DevOps Engineer Salary 2025: How Much Can You Make?

If you want to explore a career as a DevOps engineer, you may want to know the average salary. A DevOps engineer works on a software development team and manages responsibilities that straddle the line between development and operations, a way of managing development projects that tears down the silos between company departments and instead encourages a collaborative approach. Explore how much you can earn in this role and how factors like where you live and your experience can impact what you expect to earn. 

What do DevOps engineers do?

A DevOps engineer is an information technology (IT) professional. They work with software developers, administrators, and other members of an organization to optimize the software development life cycle (SDLC). Primary responsibilities for DevOps engineers may include:

• Overseeing releases of code

• Analyzing data

• Strategizing workflow

• Providing technical support to team members

• Investigating bugs

• Planning fixes and resolutions 

A DevOps engineer position could be an excellent fit if you are interested in engineering, problem-solving, and project management.

DevOps engineer job outlook 2025

DevOps engineers belong to the occupational field of software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers. In this industry, jobs are expected to grow 17 percent between 2023 and 2033 [1]. The average growth rate for all occupations is 4 percent, placing computer and information technology careers above average. As of November 2024, over 2,000 DevOps engineer positions were listed on Glassdoor [2]. 

Is DevOps a high-paying job?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics includes DevOps engineers in the category of software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers. According to its data, software developers earn an average median salary of $132,270, far above the average salary across all categories, $48,060 [3]. 

Average salary for DevOps engineers in the US

The average base salary for a DevOps engineer in the US is $108,208 per year [4]. The average supplemental pay is $33,149 annually, which may include commissions, profit sharing, or bonuses. Combined with the reported supplemental income, the average yearly salary for a DevOps engineer in the US rises to $141,357.

DevOps engineer salaries by location: Top 5 highest-paying cities

Career path for DevOps engineers

Many DevOps engineers obtain degrees in computer science or a related field of study. Examples of degrees for aspiring DevOps engineers include a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Computer Science. Higher education is an excellent way to prepare for an entry-level role and strengthen your resume.

However, some employers accept related software engineering experience or those with certifications in DevOps engineering instead of a degree. The next few sections outline the career path of a DevOps engineer from an entry-level to a senior role.

Entry-level DevOps engineer salary and expectations

The average annual salary for someone with less than one year of experience as a DevOps engineer is $85,865 [4]. Combined with the reported additional pay, the average annual compensation rises to $110,753. Qualifications for entry-level DevOps engineers may include:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field or demonstrated technical ability.

• Understanding of Agile principles, object-oriented programming, and cloud computing concepts

• Knowledge of software development and networking principles

• Workplace skills (also known as non-technical skills or soft skills) like written and verbal communication.

If you don’t yet qualify for an entry-level position, try not to feel discouraged. Consider building upon your skill set while earning a certificate to enhance your resume. For example, you can learn from an industry leader with IBM’s DevOps, Cloud, and Agile Foundations specialization.

Mid-level DevOps engineer salary and expectations

The average annual salary for someone with between four and six years of experience as a DevOps engineer is $108,439 [4]. Combined with the reported additional pay, the average annual compensation rises to $137,910. Qualifications for mid-level DevOps engineers may include:

• Strong background in containerization

• Familiarity with essential DevOps tools and frameworks such as Kubernetes, Git, Docker, Bamboo, and Ansible

• Understanding of computer systems, data structures, and scripting 

By taking a self-paced online course like DevOps on Amazon Web Services, you can enhance your mid-level DevOps skills and demonstrate your tool-specific abilities to potential employers. This option especially benefits those who want to pursue a cloud engineer specialization.

Senior DevOps engineer salary and expectations

The average base salary for someone with 10 to 14 years of experience as a DevOps engineer is $129,097 [4]. Combined with the reported additional pay, the average annual compensation rises to $171,789. Qualifications for senior DevOps engineers may include:

• Experience with infrastructure orchestration

• Expert knowledge of the DevOps lifecycle and Agile principles

• Deep understanding of Git workflows and cybersecurity 

Consider pursuing popular DevOps certifications to keep your skills and knowledge current. 

How to obtain a competitive DevOps engineer salary

DevOps engineer salaries vary based on location, but many software development positions are fully remote. Consider expanding the scope of your search to encompass both in-person and remote opportunities. Staying current on industry trends and technologies may also strengthen your candidacy for a DevOps engineer role. Social media pages, YouTube channels, and blogs can be exceptional resources for job seekers. For example, you can register to join the DevOps Slack community, where over 20,000 DevOps professionals share insights.

Professional Certificates and portfolios

When seeking a new position, it’s crucial to demonstrate the value of your skill set to potential employers. However, showcasing your abilities can be challenging without work experience. You can enhance your resume and obtain the compensation you deserve with Professional Certificates in relevant fields of expertise. For example, someone eager to build upon their DevOps-centric leadership skills might consider becoming certified in DevOps Culture and Mindset from the University of California, Davis.

Enhance your DevOps engineer salary with skills you build on Coursera.

The average DevOps engineer salary is nearly three times the average salary across all occupations in the US. To gain more of the skills you need to obtain a high-paying DevOps engineer salary, explore a self-paced online course like IBM’s Introduction to DevOps.