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DevOps Expert Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a DevOps Expert Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a DevOps Expert Engineer in the United States is $167,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $81.

However, a DevOps Expert Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $187,669
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $161,900 to $178,200
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $156,528

Key Factors That Influence DevOps Expert Engineer Salaries

A DevOps Expert Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects DevOps Expert Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a DevOps Expert Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • DevOps Senior Engineer (4-7 years): $135,751
  • DevOps Principal Engineer (7+ years): $151,850
  • DevOps Expert Engineer (7-10 years): $167,773
  • DevOps Manager (10+ years): $158,669
  • DevOps Senior Manager (10+ years): $191,555
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
DevOps Senior Engineer4-7 years$135,751
DevOps Principal Engineer7+ years$151,850
DevOps Expert Engineer7-10 years$167,773
DevOps Manager10+ years$158,669
DevOps Senior Manager10+ years$191,555

Top Paying Cities for DevOps Expert Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $211,700
  • San Francisco: $209,300
  • Oakland: $204,900

What Skills Can Increase a DevOps Expert Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Team Development (Mentioned in 1.77% Job Postings): Building and developing effective teams to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the most effective and efficient way.
  • Open Source (Mentioned in 3.62% Job Postings): Open source is a term that originally referred to open source software (OSS). Open source software is code that is designed to be publicly accessible—anyone can see, modify, and distribute the code as they see fit
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.22% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
Skills Demand Percentage
Team Development 1.77%
Open Source 3.62%
Computer Science 2.22%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a DevOps Expert Engineer's salary.

  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Agility: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Flexibility $208,072
24%
Commitment $189,614
13%
Agility $179,546
7%

DevOps Expert Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

DevOps Expert Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $187,523. While startup companies pay approximate $158,626.

DevOps Expert Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $158,626
Growth Stage 51~500 $167,763
Established 501~5000 $181,078
Enterprise 5000+ $187,523

DevOps Expert Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For DevOps Expert Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, DevOps Expert Engineer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view DevOps Expert Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a DevOps Expert Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$209,750$101.025%
Financial Services$201,360$97.020%
Software & Networking$201,360$97.020%
Energy & Utilities$192,970$93.015%
Pharmaceuticals$187,936$90.012%

DevOps Expert Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a DevOps Expert Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$161,900
Average $167,800/year
$178,200
$13,492
Average $13,983/month
$14,850
$3,113
Average $3,227/week
$3,427
$78
Average $81/hour
$86
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $178,200 $14,850 $3,427 $86
Average $167,800 $13,983 $3,227 $81
25th Percentile $161,900 $13,492 $3,113 $78

DevOps Expert Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

For a DevOps Expert Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the DevOps Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $158,700 - a projected growth of -5% over your current level.

Most common benefits for DevOps Expert Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for DevOps Expert Engineer

Here are companies hiring for DevOps Expert Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about DevOps Expert Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for DevOps Expert Engineer?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for DevOps Expert Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

2. How much does Microsoft pay DevOps Engineer Expert?

Microsoft pays DevOps Engineer Experts an annual salary ranging from $152,000 to $187,600. The average salary is approximately $169,100, translating to a monthly pay of about $14,091. This reflects the competitive compensation for skilled professionals in this field.

3. Why is DevOps salary so high?

The high salary for DevOps Expert Engineers, ranging from $152,000 to $187,600, reflects their value to businesses. These professionals possess extensive knowledge in configuration, packaging, and orchestration, along with a deep understanding of the application life cycle. Their ability to communicate effectively is crucial, making them indispensable assets in today's tech landscape.

4. What is the salary of a DevOps expert?

The salary for a DevOps Expert Engineer ranges from $152,000 to $187,600 annually, with a median salary of $169,100. These figures reflect the compensation for professionals in this field, showcasing the value and demand for their expertise in the industry.

5. Who is paid more DevOps or developer?

DevOps engineers typically earn higher salaries compared to traditional developers. With a minimum salary of $152,000, a mid-range salary of $169,100, and a maximum salary of $187,600, the compensation reflects their expertise in automation, system reliability, and CI/CD pipelines. This complexity in managing both development and operations justifies the higher pay.

6. How much does a DevOps engineer make in the US?

How Much Does a DevOps Engineer Make in the US? The salary for a DevOps Expert Engineer ranges from $152,000 to $187,600, with a mid-salary of $169,100. This reflects the growing demand for skilled professionals in this field, highlighting the competitive compensation packages available.

7. Is DevOps a stressful job?

Is DevOps a Stressful Job? The work in DevOps roles can be demanding and often stressful due to the fast pace and high expectations for rapid change and reliability. However, with a competitive salary range of $152,000 to $187,600, many find the rewards worth the challenges. Balancing workload and stress management is key to success in this field.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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