2026 DevOps Tech Salary Guide

Motion Recruitment's 2026 Tech Salary Guide offers key insights into the U.S. DevOps job market, including salary data for over 100 roles. Familiarizing yourself with this information is crucial before starting a job search or recruitment in the DevOps field.

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IT Salaries and Tech Market Insights for DevOps Workers in 2026

DevOps workers and hiring leaders, Motion's 2026 IT Salary Guide provides the info needed during a DevOps job search or team hiring.

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Map Out Your 2026 Strategy for the DevOps Hiring Market

with Expert Insights & Salary Data

The tech industry is constantly evolving, and Motion Recruitment’s Tech Salary Guide is designed to help workers and company leaders in DevOps better understand the IT job market in 2026.
 
DevOps remains a highly influential sector in the tech industry, with DevOps-skilled workers in strong demand despite uncertainties in the IT job market.
 
Motion's 2026 Guide examines the latest trends influencing the DevOps job market, providing valuable insights and detailed information on starting salaries for some of the most sought-after DevOps positions.

 

81%

of organizations adopting DevOps

According to a recent survey, 81% of organizations have adopted or are planning to adopt DevOps practices.

$168K

top salary for DevOps Engineers

A senior level data engineer can make up to $168K, according to estimates. These numbers can vary based on location as well as experience.

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Tech Companies Seek DevOps Workers

DevOps continues to be in high demand for businesses both inside and outside of the tech industry. Some of the top skills companies are seeking when hiring DevOps workers are OS administration, automation and configuration tools, virtualization tech like VMware, and cloud resource familiarity.

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Q: What Advice Would You Give Tech Job Seekers and Hiring Managers in 2026?

From James Vallone, President of Motion Recruitment

“As artificial intelligence reshapes expectations across the tech industry, leaders are seeking flexible, comprehensive solutions tailored to their unique needs. IT leaders who combine market insights with data-driven decision-making will be best positioned to build teams — and careers — that are ready for what’s next. Staying current on emerging tools and cultivating strong professional networks is essential to driving progress for both organizations and individuals.”

What will I find in Motion's IT Salary Guide?

What tech job data and trends are covered in the guide?
  • The state of tech employment in 2026, with the impact of layoffs, economic conditions, IT job creation and the tech talent shortage.

  • The continuing impact of artificial intelligence on the job market, including a spike in data center construction, the need for upskilling in the tech industry and how AI is evolving the wearables market.

  • Tech hiring and workplace trends, including tech workers heading back to the office and IT workers boomeranging back to previous employers.

  • Advice from market experts on what you can do to succeed in 2026.
What valuable insights into IT salary data can I discover?
  • You will find starting salaries for mid and senior level ranges for over 100 specific job titles across technology areas. There are also city-specific variances included, which you can use to measure the regional salary ranges per tech job.

  • You will see IT salaries for top roles from the most in-demand technology areas: Software, Data & AI, Security, Infrastructure & DevOps, Mobile, Functional, Product & UX and Executive.

DevOps Salary Demand and Supply Market Insights

Previous Salary Guides

Tech Hiring Market
Midyear Update 2025

Tech Salary Guide
North America 2025

Tech Hiring Market
Midyear Update 2024

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Motion Recruitment is an equal opportunity employer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which DevOps job has the highest salary?

The highest salaries within the DevOps domain are associated with the DevSecOps Engineer role, which integrates security practices into the DevOps process, reflecting an expansion in the viability and critical nature of security expertise alongside operational efficiency.

According to 2026 data for remote positions, mid-level DevSecOps Engineers earn between $153,895 and $187,974 annually, while senior level professionals command wages ranging from $165,369 up to $204,219. In comparison, the standard DevOps Engineer salary for mid-level remote roles ranges from $132,408 to $163,684, and senior level positions pay between $145,653 and $172,958.

Geographically, the disparity is equally significant—locations like Seattle see DevSecOps Engineers earning mid-level salaries from $160,455 to $195,986 and senior level salaries between $172,418 and $212,924, surpassing typical DevOps engineering pay in the same region.

These figures illustrate how specialization in security integrated with DevOps enhances compensation levels, driven by the evolving landscape where safeguarding digital infrastructure is critical. The DevOps engineer salary for traditional roles remains competitive, but those with DevSecOps skills achieve a significant impact through higher pay, reflecting demand for seamless experience in both development lifecycle and security compliance.

What is the salary for 5 years of DevOps experience?

