How to Become a DevOps Engineer
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DevOps engineers solve development and operations teams’ inefficiencies in any company or organization. Their job is to combine the two processes to implement new code.
If you love coding and solving development problems, read on to learn how to become a DevOps engineer.
What Is a DevOps Engineer?
A DevOps engineer works to simplify the software development process. They bring together the requirements of development teams and IT operations teams to deploy code and manage applications.
Before DevOps became common among software teams, developers would write code and pass it to the operations team to deploy to a server. Without the teams consulting one another, the process was messy. DevOps engineers help bridge this gap.
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How to Become a DevOps Engineer
Becoming a DevOps engineer requires a bachelor’s degree, hands-on experience, and a passion for writing code and solving development problems.
Step 1: Learn Programming
Becoming a DevOps engineer requires proficiency in coding. There are both free and paid online coding courses and coding bootcamps where you can learn the basics of programming. You’ll want to start by learning common coding languages like:
- Bash
- C++
- JavaScript
- PHP
- Python
- Ruby
Programming often includes a more complex understanding of data structures, which you can learn and practice through computer programming or data science courses. Important programming topics to master include:
- Data structures
- Algorithms
- Databases and SQL
- Object-oriented programming (OOP) languages
- Integrated development environments (IDEs)
- Web development
- Cloud computing
- Containers
- Text editors
Step 2: Understand Operating Systems
You also need to become familiar with the common operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Understanding operating systems includes both hardware and common functions such as:
- Main memory management
- Secondary storage management
- Security management
- Processing management
- File management
- Network management
- Command interpreter system
- I/O device management
Step 3: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Though employers often look more at a DevOps engineer’s skills than their education, most employers still value a degree — it shows you earned a well-rounded education. Valuable bachelor’s degrees for DevOps engineers include:
- Computer science
- Software design
- Software engineering
- Information technology
- Computer programming
- Other related fields
Step 4: Get Certified
DevOps engineers often earn one or more certifications to demonstrate their skills to potential employers. There is not one universal DevOps certification. Popular certifications include:
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer — Professional
- Puppet Certified Professional
- Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
- Architecting with Google Cloud Platform
Free DevOps certificate courses include:
Step 5: Get Hands-On Experience in DevOps Engineering
To become a DevOps engineer, you’ll need some experience under your belt. One way to do this is to start working with developers to see what they’re doing. Understanding existing processes can prepare you for DevOps roles.
You can also start writing code to automate existing processes if you’re currently in a tech position. Alternatively, getting an internship in DevOps, operations, or development can help you gain real-world experience.
Other tips to get internships and other practical experience:
- Create a GitHub account: You can put all your coding projects in GitHub and put the link on your resume.
- Networking:Connecting with other professionals is one of the best ways to gain experience and find DevOps opportunities.
Step 6: Start Applying for DevOps Engineering Jobs
After earning a degree, certifications, and gaining experience, you can qualify for DevOps engineering jobs. Now it’s time to showcase your expertise. You’ll need a solid portfolio that demonstrates your technical skills and shows off your certifications and degrees when applying for DevOps engineering jobs.
If you already work in tech, ask management about transitioning into a DevOps position. Early experience and networking connections can help to find DevOps engineering jobs.
What’s the Average DevOps Engineer Salary?
According to Payscale, the average salary for DevOps engineers was $106,030 as of July 2024. Professionals with 5-9 years of experience earned an average of $118,000, while those with 10-19 years of experience earned an average of $132,000. Senior DevOps engineers made an average salary of $139,000.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California, Washington, and Maryland have the highest salaries for software developers — a career that includes DevOps engineer jobs.
| State | Employment | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 304,390 | $83.55 | $173,780 |
| Washington | 89,110 | $76.92 | $159,990 |
| Maryland | 30,700 | $72.47 | $150,740 |
| New York | 105,460 | $72.12 | $150,020 |
| Massachusetts | 59,960 | $70.47 | $146,580 |
What Are Key DevOps Engineering Requirements and Skills?
DevOps engineers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related field. Some employers prefer professionals with a master’s degree, additional certifications, or more than five years of work experience in development.
DevOps engineers benefit from skills like:
- Coding and scripting
- Security skills
- Testing skills
- Automation skills
- Communication and collaboration
- Proactivity
- Organization
- Leadership
- Problem-solving skills
- Other soft skills to interact with diverse groups
DevOps Engineer vs. Site Reliability Engineer
While both DevOps engineers and site reliability engineers work on problem-solving, their focus is different. Site reliability engineers (SREs) focus on operational problems like:
- Product failures
- Infrastructure
- Security
- Monitoring
In contrast, DevOps engineers often focus on development problems that cater to business requirements, as well as writing and deploying code. SREs focus on the end user’s perspective, including scaling.
How to Find DevOps Engineer Jobs
DevOps jobs are listed on many professional sites, including LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter. In addition to job listings, you can contact tech companies about DevOps openings or reach out to your network for opportunities.
Demonstrating DevOps skills in other positions can sometimes help you secure an engineering job. Some professionals work their way into DevOps from either development or operations teams. One career path people take is getting jobs related to DevOps engineering and working their way laterally to becoming a DevOps engineer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a DevOps Engineer
DevOps engineers usually need a bachelor’s degree, certifications, and hands-on experience. While employers usually focus on your skills and portfolio, they still value applicants with degrees.
That said, if you have a great resume and portfolio showing years of experience, you can probably get by with fewer years in school.
Note: The insights on this page were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed July 16, 2024.
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