- 1.DevOps engineers earn a median salary of $116,780/year with strong growth in cloud-native roles and Kubernetes expertise
- 2.AWS/Azure/GCP certifications add 15-25% salary premiums, with AWS Solutions Architect being most valuable
- 3.Top-paying metros: San Francisco ($150K+), Seattle ($145K), New York ($140K) with remote opportunities at tech companies
- 4.FAANG total compensation ranges $200K-$500K+ for mid to senior levels, significantly higher than traditional enterprises
- 5.8% job growth projected through 2032 as companies accelerate digital transformation and cloud migration initiatives
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, Levels.fyi 2024
DevOps Engineer Salary Overview 2026
DevOps engineers sit at the intersection of development and operations, commanding strong salaries due to the specialized skills required to manage modern cloud infrastructure. With companies accelerating digital transformation initiatives, demand for DevOps expertise continues to outpace supply.
This comprehensive salary guide analyzes DevOps engineer compensation using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, Levels.fyi, and the Dice Tech Salary Report 2024. We cover both traditional base salary data and total compensation packages at major tech companies.
DevOps roles vary significantly in scope and tooling. Some focus on CI/CD pipeline management, others on cloud infrastructure, and many on Kubernetes orchestration. This variation impacts salary ranges. For those exploring DevOps careers, see our how to become a DevOps engineer guide or explore cybersecurity analyst salaries for related infrastructure security roles.
| Key Skills | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DevOps Architect | 15+ years | $250,000-$350,000 | $500,000-$750,000 | Strategic planning, Multi-cloud |
| DevOps Engineer | 2-5 years | $95,000-$135,000 | $140,000-$220,000 | Docker, Kubernetes, AWS/Azure |
| Junior DevOps | 0-2 years | $75,000-$95,000 | $90,000-$140,000 | Linux, Git, CI/CD basics |
| Principal DevOps | 12+ years | $200,000-$280,000 | $400,000-$600,000 | Architecture, Team leadership |
| Senior DevOps | 5-8 years | $135,000-$180,000 | $220,000-$350,000 | Infrastructure as Code, Terraform |
| Staff DevOps | 8-12 years | $170,000-$230,000 | $300,000-$450,000 | Platform engineering, Security |
| # | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $152,340 | 12,850 | 240 |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $148,920 | 18,420 | 182 |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $147,680 | 9,640 | 272 |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $142,150 | 22,760 | 235 |
| 5 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $138,450 | 11,230 | 185 |
| 6 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA | $135,780 | 16,890 | 164 |
| 7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $132,560 | 14,750 | 192 |
| 8 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | $128,340 | 8,960 | 123 |
| 9 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $124,890 | 7,540 | 145 |
| 10 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | $119,650 | 9,820 | 118 |
DevOps Engineer Salary by Company Type & Industry
Company type dramatically impacts DevOps engineer compensation. Technology companies, particularly those with large-scale cloud infrastructure, pay significant premiums for DevOps expertise. Financial services and healthcare also pay above-average rates due to regulatory compliance requirements.
| Company Type | Entry Level | Senior Level | Staff Level | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAANG (Meta, Google, Amazon, Apple) | $140K-$180K TC | $250K-$400K TC | $400K-$600K TC | Massive scale, complex systems |
| Top Tech (Microsoft, Uber, Netflix) | $120K-$160K TC | $220K-$350K TC | $350K-$500K TC | High growth, stock options |
| Cloud Providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) | $130K-$170K TC | $240K-$380K TC | $380K-$550K TC | Deep cloud expertise required |
| Financial Services | $100K-$130K | $150K-$220K | $200K-$300K | Compliance focus, stability |
| Healthcare/Biotech | $95K-$125K | $140K-$200K | $180K-$280K | Regulatory requirements |
| Enterprise/Fortune 500 | $85K-$115K | $125K-$175K | $160K-$240K | Traditional infrastructure |
| Startups (Series A-C) | $90K-$130K + equity | $130K-$190K + equity | $170K-$250K + equity | Equity upside potential |
| Consulting | $80K-$110K | $120K-$170K | $150K-$220K | Client variety, travel |
Source: Levels.fyi 2024, Glassdoor, Dice Salary Report
Total Compensation Breakdown at Tech Companies
At major tech companies, total compensation significantly exceeds base salary through stock grants, bonuses, and comprehensive benefits. Understanding these components is crucial for evaluating DevOps engineer offers.