Experienced DevOps Engineers with approximately five years in the field typically fall into mid-level or early senior level salary brackets. Based on market data for 2026, the DevOps Engineer salary varies by region but generally ranges from about $120,000 to $180,000 annually for mid-level roles, extending up to roughly $160,000 to $190,000 in senior roles.

This variance underscores the evolving landscape of DevOps roles, where market demand, regional cost of living, and company scale influence compensation. The DevOps Engineer salary aligns with the significant impact these professionals have on ensuring continuous integration, deployment, and operational stability within digital ecosystems.

Did DevOps salaries increase in 2026?

DevOps engineer salary trends had a moderate increase going into 2026. Mid-level DevOps Engineers nationally can expect to earn between approximately $128,800 and $159,300 annually, while senior level roles range from about $141,700 to $168,300. These figures reflect incremental gains compared to prior years, evidencing steady wage growth in response to sustained demand.

Regional data confirms similar patterns. For example, remote mid-level DevOps salaries are projected between $132,400 and $163,700, with senior peaks near $173,000. In tech hubs like San Francisco and Seattle, salaries remain on the higher end of this scale, supporting the expanding viability of DevOps careers within competitive digital transformation initiatives.

While the upward movement in DevOps engineer salary is not drastic, it aligns with broader trends of increasing reliance on automation, continuous deployment, and scalable infrastructure management. This wage growth also corresponds to the evolving landscape where DevOps expertise plays a critical role in bridging development and operations, ultimately reducing critical errors and improving organizational agility.

How much can a DevOps worker make in 2026?

The 2026 outlook for DevOps Engineer salary shows considerable regional variation, reflecting ongoing demand for specialized skills across different markets. Nationally, mid-level DevOps Engineers can expect salaries ranging from approximately $132,400 to $163,700 annually, while senior level professionals often earn between $145,600 and $173,000.

Larger metropolitan areas typically command higher salaries. For instance, in Los Angeles, mid-level DevOps Engineers may earn between $144,000 and $178,000, with senior level ranges climbing to nearly $197,000. New York and Washington D.C. also show elevated compensation, with senior roles reaching up to $189,000 and $186,000 respectively.

This salary distribution illustrates the expanding viability of DevOps roles as companies invest in scalable, automated infrastructure to foster digital transformation.

Is DevOps Engineer a high paying job?

DevOps Engineer roles are among the higher paying positions within the technology sector, reflecting their critical impact on driving agile development and seamless operations. According to market data for 2026, the DevOps Engineer salary varies significantly by region and experience level, illustrating the evolving landscape of this profession.

Nationally, mid-level DevOps Engineers earn between approximately $129,000 and $159,000 annually, while senior level professionals see compensation ranging from around $142,000 to $168,000. In tech hubs such as San Francisco, figures rise substantially—with mid-level salaries reaching up to nearly $199,000 and senior salaries exceeding $218,000. Other major metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles also report strong salary ranges, typically between $144,000 and $196,000 depending on seniority.

This expanding viability is due in part to the increasing demand for DevOps engineers who can optimize scalability, reduce critical errors, and enhance deployment velocity in complex cloud environments. While geographic and organizational factors affect pay, the role consistently ranks as a lucrative career path in IT.

Professionals focused on continuous integration, automation, and infrastructure as code are well-positioned to command salaries at or above these benchmarks, reflecting the sustained need for these skills in digital transformation initiatives.

What is the DevOps Engineer salary in the US?

The DevOps engineer salary in the United States reflects a strong earning potential that varies by location and experience. According to market data for 2026, mid-level DevOps engineers generally earn between approximately $104,000 and $199,000 annually, depending on the region. For example, San Francisco leads with mid-level salaries ranging from about $161,000 to $199,000. In New York and Los Angeles, mid-level salaries typically fall between $144,000 and $179,000.

Senior DevOps engineers command even higher salaries, with a national range from roughly $115,000 to $219,000, depending on location.

The expanding viability of this role is tightly linked to the growing demand for scalable automation, cloud infrastructure expertise, and continuous integration practices. Salaries in regions with concentrated tech activity demonstrate a premium for skills that help reduce critical errors and enhance deployment velocity in digital transformation initiatives.

What is the expected salary range for DevSecOps Engineers in the USA in 2026?

In 2026, DevSecOps Engineers in the USA can expect to earn between $149,736 and $198,700, depending on experience level.
 

What are the expected salary ranges for DevOps Engineers in the USA for mid-level and senior level positions in 2026?
In the USA, DevOps Engineers can expect to earn between $128,829 and $159,260 for mid-level positions and between $141,716 and $168,283 for senior level positions in 2026.