DevOps vs Software Engineer Salary in the UK: What's the Real Difference?

Are you leaving money on the table? That’s the question you need to be asking yourself right now. The tech industry in the UK is booming, and whether you're in DevOps or software engineering, salaries are growing year after year. But, here's the twist—depending on your role, you could be making much more than you think.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: both DevOps engineers and software engineers earn well, but which one edges out in the salary race? And more importantly, why does one role tend to earn more than the other? This question is the hook. By the end of this deep dive, you’ll have a crystal-clear understanding of how salary expectations change depending on the job, experience, and skills you bring to the table.

Breaking It Down: DevOps vs Software Engineer Salaries

We’ve all heard the buzz about DevOps in recent years, and with good reason. According to recent salary surveys in the UK, DevOps engineers consistently rank as some of the highest earners in tech. But, let’s break down the specifics.

1. Salary Overview: Who’s Winning?

• DevOps Engineers: The average salary for a mid-level DevOps engineer in the UK sits around £60,000 - £70,000 per year. For senior roles, this figure can surge upwards to £80,000 or even £100,000 depending on the company and region.
• Software Engineers: On the other hand, a mid-level software engineer earns around £50,000 - £60,000 per year. Senior software engineers may hit the £70,000 - £85,000 mark, especially in tech hubs like London.

Notice the difference? That’s about a 10% - 20% salary gap between the two, with DevOps often coming out on top.

2. Why the Gap?

You might be wondering, why does DevOps pay more? The key lies in the complexity of the role and the impact on business outcomes. DevOps engineers are often seen as 'mission-critical'. They straddle the line between development and operations, streamlining processes that directly affect a company’s bottom line.

In contrast, while software engineers focus on building products and writing code, they typically operate within a more defined scope. DevOps engineers, by contrast, are the "glue" holding teams together, ensuring that code gets deployed efficiently and that systems remain up and running without a hitch.

3. Tech Stack Matters

Your salary also depends on the technologies you work with. In-demand skills drive up your market value.

For DevOps engineers, proficiency in cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud is a big factor. Add to that tools like Kubernetes, Docker, and Terraform, and you’re looking at salary offers that are nothing short of impressive.

Software engineers, on the other hand, can see salary boosts if they specialize in popular languages like Python, JavaScript, or Go. Full-stack development, in particular, is highly valued, and engineers who can handle both front-end and back-end development are often compensated more generously.

Experience and Geography: The Two Game-Changers

While job role and tech stack are major salary influencers, there’s more at play. Two other factors—experience and location—have a huge impact on how much you can earn.

1. Experience Levels

• Junior DevOps Engineer: £35,000 - £45,000
• Junior Software Engineer: £30,000 - £40,000

Starting salaries are often comparable, but the growth trajectory is faster for DevOps roles due to the high demand for seasoned professionals.

2. Location, Location, Location

Location within the UK significantly influences salary. London and the South East tend to offer the highest salaries for both roles, with some DevOps engineers in the capital earning £100,000 or more annually. In contrast, software engineers might find their compensation capped around £85,000 in the same area.

However, if you move outside of London—say to Manchester or Bristol—you’ll see salaries for both roles dip by about 10% - 15%.

Remote Work and Freelancing: The New Salary Frontier

Here’s the kicker—if you're working remotely or freelancing, the ceiling for earnings shifts drastically. With companies embracing remote work, particularly post-pandemic, UK-based engineers are competing on a global scale. Freelance DevOps engineers with niche skills can easily command day rates of £500 - £800.

Similarly, software engineers who freelance or work for overseas companies can sometimes match or even exceed the salaries of their DevOps counterparts. Platforms like Upwork or Toptal offer opportunities to earn premium rates, particularly for experienced developers.

The Future of Salaries: What’s Next?

With AI and automation on the rise, you might expect salaries to level out or even decrease, but the opposite is true. As long as companies require complex systems to be developed and maintained, DevOps engineers will remain highly valued.

Software engineers aren’t being left behind, either. AI and machine learning expertise are creating new demand for specialized roles. If you’re a software engineer skilled in these areas, you can command salaries similar to—or even exceeding—those of DevOps professionals.

Final Verdict: Which Role Should You Choose?

If you’re torn between these two career paths, salary shouldn’t be the only factor guiding your decision. However, if earning potential is your main consideration, DevOps currently offers a slight edge. The combination of high demand, specialized skills, and the vital role these engineers play in the tech ecosystem keeps their salaries competitive.

That said, software engineers with the right specializations and a focus on in-demand technologies like AI, blockchain, or full-stack development can also achieve exceptional earning power.

Ultimately, it’s about finding the role that fits your passion, but the numbers don’t lie—DevOps salaries in the UK are on the rise, and if you’re considering a move into this space, now is the time.