DevOps Engineer: Facts, Skills, and Next Paths
A DevOps Engineer bridges software development and IT operations, automating the building, testing, and deployment of applications so teams can release code faster and more reliably. Day-to-day work includes managing cloud infrastructure, maintaining CI/CD pipelines, monitoring system health, and responding to incidents.
Core responsibilities involve designing and running internal developer platforms using tools like Azure, Kubernetes, and Terraform, as seen in postings from SAIC and Capital One. The role also includes consolidating planning tools and scaling Agile practices, as illustrated by a government-focused Jira platform engineering position. DevOps Engineers typically sit within engineering or platform teams and collaborate closely with developers and security teams.
The median salary for DevOps Engineers is approximately $161,200. The most requested skills in current job postings are Cloud Platforms and DevOps (each required in 100% of postings), followed by Python or R (80%), Scripting (70%), and CI/CD and Cloud Infrastructure (each 60%).
$146,000 – $211,000
Avg. Salary
18 paths
Adjacent Paths
70% avg. match
Avg. Match Score
38.4 shared skills
Shared Foundation
The Skill Blueprint for DevOps Engineer
The core competencies employers ask for. Use them to strengthen your resume, spot gaps, and compare related career options.
CI/CD
technical 60% of live postingsKubernetes
technical 50% of live postingsCloud Infrastructure
technical 60% of live postingsCloud Platforms
technical 100% of live postingsLinux Administration
technical 50% of live postingsMonitoring & Observability
technical 10% of live postingsIncident Response
technical 20% of live postingsVersion Control
technical 60% of live postingsSystems Architecture
technicalWhere Else Can DevOps Engineer Skills Take You?
Build toward this role and you may be building toward several others. Explore the paths that share the same foundation.
Adjacent Paths from DevOps Engineer
Showing the top 18 of 129 transitions — explore the rest via the Network map.
Why People Explore DevOps Engineer
High Impact Visibility
DevOps Engineers sit at a critical intersection in the organization. Your work directly ties to key business metrics — making your impact visible across teams and to leadership.
Resume Signal
The skills behind DevOps Engineer — CI/CD, Kubernetes, Cloud Infrastructure — give you concrete language for resumes, interviews, and adjacent roles.
Option Value
This is a high-demand function where strong performers can advance quickly. With 129+ adjacent paths available, your career options stay open.
Roles With Similar Day-to-Day Work
Ranked by how similar the day-to-day work reads in live job postings — not just shared skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See how DevOps Engineer skills match with every career path in our network.