DevOps is a hot field and there are plenty of opportunities out there, but not all DevOps jobs and departments are created equal.

At Incapsula, we work closely with DevOps teams responsible for the security, speed, and availability of our clients’ websites and SaaS applications. In daily dealings with these professionals, we noticed that ‘DevOps’ means different things to different people — and that major variations exist in job titles and functions across organizations.

As this is a relatively new field, we thought it would be enlightening to see how DevOps professionals define their own roles within their organization. Taking this one step further, we decided to not only explore what DevOps professionals do, but also how much they earn and the various factors that affect salaries in this field.

Driven by the opportunity to better understand our customers, this fact-finding process slowly turned into the industry’s first DevOps salary survey, which we’ll be highlighting in this post.

You may download salary survey here.

How Was the Survey Conducted?

In order to gather data, Incapsula created a standardized online questionnaire which was distributed in December 2014 by DevOps.com. The results are based on a total of 442 responses collected from the survey population.

Key Findings

The survey results revealed some interesting information about the rapidly evolving DevOps field.

In terms of demographics, DevOps professionals come from all walks of life. However, a generalization of our results reveals a typical profile: male, between the ages of 25 and 44, having a bachelor’s degree with ‘1-6 years’ experience in his current role.

Here are some of the key findings in the survey:

DevOps salaries are on the rise. Over 76% of respondents reported an increase in 2014 earnings compared to 2013, while 22% reported no change. The median salary for a DevOps professional is $105,600.

Salary levels correlate with the size of the DevOps team. The larger the team, the higher the salary. In DevOps teams of up to 10 members, the median salary is $104,000, while for teams with over 100 professionals the median salary is $129,230.

Higher education does not necessarily mean higher pay. Over half (52%) of respondents have a bachelor’s degree, while 25% hold a master’s degree. Surprisingly, on average, professionals with high school diplomas are earning $106,734 while those with master’s degrees are earning $105,000.

DevOps feel good about their job stability. Approximately 62% of respondents reported having no concerns about their job stability, while less than 12% claimed they were very concerned.

When it comes to advancing your DevOps career and increasing your market value, respondents advised to hone your skills in the following key areas: operational (51%), communication (49%), and analytical (38%) skills.

What Else Does This Survey Cover?

Our comprehensive survey examines the experience, responsibilities, and compensation of individuals responsible for DevOps activities in a wide range of organizations.

In addition, the survey includes data points such as:

What are the highest-paying DevOps roles

Which industries pay top dollar for DevOps professionals (and which don’t)

How geographical region affects DevOps salaries

How company revenues affect DevOps salaries

The effects of gender and experience on DevOps salaries

Salary expectations for 2015

How DevOps roles have changed over the past year

If you’re looking to make a career in DevOps, the survey results will provide valuable insights into different career paths, DevOps roles, and salaries. For freshmen in the field, some of this information could turn out to be an ace in the hole when applying for your first job in DevOps.

Download salary survey here