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DevOps Engineer III Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a DevOps Engineer III in the United States is $135,750 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $65.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $150,642
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $122,520 to $143,545
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $110,475
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence DevOps Engineer III Salaries

A DevOps Engineer III'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 Engineer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a DevOps Engineer III'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 Engineer I (0-2 years): $83,447
  • DevOps Engineer II (2-4 years): $101,277
  • DevOps Engineer III (4-7 years): $135,750
  • DevOps Engineer IV (7+ years): $151,847
  • DevOps Engineer V (7-10 years): $167,773
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
DevOps Engineer I0-2 years$83,447
DevOps Engineer II2-4 years$101,277
DevOps Engineer III4-7 years$135,750
DevOps Engineer IV7+ years$151,847
DevOps Engineer V7-10 years$167,773
View as Graph

How Do DevOps Engineer IIIs Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract DevOps Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $150,302.
  • California: $149,732.
  • Massachusetts: $147,737.

Top Paying Cities for DevOps Engineer III

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: $171,221
  • San Francisco: $169,347
  • Oakland: $165,778

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Networking (Mentioned in 2.41% Job Postings): Ability to maintain, build and expand a personal and business contact list to grow one's career and business opportunities.
  • Linux (Mentioned in 3.31% Job Postings): Managing a system's hardware and resources using a Unix-like open-source operating system.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 1.99% 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
Networking 2.41%
Linux 3.31%
Computer Science 1.99%
See More Skills

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 Engineer III's salary.

  • Collaborating with Others: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Amazon Web Services: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaborating with Others $139,823
3%
Amazon Web Services $139,823
3%
Products and Services $139,823
3%
Get Latest Data

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

DevOps Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $151,964. While startup companies pay approximate $128,558.

DevOps Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $128,558
Growth Stage 51~500 $135,966
Established 501~5000 $146,748
Enterprise 5000+ $151,964

DevOps Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For DevOps Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, DevOps Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view DevOps Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a DevOps Engineer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$203,625$98.050%

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

Understanding how a DevOps Engineer III'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 August 01, 2026
$122,520
Average $135,750/year
$143,545
$10,210
Average $11,313/month
$11,962
$2,356
Average $2,611/week
$2,760
$59
Average $65/hour
$69
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $143,545 $11,962 $2,760 $69
Average $135,750 $11,313 $2,611 $65
25th Percentile $122,520 $10,210 $2,356 $59

DevOps Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

DevOps Engineer III

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Advancement

For a DevOps Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the DevOps Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $151,847 - a projected growth of 12% over your current level.

Most common benefits for DevOps Engineer III

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

Common company salaries for DevOps Engineer III

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

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FAQ about DevOps Engineer III

1. Where can a DevOps Engineer III earn the most?

A DevOps Engineer III's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a DevOps Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a DevOps Engineer III is $171,221.

2. What is the highest pay for DevOps Engineer III?

The highest pay for DevOps Engineer III is $150,642.

3. What is the lowest pay for DevOps Engineer III?

The lowest pay for DevOps Engineer III is $110,475.

4. What are the responsibilities of DevOps Engineer III?

Develop strategies to manage the development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of software applications and infrastructure. Optimize service delivery throughout the development lifecycle. Monitor, troubleshoot, maintain, and continuously improve building, packaging, and deployment processes. Implement automated infrastructure capabilities like backups, security tools, and monitoring. Utilize a consistent DevOps approach to improve all phases of the process and ensure end-to-end quality across functions. Knowledge of deployment/configuration management tools like Jenkins, Maven, Puppet, or Ansible. Utilizes version control tools like GIT, Bitbucket, SVN, or CVS. Experienced with network infrastructure, database, cloud and data center operations, and security protocols. Strong knowledge of Linux and/or Windows OS. Understands AWS and other services. Experience with programming and scripting with languages like Python, Perl, Bash, PHP, Java, SQL, or C++. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for DevOps Engineer III?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for DevOps Engineer III roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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