If you’re weighing up the AZ-700 salary Australia against the cost and study time of the exam, you’re asking the right question before you commit. AZ-700 is Microsoft’s Azure Network Engineer Associate certification, and it sits right in the middle of a genuinely in-demand skill set: cloud networking. This guide breaks down what the exam actually costs, what Azure Network Engineers earn across Australian cities, where AZ-700 fits in the wider Azure certification roadmap, and whether it’s worth the investment in 2026.
What Is the AZ-700 Certification?
AZ-700 (Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions) is the exam behind the Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate credential. It validates your ability to design, implement and manage Azure virtual networks, hybrid connectivity (VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, Virtual WAN), load balancing and application delivery (Application Gateway, Front Door), private access to Azure services, and network security and monitoring. According to the official Microsoft Learn study guide, the exam is aimed at engineers who already work hands-on with Azure compute, storage and networking resources and need to prove they can optimise performance, resiliency, scale and security across a real Azure network environment.
AZ-700 Exam Cost and Requirements
There’s no mandatory prerequisite exam for AZ-700, but Microsoft expects candidates to already understand core networking fundamentals IP addressing, routing, firewalls, VPNs and DNS — plus practical experience working inside the Azure portal. Exam pricing is set in USD by Microsoft and converted at the local exchange rate, so it’s worth checking Microsoft’s official pricing page for the current AZ-700 exam fee rather than relying on an old quoted figure, since Microsoft does revise certification pricing from time to time. Most candidates in Australia budget for the exam fee plus a structured training course or self-study materials on top.
How Much Does an Azure Network Engineer Earn in Australia in 2026?
Azure Network Engineer salary figures in Australia vary by experience, seniority and industry, but the underlying occupation Computer Network Professionals on Jobs and Skills Australia — is tracked as a steady, full-time occupation across the country. In practice, holding an AZ-700 certification tends to push salary offers above generic “network administrator” roles, because it signals cloud-specific networking skills that plain on-premises networking experience doesn’t cover.
Salary by Experience Level
- Early-career / junior cloud network engineers: solid graduate-to-mid-level income while building hands-on Azure experience
- Mid-level Azure Network Engineers with 2–5 years’ experience: a meaningful step up, especially with ExpressRoute and hybrid connectivity experience
- Senior Azure Network Engineers and cloud network architects: well above the national average full-time wage, particularly in finance, telco and government contracts
Because exact figures shift constantly, check current listings on Seek or Jobs and Skills Australia before you negotiate — use them as a live benchmark rather than a fixed number.
AZ-700 Salary in Australia by City
Demand for Azure networking skills isn’t limited to one city. Sydney and Melbourne have the deepest pool of enterprise and finance-sector roles. Brisbane and Perth see strong demand from government, resources and logistics companies moving infrastructure to Azure. Adelaide and Canberra have consistent opportunities tied to defence, health and public-sector cloud projects, where security-cleared Azure networking skills are especially valued.
Azure Network Engineer Career Path in Australia
AZ-700 usually isn’t the first certification someone earns it’s a specialisation. Most candidates start broader, then narrow into networking as their focus area.
Where AZ-700 Fits in the Azure Certification Roadmap
- Start with the fundamentals to build core cloud concepts and terminology
- Move into the general Azure Administrator path to get comfortable managing Azure infrastructure day to day see the Azure Administrator AZ-104 salary guide
- Specialise in networking with AZ-700 once you’re confident with VNets, NSGs and hybrid connectivity
- Later, some engineers branch into security with AZ-500, or move up into architecture compare the AZ-305 salary guide and the Azure DevOps Engineer AZ-400 salary guide if you’re weighing up specialisations
Skills You Need Before Attempting AZ-700
- Solid understanding of virtual networks, subnetting and routing inside Azure
- Hands-on experience with VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute and Virtual WAN for hybrid connectivity
- Comfort configuring Network Security Groups, Azure Firewall and Azure Bastion
- Familiarity with load balancing and application delivery tools — Load Balancer, Application Gateway, Front Door
- Basic Azure Monitor and network diagnostics skills for troubleshooting connectivity issues
If several of these are unfamiliar, spending time on hands-on labs before exam day will do more for your pass rate than reading alone — AZ-700 is known for testing scenario-based network design decisions, not just terminology.
Is AZ-700 Worth It in 2026?
For most IT professionals already working with Azure, yes. Cloud networking is one of the areas organisations consistently under-resource internally, which is exactly why AZ-700-certified engineers tend to be pulled into migration projects, hybrid connectivity rollouts and security reviews. It won’t replace hands-on experience, but as a credential that proves you understand Azure networking end to end, it strengthens your position for both new roles and internal promotions. The clearest case against it: if your day-to-day work is entirely outside networking (pure development, for example), a different specialisation such as AZ-204 or AZ-400 will likely serve your career better than AZ-700.
Best Way to Prepare for AZ-700 in Australia
The AZ-700 Azure Networking Solutions course is built around the current exam objectives, combining structured lessons, hands-on labs in real Azure environments, and mock exams so you’re practising exam-style scenarios rather than just watching demonstrations. It’s available as instructor-led or live online training, which suits candidates studying alongside full-time work. You can also browse the full Azure certification roadmap to see how AZ-700 fits alongside the other Associate and Professional-level Azure credentials.
How to Get Started With AZ-700 in Australia
- Confirm your networking fundamentals are solid — IP addressing, routing, firewalls and DNS.
- Enrol in a structured AZ-700 course that includes hands-on labs, not just video lectures.
- Build a small home-lab project: a hub-and-spoke VNet with a VPN Gateway and NSGs.
- Work through mock exams focused on scenario-based network design questions.
- Book the AZ-700 exam once your practice test scores are consistently above the pass mark.
Ready to plan your study path? Contact Azure Certifications AU to talk through course dates, delivery options, and which Australian city or online format suits you best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AZ-700 salary in Australia for beginners?
Entry-level Azure network engineers typically start above general IT support pay, with income climbing steadily as you gain hands-on experience with ExpressRoute, Virtual WAN and hybrid connectivity projects.
Do I need AZ-104 before AZ-700?
It’s not a formal requirement, but many candidates find AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) experience makes AZ-700 significantly easier, since it builds the general Azure infrastructure knowledge the networking exam assumes you already have.
How long does it take to prepare for AZ-700?
This depends on your starting point, but candidates with existing networking experience often prepare in a matter of weeks with a structured course, while those newer to Azure typically need a longer runway of hands-on lab time.
Is Azure networking a good long-term career in Australia?
Yes. As more Australian organisations move core infrastructure to Azure, hybrid and multi-cloud connectivity skills remain in steady demand across finance, government, resources and telecommunications sectors.
Which cities have the most Azure Network Engineer roles?
Sydney and Melbourne have the largest concentration of enterprise Azure networking roles, with steady demand also in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra, particularly around government and defence-related cloud projects.