DevOps engineers are in high demand as companies continue to adopt DevOps methodologies. But which DevOps role earns the highest salary? In this article, we’ll explore DevOps salaries and see which roles command the highest pay.
What is DevOps?
First, a quick overview of DevOps. DevOps combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to improve collaboration, integration, and automation. The goal is to deliver higher quality software faster through practices like continuous integration and continuous delivery.
DevOps roles break down into these main categories:
- Software developers – Write code and develop features
- Software engineers – Design architecture and solve problems
- QA testers – Test software to find bugs and issues
- IT operations – Maintain infrastructure, deploy software, monitor systems
- DevOps engineers – Implement tools and processes to enable DevOps
- Product owners – Guide development and represent business needs
While specialized skills are required for each role, collaboration is key. DevOps removes silos so teams can work together seamlessly.
DevOps Salary Overview
In general, DevOps salaries are well above average compared to other IT roles. The increased adoption of DevOps practices has created strong demand for qualified candidates. And companies are responding by offering high compensation to attract and retain top DevOps talent.
Here are some key stats on average DevOps salaries:
- DevOps engineers – $110,000
- Software developers – $105,000
- IT operations – $90,000
- QA testers – $75,000
These averages can vary based on factors like location, company size, industry, experience level, and specific skills. But overall, DevOps positions pay well for talented professionals.
Highest Paid DevOps Jobs
Now let’s drill down into the highest paying DevOps roles. While salaries can vary widely based on individual circumstances, these are some of the top jobs by average compensation:
1. DevOps Architect
Average salary: $155,000
DevOps architects design and implement the processes and tools that enable DevOps success. This requires an extensive background in software development, system administration, and automation. Architects oversee the DevOps pipeline end-to-end and ensure applications are delivered reliably.
2. DevOps Manager
Average salary: $140,000
DevOps managers oversee teams of engineers, developers, QA, and ops professionals. They coordinate projects, set goals, assign tasks, and ensure collaboration. Exceptional communication, leadership, and technical skills are required to align mixed disciplines.
3. Site Reliability Engineer
Average salary: $130,000
Site reliability engineers (SREs) combine software and systems engineering to create scalable and reliable technology platforms. Using DevOps principles, they build automated systems to prevent and resolve outages.
4. DevOps Engineer
Average salary: $125,000
DevOps engineers are hands-on builders of CI/CD pipelines for complex applications. Using scripting and programming, they connect software development to IT operations through version control, testing, integration, monitoring, and deployment.
5. Release Engineer
Average salary: $120,000
Release engineers focus on the software release process including packaging, compliance, configurations, and delivery mechanisms. They collaborate with developers and ops to ensure code seamlessly moves from development to production.
Other High Paying DevOps Jobs
While the jobs above represent the top highest paying DevOps roles, other positions can also offer strong compensation for the right candidates. Here are a few more lucrative DevOps careers to consider:
- Cloud architect – $120,000
- Automation architect – $110,000
- Continuous integration engineer – $100,000
- DevSecOps engineer – $110,000
- Software performance engineer – $105,000
Factors That Influence DevOps Salaries
Many factors impact how much DevOps professionals actually earn. The averages listed are guides, but salaries can vary significantly based on:
- Location – Jobs in major tech hubs like Silicon Valley or New York City pay more.
- Experience – More years on the job translates to higher salaries.
- Domain knowledge – Expertise in a specific tech stack or industry is rewarded.
- Company size – Larger firms typically pay more than startups.
- Skills – Advanced skills in automation and tooling bring higher compensation.
Individual accomplishments, education, certifications, and negotiating ability also impact salary levels. And demand fluctuates by region, so salaries trend higher in low unemployment markets.
DevOps Job Growth and Outlook
The strong demand for DevOps skills shows no signs of slowing down. As technology deployments increase in speed and complexity, companies will need DevOps talent to maintain velocity and stability. Consider these growth projections:
- Over 25% of global organizations now have DevOps initiatives, up from 16% in 2017.
- The DevOps software market is predicted to grow from $5.9 billion in 2021 to $20 billion by 2026.
- In one report, 87% of companies said they face challenges due to DevOps skill shortages.
This rapid growth translates to ample career opportunities and rising compensation for qualified DevOps professionals. Candidates with advanced skills in areas like automation, containerization, and cloud platforms should see especially strong demand.
How to Increase Your DevOps Salary
For top earners in the field, DevOps salaries can exceed $200K and beyond. Here are some tips to position yourself for maximum pay:
- Pursue DevOps certifications – Earn credientials from AWS, Google Cloud, Cisco, and other leading providers.
- Master high-value skills – Focus on automation tools like Ansible, Jenkins, and Kubernetes.
- Attend conferences and events – Stay on the cutting edge of the latest DevOps advances.
- Contribute to open source – This shows initiative and gives exposure to advanced projects.
- Learn cloud platforms – AWS expertise is highly rewarded in the job market currently.
- Consider contractor roles – Contracting pays higher hourly rates in exchange for less stability.
- Change companies strategically – Increase your salary by switching jobs every few years.
And in interviews or salary negations, be sure to highlight your specialized skills and achievements. With the right background, DevOps professionals can command top dollar in the thriving job market.
Conclusion
To recap, DevOps architect emerges as the clearest winner for highest salary potential, with an average pay exceeding $155,000. But many DevOps roles exceed six figures, especially for senior level positions at major tech firms. And experienced candidates with cutting-edge skills can potentially negotiate even higher compensation.
The bottom line is DevOps is one of the hottest, highest-paying fields in the technology industry. For professionals with the right expertise, it offers outstanding career and salary growth for the foreseeable future.