DevOps vs Software Engineer Salary: What’s the Difference in 2024?

The Surge of DevOps Salaries in Recent Years

DevOps has gained massive popularity in recent years, and with it, salaries for DevOps professionals have skyrocketed. The reason behind this surge is the increasing demand for faster and more efficient product deployments, coupled with the complexity of cloud infrastructure. A DevOps engineer's role goes beyond coding; they bridge the gap between development and operations, making them essential in modern software teams. This hybrid role demands proficiency in automation, cloud services, CI/CD pipelines, and server management.

By 2024, the average salary for a DevOps engineer in the U.S. is reported to be around $130,000 to $170,000 per year, depending on experience and location. In tech hubs like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City, DevOps engineers may even earn more, touching upwards of $200,000 annually. This has made DevOps one of the hottest tech careers of the decade.

Software Engineer Salaries: Competitive But Different

Software engineers, by contrast, focus more on writing code, developing applications, and solving complex technical problems. While they don't necessarily work directly with infrastructure, their coding expertise is unmatched. The average salary for a software engineer in the U.S. ranges from $110,000 to $150,000, with senior engineers making up to $180,000 or more in cities like San Francisco and New York.

However, even entry-level software engineers often have a higher starting salary compared to entry-level DevOps roles. This reflects the broader appeal and demand for software developers in a wide array of industries, from startups to large-scale enterprises.

Why DevOps Engineers Are Often Paid More

The significant salary difference between DevOps engineers and software engineers stems from the complexity and scope of DevOps work. DevOps professionals need to have a strong understanding of both development and operational skills, while also being familiar with networking, databases, and systems administration. Companies are willing to pay a premium for those who can handle this breadth of expertise, especially when reducing downtime and increasing product delivery efficiency is critical to their success.

A 2023 Reddit salary survey among tech professionals highlighted how DevOps salaries tend to outpace software engineers, particularly as companies move more towards cloud-first architectures and microservices. Professionals with certifications in AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure are commanding even higher salaries.

The Influence of Location and Experience

One of the major factors influencing salary is geography. A Reddit thread discussing DevOps vs. Software Engineering salaries showed significant variations based on location. For instance, salaries in Silicon Valley were, on average, 20% higher than those in Austin, Texas. Even international differences play a role. In the United Kingdom, DevOps engineers typically earn between £55,000 to £75,000, while software engineers come in slightly lower, between £45,000 to £65,000.

Experience is another big driver. For a mid-level DevOps engineer, salary growth can be faster than for a mid-level software engineer. After five years, a DevOps professional is likely to have diversified skills in automation and infrastructure management, making them more valuable to businesses. Senior-level DevOps engineers and those specializing in niche technologies like Kubernetes or container orchestration can command even higher salaries, breaking the $200,000 ceiling more easily than their software engineering counterparts.

Tech Stacks and Specializations Matter

While software engineers may be proficient in languages like Python, JavaScript, or C++, DevOps professionals are expected to know multiple languages in addition to having a deep understanding of cloud infrastructure. Mastering tools like Terraform, Jenkins, Docker, and Kubernetes is crucial for DevOps success, whereas a software engineer may only need to specialize in a particular set of coding frameworks.

A common observation from Reddit users is that those who transition from software engineering to DevOps tend to see a noticeable pay bump because of their ability to handle complex cloud environments. Interestingly, developers who learn DevOps tools are also better positioned for future career growth, as infrastructure-as-code (IaC) and automation continue to define modern software deployment pipelines.

The Future Outlook for Both Careers

Looking forward, the demand for both DevOps and software engineering roles is expected to remain high, but with different growth trajectories. DevOps roles are forecasted to grow faster due to the increasing reliance on cloud services and automation. This rapid expansion is likely to continue driving salaries up, particularly for those with expertise in CI/CD automation, cloud orchestration, and security.

Software engineering, while still vital, may see slower salary growth in comparison. The roles are highly saturated, especially in markets like mobile app development, which could temper some of the wage inflation seen over the past decade.

However, with the continued rise of AI, machine learning, and blockchain technologies, software engineers with specializations in these emerging areas may be able to command salaries that rival or even surpass those of DevOps engineers.

Conclusion: Choose Your Path Based on Your Passion and Long-Term Goals

In the end, the choice between pursuing a career in DevOps or software engineering should come down to your personal strengths, interests, and long-term career goals. If you enjoy working with infrastructure, automating processes, and making development cycles more efficient, DevOps might be the right path for you. On the other hand, if you’re passionate about coding, building apps, and solving intricate technical challenges, software engineering could be more fulfilling.

Regardless of the path you choose, both careers offer competitive salaries and a wealth of opportunities in the tech industry. Just make sure to stay current with trends, upskill continuously, and, as Tim Ferriss might say, work smarter—not harder.