How to Become a DevOps Engineer
Bridge software development and IT operations by designing CI/CD pipelines, automating infrastructure, and improving deployment velocity. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $135,980 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$135,980/yr
Typical range
$82,460 to $214,670
Job growth
7%
Openings / yr
115,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- CI/CD Pipelines
- Containerization
- Infrastructure as Code
- Scripting
- Cloud Platforms
Helpful certifications
- AWS DevOps Engineer Professional
- Docker Certified Associate
- HashiCorp Terraform Associate
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
88/100
Work-life balance
65/100
Stress level
48/100
Satisfaction
78/100
Related careers
- Product Manager$166,790 median
- Software Developer$135,980 median
- Cybersecurity Analyst$129,180 median
- Data Scientist$120,230 median
- IT Project Manager$116,580 median
- Site Reliability Engineer$116,580 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DevOps Engineer make?
The median pay for a DevOps Engineer is $135,980 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The typical range runs from $82,460 to $214,670, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What degree do you need to become a DevOps Engineer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, and Computer Engineering.
Is DevOps Engineer a growing field?
The BLS projects much faster than average demand for this role, about 7% over the decade, with roughly 115,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a DevOps Engineer use most?
Common skills for this role are CI/CD Pipelines, Containerization, Infrastructure as Code, Scripting, and Cloud Platforms.
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Take the major quizSalary and job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034). National figures; actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.