| Component | Entry Level | Senior Level | Staff Level | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $130,000 | $170,000 | $220,000 | 40-60% |
| Stock/RSUs (Annual) | $35,000 | $100,000 | $200,000 | 25-45% |
| Annual Bonus | $15,000 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 10-15% |
| Sign-On Bonus | $20,000 | $40,000 | $60,000 | One-time |
| Benefits Value | $18,000 | $22,000 | $28,000 | 8-12% |
| **Total Annual Comp** | **$218,000** | **$357,000** | **$548,000** | 100% |
Source: Levels.fyi analysis of FAANG DevOps offers 2024
| Skill/Technology | Salary Premium | Demand Level | Career Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kubernetes (CKA/CKAD) | +20-30% | Very High ↑ | [Kubernetes Certifications](/skills/kubernetes-certifications/) |
| AWS Solutions Architect | +15-25% | Very High ↑ | [AWS Certification Roadmap](/skills/aws-certifications-roadmap/) |
| Terraform/Infrastructure as Code | +15-20% | High ↑ | Essential for modern DevOps |
| Security/DevSecOps | +12-18% | Very High ↑ | [Security Certifications](/skills/cybersecurity-certifications/) |
| Multi-Cloud (AWS+Azure+GCP) | +10-15% | High ↑ | Cloud Architecture Skills |
| Observability (Prometheus/Grafana) | +8-12% | High → | Critical for scale |
| GitOps (ArgoCD/Flux) | +5-10% | Medium ↑ | Emerging practice |
| Site Reliability Engineering | +10-15% | High ↑ | Overlap with SRE roles |
Source: Dice Tech Salary Report 2024, Stack Overflow Survey
Cloud Certifications That Boost DevOps Salaries
Cloud certifications have a direct impact on DevOps engineer salaries, with some credentials adding $10K-$25K to annual compensation. The most valuable certifications align with company tech stacks and demonstrate deep platform expertise.
- AWS Solutions Architect Professional — $20K-$30K premium, most requested by employers
- Kubernetes CKA/CKAD — $15K-$25K premium for container orchestration roles
- Azure Solutions Architect — $15K-$20K premium, especially in enterprise environments
- Google Cloud Professional DevOps Engineer — $12K-$18K premium at GCP-focused companies
- CISSP or Security+ — $10K-$20K premium for DevSecOps positions
For a comprehensive analysis of which certifications provide the best ROI for DevOps engineers, see our IT certifications guide.
DevOps vs Related Engineering Roles: Salary Comparison
DevOps engineers often consider transitions to related roles. Understanding salary differences helps inform career decisions and specialization choices.
| Role | Median Salary | Senior Salary | Key Differences | Transition Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DevOps Engineer | $116,780 | $165,000 | Baseline role | N/A |
| Software Engineer | $130,160 | $180,000 | [Higher at senior levels](/careers/software-engineer-salary-guide/) | Medium |
| Cloud Architect | $142,000 | $195,000 | Architecture focus | Low |
| Site Reliability Engineer | $125,000 | $175,000 | Production focus | Low |
| Security Engineer | $132,000 | $185,000 | [Security specialization](/careers/cybersecurity-analyst-salary/) | Medium |
| Data Engineer | $121,000 | $170,000 | Different tech stack | High |
| Platform Engineer | $128,000 | $178,000 | Developer experience | Low |
Source: BLS OEWS 2024, Levels.fyi comparative analysis
Career Paths
Lead complex infrastructure projects, mentor junior engineers, design scalable systems architecture.
