The Ultimate Career Resource For DevOps Engineers
There are approximately 6,881 DevOps engineers in the US right now.
This sector is relatively new but thriving.
In fact, companies are now making DevOps skills a requirement for many of their tech jobs.
If you’re looking to make a career as DevOps Engineer, you’re in the right place.
Below is a complete career resource that will assist you in making an informed decision.
DevOps Engineer Information
| Official Job Title | DevOps Engineer |
| Average Salary | $133,918 |
| Stress Level | Average |
| Work/Life | Average |
| Job Satisfaction | High |
| Career Advancement | High |
DevOps Engineer Job Description
Here is a comprehensive job description for DevOps engineers to help you understand their work:
What Is A DevOps Engineer?
DevOps engineers are responsible for managing the development and improvement of the software.
They help companies update their products and release them promptly.
Their primary job is to improve the communications between developers and solution providers.
What Does A DevOps Engineer Do On A Daily Basis?
The daily activities of DevOps engineers vary from company to company.
But one of their critical tasks is to ensure the CI/CD pipeline (“continuous integration and continuous deployment” method that’s used to deliver new software) works perfectly.
For this reason, they spend most of their day analyzing and troubleshooting issues.
Their daily tasks also include interacting with other teams.
The aim of communication is to ensure the project is going smoothly.
Besides that, they spend the rest of their day automating things.
Updating software is also one of their daily tasks.
Responsibilities, Duties, & Roles Of A DevOps Engineer
The most important responsibility of a DevOps engineer is to manage and implement CI/CD.
They also have to analyze the company’s technological system and work to improve it.
One of their roles is to assist other engineering teams and help operations run smoothly.
DevOps engineers have many duties.
These include designing and maintaining automation tools.
They also have to train other engineers to expand the company’s system.
Not only that, but they have to perform routine maintenance checks too.
DevOps Engineer Salary
Here are the salaries of DevOps engineers depending on their career status:
Average Salary
The average salary of a DevOps engineer per annum in the US is $133,918.
However, keep in mind that this number can vary because of region and company.
For example, San Francisco offers its engineers the highest salaries.
Starting Salary
The entry-level salary of a DevOps engineer is $117,863 per year.
Some companies may offer a higher figure depending on their policies.
Senior Salary
Senior DevOps engineers, on average, earn about $163,184 per annum.
With promotion to lead engineer, this figure increases even further.
How To Become A DevOps Engineer
Here are all the details you need to know if you want to become a DevOps engineer:
The Entry Level: Certification, Training, & Degree
The minimum requirement to become a DevOps engineer is to earn a bachelor’s degree.
The degree has to be in computer science, math, electronics engineering, or software engineering.
This will help you achieve an entry-level job.
For senior positions, some companies prefer engineers with master’s degrees in software development or computer science.
Certification is not necessary for this sector.
However, if you don’t have a degree, it will help you a lot in landing a job.
You can get a prestigious certification through Amazon Web Services.
Besides that, you can join training programs like DASA that offers certificate after completion.
Other Skill Sets, Requirements, & Qualifications
It is a requirement for DevOps engineers to have automation expertise.
They also need to have an understanding of continuous integration and delivery.
Besides that, software development skills are a must-have.
You should also have knowledge of tools such as Ansible, Chef, Puppet, and much more.
You should also be able to write scripts using programming languages such as Python.
How Long Does It Take To Become A DevOps Engineer?
It will take a few years to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Besides that, certification can take a few months.
Is It Hard To Become A DevOps Engineer?
Becoming a DevOps engineer is not difficult if you have the grit and skills for the job.
DevOps Engineer Career Paths
Are you wondering whether DevOps engineering is suitable for you?
If so, here is what you need to know to decide:
The DevOps Engineer Roadmap
To become a DevOps engineer, you will have to spend a few years pursuing a degree.
During this time, it is preferable to work internships.
They are best to gain experience in the field and determine if the career suits you.
Besides that, you should familiarize yourself with various engineering tools.
