, under intermediation, carries the risk via a model agreement and contract structuring.
Is intermediation the same as secondment or payroll?
No. The engineer does not enter employment, Maedium does not become an employer and pays no payroll tax. It remains a freelance assignment — that is the essential difference from secondment and payrolling.
Hire a network engineer in your city
Maedium places network engineers across the Randstad, with North Holland as home base. Demand and rate differ strongly by region: Amsterdam, with AMS-IX, is the country's network hub, while across the rest of North Holland you often hire more sharply and with shorter travel times. See your city's page: