How to Become a Devops Engineer?

Are you thinking of becoming a Devops Engineer or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Devops Engineer, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Devops Engineer job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.

Steps to Become a Devops Engineer

DevOps engineering is all about different teams collaborating to achieve a goal. A solid education is a must for a DevOps engineer. Follow the following steps to become a DevOps engineer.
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1

Commit to becoming an excellent DevOps engineer.

The first step in becoming a DevOps engineer is having a clear understanding of the role, including the culture. Successful DevOps engineers must communicate to team members and be willing to listen to their team. Time management and flexibility are also vital to DevOps engineering. Finding a mentor in the field can give you valuable insight into DevOps culture and day-to-day responsibilities.

2

Pursue a relevant degree.

Most DevOps engineers hold bachelor's degrees in computer science, electronics engineering, or mathematics. Whatever program you choose, make sure it focuses on software development. While you can get an entry-level job with a bachelor's degree, a master's degree in software development will help you advance your career and expand your knowledge of coding and emerging technologies.

What type of degree should you pursue to become a Devops Engineer?

84% of people working as a Devops Engineer earned a Bachelor's Degree

What skills do you need to be a Devops Engineer?

  • Cloudformation
  • AWS
  • Scripting Languages
  • Kubernetes
  • Devops Azure
  • Linux System
  • Python
  • Terraform
Based on resume data from Glassdoor users who reported working as a Devops Engineer in the United States.
3

Apply for a DevOps engineer internship.

Whether you're about to complete your bachelor's degree or begin your postgraduate studies, it's a good idea to start applying for DevOps engineer internships. DevOps interns typically build tools that support software development teams, test applications, and research new technologies. Very often, an internship can turn into a permanent position. In any case, an internship is a great way to gain practical experience and develop your professional network.

4

Earn a certification.

While employers are looking for DevOps engineers with relevant degrees, they also prefer candidates with a DevOps certification. A certification from a critical player in the industry, such as Microsoft or Google, demonstrates that you know how to apply your knowledge and that you're willing to stay up-to-date on developments in the field. A Microsoft Azure Certification, Google Cloud Certification, or a Red Hat Certificate Expertise will make you stand out among potential hires.

5

Code in your spare time.

Coding in your spare time will help you develop your skills and give you projects to add to your portfolio. It will also show potential employers that you're a self-starter who isn't afraid to work outside of your comfort zone. A DevOps engineer should have knowledge of the tools that software developers are using so that they can assist in making processes more efficient.

6

Apply for DevOps engineer jobs.

After completing your degree and gaining experience as an intern, you should start applying for DevOps engineer jobs. Remember that it's a competitive field, so don't get discouraged if you don't get hired right away or you're only considered for an entry-level position. An entry-level job will give you even more opportunities to hone your skills.

7

Join a professional organization.

Joining a professional organization can help you strengthen your skills, advance your career, and grow your professional network. Organizations like the DevOps Institute offer certification training, hold events, and help members keep up with emerging technologies.

Devops Engineer Career Path

Devops Engineer

2 - 4Years of Experience
$103K - $148K /yrMost Likely Range
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45% advanced to

Senior Devops Engineer

2 - 4Years of Experience
$133K - $192K /yrMost Likely Range
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35% advanced to

Lead Devops Engineer

5 - 7Years of Experience
$162K - $242K /yrMost Likely Range
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Total Pay Trajectory

Devops Engineer Career Path

Devops Engineer I
Devops Engineer
Senior Devops Engineer
Devops Engineer Manager
Lead Devops Engineer
Senior Manager of Engineering
Principal Devops Engineer
Senior Principal Devops Engineer
Director of Devops Engineering
Vice President of Engineering
Senior Vice President of Engineering
$70K
$166K
$262K
$358K
$550K
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Related Careers in the Engineering Industry

Interested in other Engineering careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Devops Engineer skills. Discover some of the most common Devops Engineer career transitions, along with skills overlap.

Software Engineer
0% skills overlap
4% transitioned to Software Engineer