AWS DevOps Engineer Salary: 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

• Your AWS DevOps engineer salary can range from $118,000 to over $150,000, depending on factors such as your location, industry, experience, and certification status.

• The average AWS-certified DevOps engineer salary, which requires earning the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional credential, is $144,000 [1].

• AWS DevOps is a good career if you have a desire to shape the future of technology, enjoy continuous learning, and want to be part of a growing field.

Knowing your earning potential as an Amazon Web Services (AWS) DevOps engineer and the factors that may affect your salary can help you decide whether this career path is for you. Use this article to discover salary ranges, the benefits of working in the DevOps market, and how to start or advance your career in this field.

If you're ready to start preparing for your first AWS DevOps Engineer role, consider enrolling in the AWS Fundamentals Specialization, offered by AWS through the Coursera platform. In as little as one month, you'll have the opportunity to master AWS Cloud technical essentials and gain experience with cloud infrastructure, computing, and engineering. Upon completion, you’ll have earned a career certificate to add to your resume.

Average AWS DevOps engineer salary

DevOps engineer roles provide the potential to earn a higher-than-average salary. Below, you'll find the yearly AWS DevOps engineer salary in the US as listed on these four career sites in July 2026:

• Median total pay on Glassdoor*: $143,000 [2]

• Median salary on Talent.com: $125,361 [3]

• Average salary on ZipRecruiter: $125,908 [4]

*The Glassdoor figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Read more: What Does a DevOps Engineer Do? A Career Guide

How much does an AWS DevOps engineer make? 4 factors to consider

Your AWS DevOps engineer salary will likely be determined by your location, the industry in which you work, your experience level, and the certifications you hold. When conducting your job search, be sure to take these factors into consideration and get accurate information about your earning potential.

1. Location

Where you work can play a role in how much you make due to regional salary differences or the cost of living. To give you an idea of the range you can expect, here is the typical compensation for AWS DevOps engineers in different US cities and states, according to ZipRecruiter in July 2026 [4].

2. Industry 

Different industries have varying levels of demand, competition, and profitability, all of which may affect your AWS DevOps engineer salary. Here is the median total pay for the two highest-paying industries in the US, according to Glassdoor [2]. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation:

1. Education: $152,000

2. Legal: 150,000 per year

3. Media and communication: $149,000 per year

4. Restaurant and food service: $149,000 per year

5. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology: $148,000 per year

6. Management and consulting: $148,000 per year

3. Experience

The amount of experience you have can affect your salary, with more experience typically leading to higher pay. For example, Glassdoor reports that someone with up to a year of experience in this role can earn a median total salary of $118,000, while someone with four to six years of experience can expect to earn $135,000 [2]. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation

4. Certification 

Getting AWS-certified may boost your salary possibilities. PayScale’s reports show the potential salary differences that certification can mean:

• DevOps engineer: $114,693 [5] 

• DevOps engineer with AWS skills: $118,434 [6]

• AWS-certified DevOps engineers: $144,000 [1]

Prepping for your AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional Certification? You can study the exam material through guided lectures and hands-on labs with WhizLabs' Exam Prep: AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional Specialization.

Benefits of becoming an AWS-certified DevOps engineer

Becoming an AWS-certified DevOps engineer can be a great way to explore your interest in technology while meeting your optimal compensation range. An AWS-certified DevOps engineer is someone who demonstrates technical expertise in managing AWS environments and has passed the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional exam.

There are many benefits to becoming an AWS-certified DevOps engineer, including:

• Getting the attention of employers with an industry-recognized credential 

• Helping organizations deliver secure, compliant systems 

• Collaborating more effectively 

• Delivering systems faster

• Scaling up productivity 

Top companies hiring AWS DevOps engineers

As of July 2026, you can find nearly 1,000 job listings in the US for AWS DevOps engineers on Glassdoor [8]. Here, we’ve listed some of Glassdoor’s top-rated* companies that are hiring for AWS DevOps [2]:

*On Glassdoor, companies are rated by their employees in the areas of culture and values, diversity and inclusion, work-life balance, compensation and benefits, career opportunities, and senior management. 

How to improve your AWS-certified DevOps engineer salary

Now that you know the AWS DevOps engineer earning possibilities, the next thing to consider is how to turn your passion for cloud computing, automation, and software development into the salary you desire. Work toward your AWS DevOps engineer salary goals by following these steps.

1. Identify your DevOps career goals. 

At any point along your DevOps engineer career path, it’s a good idea to reflect on your goals and clarify what it is you want to accomplish. For example, your goals may be to find an advanced role in DevOps, master cloud technologies like AWS, or remain on the cutting edge of this field. 

Here are some questions to spark new ideas and sharpen your focus:

• How much do you want to earn? 

• How does this figure compare to the salary averages for your location and experience? 

• What industries most interest you?

• What kind of companies would you like to work for? 

Is DevOps a good career? 

DevOps can be a great career for you if you want to be in a growing field and help shape the future of technology. With the availability of certifications in AWS and other technologies, DevOps is a field in which you can continue learning and offering value to organizations. 

2. Get AWS DevOps certified. 

The AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional is designed for people with two or more years of experience in AWS environments. Getting this credential can open up more career opportunities and increase your earning potential in this field.

Additionally, getting this credential signals to employers your commitment to AWS technology and to delivering secure, compliant systems. 

Here are the steps along the AWS DevOps certification path:

• Schedule your certification exam, DOP-CO2.

• Download the guide and sample questions.

• Explore the practice question set (20 questions). 

• Complete the exam readiness training and DevOps Engineering learning plan. 

• Take the official practice exam. 

• Pass the exam and share your digital badge. 

This exam takes up to 180 minutes to complete and costs $300 [7]. It includes 75 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions, and you can take the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center or online with a proctor. 

3. Apply for AWS DevOps engineer jobs. 

Once you have the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional credential, begin your job search. Scour job listings on a variety of career sites to get a sense of who’s hiring, current salaries, qualifications you’ll need, and the responsibilities you’ll take on. 

In addition to the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional credential, you may also need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field to work as an AWS DevOps engineer.

Be prepared to discuss your salary expectations with recruiters and hiring managers by drawing upon the latest salary data and the value you can bring to a company. 

Here are some additional resources for your job search:

• Job Search Strategy and Resources: How to Make A Job Search Plan in 7 Steps

• 30 Technical Interview Questions and Tips for Answering

• Where to Put Certifications on Your Resume: Guide + Examples

• 16 Top Resume Tips to Help You Land a Job

Strengthen your DevOps skills with our free learning resources

Discover the latest trends and career insights in your industry by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat. You can also keep exploring DevOps-related courses and topics, such as cloud computing and software development, with our free resources:

• Find a course: Which DevOps Course Should You Take?

• Watch on YouTube: 5 Essential Cloud Computing Skills

• Hear from an insider: How One Software Developer’s Leadership Aspirations Led Her to Graduate School

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