Curious about DevOps salaries in the U.S.? Whether you’re negotiating a new role or evaluating your current pay, having the right compensation data is a game-changer for your career.
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of 252 DevOps engineering positions across the United States to provide insights into the DevOps salary in US landscape. This article details the DevOps engineer salary in the US for 2025, exploring the average DevOps salary and the key factors that influence compensation as revealed by the data.
Average DevOps Engineer Salary in US
The median DevOps engineer salary in the United States is $108,160 USD per year or $52.00 USD per hour. This figure provides insight into how much DevOps engineers make in the US and serves as a benchmark for DevOps engineering salaries in the country.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Influencing Salary
Required Educational Level and DevOps Engineer Qualifications
The data reveals that while a bachelor’s degree is sufficient for most positions, pursuing advanced degrees significantly impacts earning potential. PhD holders earn nearly 50% more than bachelor’s degree holders, highlighting the value of advanced education in DevOps engineering salaries and overall DevOps salary range.
Education Requirements Distribution
DevOps engineering positions in the US predominantly require a bachelor’s degree, with over 80% of positions listing this as the minimum requirement. However, the significant salary premiums for advanced degrees suggest that pursuing graduate education can be a worthwhile investment for career advancement and increasing one’s DevOps jobs salary potential.
Required Years of Experience and DevOps Engineer Wage Progression
DevOps Engineer Salary by Years of Experience
The data shows steady salary progression with experience, with a notable increase after 5 years. DevOps engineers with 10+ years of experience see their compensation increase by approximately 40% compared to entry-level positions, demonstrating the value of accumulated expertise in the field and the potential for significant growth in DevOps developer salary over time.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
| 1 year | 5.56% | 9 |
| 2 years | 12.96% | 21 |
| 3 years | 23.46% | 38 |
| 4 years | 11.11% | 18 |
| 5 years | 32.72% | 53 |
| 6 years | 6.17% | 10 |
| 8 years | 8.02% | 13 |
Seniority Level and Total Pay
Average DevOps Engineer Salary by Seniority
The progression from entry-level to manager represents a 115% increase in compensation, highlighting the value of experience and leadership capabilities in the DevOps engineering field. This data provides insights into the potential for career advancement and salary growth in the profession, showcasing the DevOps hourly rate across different seniority levels.
Cities with Highest DevOps Engineer Salary in US
| City | State | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | OH | $218,400 | $105.00 |
| San Francisco | CA | $176,000 | $84.62 |
| Patuxent River | MD | $170,000 | $81.73 |
| Santa Clara | CA | $166,400 | $80.00 |
| Plano | TX | $160,500 | $77.17 |
| McLean | VA | $158,600 | $76.25 |
| Pleasanton | CA | $145,600 | $70.00 |
| Belmont | CA | $145,000 | $69.71 |
| Richmond | VA | $144,200 | $69.33 |
| Washington | DC | $144,000 | $69.23 |
Columbus, Ohio, surprisingly leads as one of the highest paying cities for DevOps engineers, offering significantly higher compensation than traditional tech hubs. California cities dominate the list with multiple entries, reflecting the state’s strong technology sector and high cost of living. This data is crucial for understanding the geographic variations in DevOps engineer salary per hour across the United States.
Top Paying Companies in US
Here is a list of the top companies that consistently offer above-average salaries for DevOps engineers in the United States, representing some of the highest paying DevOps engineering jobs in the country:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| DevCare Solutions | $218,400 | $105.00 |
| Cleerly | $200,000 | $96.15 |
| NTT DATA | $176,800 | $85.00 |
| Tecton | $176,000 | $84.62 |
| World Services | $170,000 | $81.73 |
| Corelleaf Design Studio | $166,400 | $80.00 |
| Capital One | $155,000 | $74.52 |
| Resourceful Talent Group | $150,000 | $72.12 |
| V Shred | $150,000 | $72.12 |
| Tailored Management | $145,600 | $70.00 |
These popular companies span diverse industry sectors including healthcare technology, financial services, consulting, and specialized technical services, indicating strong demand for DevOps engineering expertise across multiple industries. Companies like NTT DATA are known for offering competitive DevOps jobs salary packages.
How to Maximize Your Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, we recommend the following strategies to optimize your DevOps engineer salary in the United States:
- Pursue Advanced Education Strategically – A master’s degree increases earning potential by 21%, while a PhD can boost salaries by 44%
- Focus on the 5-Year Experience Mark – The most significant salary increases occur around 5 years of experience
- Develop Leadership Skills – Progression to lead and management roles offers the highest compensation potential
- Target High-Paying Industries – Healthcare technology, financial services, and enterprise consulting firms offer top compensation
Key Skills to Develop:
- Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform expertise
- Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible
- Container Technologies: Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift
- CI/CD Tools: Jenkins, GitLab CI, CircleCI, GitHub Actions
- Monitoring & Logging: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack, Datadog
- Programming Languages: Python, Go, Bash, PowerShell
- Version Control: Git, GitFlow, branching strategies
Checkout the major DevOps Engineering Skills to develop at Top DevOps Engineering Skills Required in 2025
Future Trends in DevOps Engineering Salaries
The DevOps engineering field in the United States continues to evolve, with increasing focus on:
- Cloud-Native Technologies: Serverless architectures and microservices
- Security Integration: DevSecOps practices and security automation
- AI/ML Operations: MLOps and AIOps implementation, including machine learning integration
- Platform Engineering: Building internal developer platforms
- GitOps: Declarative infrastructure and application delivery
- FinOps: Cloud cost optimization and financial operations
Engineers who develop expertise in these emerging areas are likely to command premium salaries as US companies compete for talent with specialized knowledge. The demand for DevOps engineers is expected to grow, particularly in cloud transformation and digital modernization initiatives, potentially leading to an increase in the overall DevOps salary range.
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 252 publicly available DevOps engineering salaries in the United States. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analyzed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. The data analysis was completed in May 2025, providing the most up-to-date information on how much DevOps engineers make in the US and the current DevOps payscale.
Conclusion
The DevOps engineering profession offers strong earning potential across the United States, with the median DevOps engineer salary reaching $108,160 USD annually. While education provides a foundation, experience and specialization significantly influence salary levels. Location choices and company selection have equally important impacts on total compensation.
For DevOps engineers looking to maximize their earning potential, a strategic approach combining technical skill development, cloud certifications, and leadership capabilities is essential. Understanding salary trends and market dynamics will help you negotiate competitive compensation packages and advance your career effectively in the evolving job market for DevOps professionals.
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