Cloud Architect
Design enterprise cloud strategies, lead digital transformation initiatives, architect multi-cloud solutions.
Site Reliability Engineer
Focus on production system reliability, performance optimization, and incident response procedures.
Platform Engineering Manager
Manage DevOps teams, set technical strategy, coordinate with product and engineering organizations.
Specialize in DevSecOps, security automation, compliance, and infrastructure security practices.
Transition to software development, leveraging infrastructure knowledge for backend systems development.
DevOps Engineer Salary Negotiation Strategies
DevOps engineers have strong negotiating leverage due to high demand for their skills. Focus on demonstrating impact through infrastructure improvements, cost savings, and system reliability metrics.
- Quantify your infrastructure impact: Document cost savings from cloud optimizations, uptime improvements, or deployment frequency increases you've achieved
- Research company-specific stacks: Tailor your expertise to their specific tools (AWS vs Azure, Kubernetes distributions, monitoring systems)
- Leverage certification premiums: Highlight relevant certifications like AWS Solutions Architect or Kubernetes CKA
- Negotiate for learning budget: Request training budgets for additional certifications or conference attendance as part of your package
- Consider total compensation: At tech companies, focus on stock grants and level progression rather than just base salary increases
- Highlight on-call experience: 24/7 production support experience commands premiums, especially at high-scale companies
For comprehensive negotiation strategies across tech roles, see our negotiating tech offers guide.
Education & Training Paths for DevOps Engineers
DevOps engineering offers multiple entry paths, from traditional computer science degrees to specialized bootcamps and self-directed learning through cloud certifications.
Traditional Degree Paths:
- Computer Science Degrees — Strongest foundation for system design and programming
- Information Technology Degrees — Focus on infrastructure and system administration
- Software Engineering Programs — Emphasizes development practices and tooling
Alternative Learning Paths:
- Cloud Engineering Bootcamps — 12-24 week intensive programs focused on AWS/Azure
- DevOps Certification Paths — Self-paced learning through AWS, Azure, or Kubernetes certifications
- System Design Fundamentals — Essential knowledge for DevOps interviews
For detailed guidance on choosing between education options, see our bootcamp vs degree comparison or self-taught vs degree analysis.
Coding Bootcamps: An Alternative Pathway
Coding bootcamps offer an accelerated pathway into tech careers. For those considering alternatives to traditional degrees, here's what you need to know about this intensive learning format.
What is a Coding Bootcamp?
A coding bootcamp is an intensive, short-term training program (typically 12-24 weeks) that teaches practical programming skills through hands-on projects. Unlike traditional degrees, bootcamps focus exclusively on job-ready skills and often include career services to help graduates land their first tech role.
Who Bootcamps Are Best For
- Career changers looking to enter tech quickly
- Professionals wanting to upskill or transition roles
- Self-taught developers seeking structured training
- Those unable to commit to a 4-year degree timeline
What People Love
Based on discussions from r/codingbootcamp, r/cscareerquestions, and r/learnprogramming
- Fast-track to employment—many graduates land jobs within 3-6 months
- Hands-on, project-based learning builds real portfolio pieces
- Career services and interview prep included in most programs
- Strong alumni networks for job referrals and mentorship
- Structured curriculum keeps you accountable and on track
Common Concerns
Honest feedback from bootcamp graduates and industry professionals
- Intense pace can be overwhelming—expect 60-80 hour weeks
- Some employers still prefer traditional CS degrees for certain roles
- Quality varies widely between programs—research carefully
- Job placement stats can be misleading—ask for CIRR audited reports
- May lack depth in computer science fundamentals like algorithms
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More Bootcamp Resources
DevOps Engineer Salary FAQ
Related Salary Guides & Career Resources
Data Sources & Methodology
Computer Systems Analysts median salary data, May 2024
Tech company total compensation data for DevOps and SRE roles
Technology skills salary premiums and demand trends
Technology usage and salary correlation data
Company-specific salary ranges and employee reports
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.