My path to DevOps. Why did I choose DevOps as a career?

 

My path to DevOps. Why did I choose DevOps as a career?



With a prevalent skills shortage within the DevOps recruitment market, and thousands of jobs across the UK requiring DevOps or platform engineering experience, pursuing a DevOps career presents you with endless job opportunities.

 

DevOps engineers do a lot of automation, monitoring, testing, configuring, networking, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC). That means you’ll need to bring a variety of skills and talent to the table. Let’s face it, it’s a highly technical role that’s usually best left to experienced engineers.

There’s some opportunity in the DevOps field for entry-level engineers, but most of the jobs require experience. So, is it worth it to become a DevOps engineer? And — do you have what it takes? After reading this article, you’ll be better equipped to find out!

 

Why DevOps is a good career choice in 2024

1.       Massive DevOps job growth:

The job market for DevOps is booming, and it's not an exaggeration to say that it's growing faster than most other fields. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the software field as a whole is expected to grow by 22% this decade, compared to the average growth rate of 8% for all jobs.

Even though DevOps jobs represent just a portion of that growth, it's still significant. Let's break it down: if we conservatively estimate that DevOps job growth is only 5%, given the current 1.8 million jobs in the field, that still means a whopping 90,000 new DevOps positions. And considering how much companies value DevOps skills, 5% is likely a very conservative estimate.

2.       High salary for DevOps jobs:

DevOps jobs are known for their generous pay, much like many other positions in the IT sector. If you're someone who values financial stability and you've got the right skills, chances are you're already checking out the salary ranges for DevOps roles.

For instance, Builtin reports that the average base salary for a DevOps Engineer in the U.S. sits around $125k, but some can earn upwards of $300k. Glassdoor, on the other hand, suggests it's closer to $105k. These figures give you a sense of what's out there, but remember, actual pay can vary based on factors like where you live, how much experience you have, and the specific company you join. Overall, though, it's safe to say that DevOps offers some pretty nice paychecks for a regular 9-to-5 gig.

 

3.       Upward mobility:

DevOps Engineers have room to move up the ladder within a company. Starting as a junior engineer, you can work your way up to becoming a DevOps architect or even manage the whole department if you've got what it takes.

You can also switch to similar roles like a site reliability engineer (SRE), although these higher positions are fewer in number due to the corporate hierarchy.

DevOps also offers sideways moves, meaning you can switch between different industries quite easily. Whether a company makes widgets or sells life insurance, the work for DevOps professionals is pretty much the same. So, there's plenty of opportunities to explore different industries without having to learn entirely new skills.

4.       Flexibility and enhanced benefits: The perks for DevOps Engineers are some of the best in the IT field, offering both flexibility and great pay. In recent years, more and more overseas companies, especially those in the USA, have been hiring DevOps Engineers from the UK. Why? Because they can handle application development and operational support during hours when US-based teams are offline, thanks to the time zone difference. This setup allows professionals to work remotely and enjoy the benefits of a higher salary from the US.

Skills need for a DevOps career

l  Interpersonal

l  A programming language

l  Automated build/test

l  Containers

l  Configuration

l  Version control

l  Networking

In conclusion, pursuing a career in DevOps presents a multitude of compelling reasons to dive into this exciting field. With a rapidly growing job market, attractive salaries, ample opportunities for career advancement, and flexibility in terms of industry and location, DevOps offers a promising pathway for those with the right skills and mindset.

 

 

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