Not only that, but you should work on your soft skills as well for effective communication.
It is best to look for jobs in the software sector after doing internships while pursuing your education.
Projections For Growth In DevOps Engineer Jobs
The projected growth in DevOps engineering is 25% through 2031, with is much faster than average.
Due to the high demand for DevOps engineers, you can rise in the company quickly.
Of course, you also have to show competence for quick advancement.
In Summary: Is DevOps Engineer A Good Career?
DevOps engineering is a great career choice.
The salaries of engineers rise every year, making it a good option if you want to earn high.
However, you need to keep in mind the competition as well.
If you can survive the stress, then your career will be promising.
Working Conditions
Here is all you need to know about the working conditions of a DevOps engineer:
Can A DevOps Engineer Work Remotely From Home?
Yes, DevOps engineers can work from home.
In fact, most employers do prefer the remote working method.
The tasks are easily manageable from home as most of the work is off-site.
However, keep in mind that the salaries of remote DevOps engineers are lower.
So for higher pay on-site job is the best option.
How Many Hours Does A DevOps Engineer Work?
DevOps engineers work 41 to 50 hours every week.
However, typically they work at least more than 50 hours.
Of course, this also depends on the company and its project needs.
Can A DevOps Engineer Work Part-Time?
Yes, they can work part-time.
However, their job requires constant maintenance and troubleshooting.
So even when working part-time, they have to put in several hours.
What Are The Average Vacation Days Of A DevOps Engineer?
The average vacation days for DevOps engineers range from 15 to 25 days.
These depend on the level of their job.
For example, seniors get more holidays than juniors.
Besides that, vacation days also vary from one company to another.
Some of them offer their engineers vacation days as well as other holidays.
Alternative Careers & Similar Jobs to a DevOps Engineer
- UI Developer
- Product Manager
- UX Designer
- Sound Engineer
- Product Engineer
- Video Game Writer
- Application Developer
- Computer Engineer
- Technical Program Manager
- AI Engineer
- Cloud Architect
Resume Tips
If you want to write a stellar resume, here are the tips to follow:
- Always add a resume summary and make it impactful
- It is best to give percentage statistics for your works
- Use bullet point formatting rather than paragraphs for easy readability
- Make sure to put in accomplishments and jobs related to DevOps and software engineering
- Add your IT achievements to the resume as well
- Mention the skills relevant to DevOps rather than generic ones
By following these tips, you can impress the employer.
They will help you convey your competence and emerge as a capable candidate.
Interview Questions
Here are the top questions that you can ask as an employer during DevOps engineering job interviews:
Q1: What DevOps tools do you use and why?
Why it works: This will help determine whether the applicant has sound knowledge of the preferable tools.
It will also allow you to learn which tools they are capable of using.
Q2: How can you motivate other team members?
Why it works: This will help you understand whether the candidate has good leadership and communication skills.
Q3: Name your top three tech skills.
Why it works: This will let you learn the applicant’s strengths and whether they are relevant to DevOps.
Q4: What do you do when things don’t go as you plan?
Why it works: This will allow you to assess if the candidate can fair well during uncertain times.
Jobs Related To A DevOps Engineer
Here are some professions related to DevOps engineering:
- DevOps Architect
- DevOps Manager
- DevOps Consultant
- CI/CD Engineer
- Test Engineer
- And much more
For the HR Manager: Tips For Hiring A DevOps Engineer
If you are an HR manager hiring a DevOps engineer, here are some tips to benefit from:
Key Characteristics To Look For In A DevOps Engineer
Here are the top things to look for in a DevOps engineer:
- Soft skills such as communication and writing skills
- Ability to write in programming languages such as Python
- Familiar with DevOps automation tools like Puppet and Chef
- Ability to collaborate with other teams
Minimum Level Of Education And Experience
The minimum level of education that a DevOps engineer requires is a bachelor’s degree.
In some cases, a master’s degree is an essential requirement.
Besides that, experience in CI/CD pipelines is a prerequisite too.