DevOps Engineers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of devops engineers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for devops engineers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of devops engineers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for devops engineers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for DevOps Engineers?
Do devops engineers need a degree? What kind of experience do devops engineers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for devops engineers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for DevOps Engineers
Jobs Postings for DevOps Engineers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 442,574 (48%)
- No Education Listed: 293,486 (32%)
- Master's degree: 130,889 (14%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 30,745 (3%)
- High School or GED: 19,911 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of devops engineers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 48% of positions. In 32% of job listings no education level was listed and in 14% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for DevOps Engineers
Jobs Postings for DevOps Engineers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 22,987 (5%)
- 2-3 Years: 108,958 (21%)
- 4-6 Years: 205,482 (40%)
- 7-9 Years: 99,734 (20%)
- 10+ Years: 73,245 (14%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for devops engineers. In 40% of job postings for DevOps Engineers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 21% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 20% of job postings for devops engineers.
What Kind of Degree Do DevOps Engineers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for devops engineers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 32 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective devops engineers, and in 2023 a total of 256,271 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective devops engineers.
Top Degree Programs for DevOps Engineers
Top 5 Degree Programs for DevOps Engineers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Information Technology. | 35,591 |
| Information Science/Studies. | 20,146 |
| Computer Engineering, General. | 13,383 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Information Technology. | 35,591 |
| Information Science/Studies. | 20,146 |
| Computer Engineering, General. | 13,383 |
| Computer Programming/Programmer, General. | 9,615 |
| Computer Software Engineering. | 5,017 |
| Data Science, General. | 4,387 |
| Systems Engineering. | 4,148 |
| Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other. | 3,190 |
| Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst. | 2,835 |
| Informatics. | 2,793 |
| Medical Informatics. | 2,611 |
| Computer Programming, Specific Applications. | 2,399 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design. | 2,381 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Other. | 2,301 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other. | 2,000 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Other. | 1,762 |
| Artificial Intelligence. | 1,271 |
| Bioinformatics. | 1,245 |
| Systems Science and Theory. | 1,080 |
| Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation. | 915 |
| Cloud Computing. | 730 |
| E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce. | 415 |
| Computer Game Programming. | 380 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other. | 347 |
| Computer Software Technology/Technician. | 249 |
| Computer Programming, Other. | 161 |
| Economics and Computer Science. | 89 |
| Computer Programming, Specific Platforms. | 25 |
| Linguistics and Computer Science. | 4 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other. | 4 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for DevOps Engineers
<p>Build broad IT expertise and shape your own path with Franklin's flexible IT masters degree. Combine a 24-credit core with 12 credits of approved graduate coursework you choose with advisor guidance.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn an online M.S. in Information Technology with AI Leadership for Professionals and build skills in AI governance, AI strategy, responsible AI leadership, and agentic AI.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn an online Master’s in Information Technology with Artificial Intelligence at Franklin. Build hands-on skills in machine learning, Python, analytics, and responsible AI.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Earn a Master's in Information Technology with Cybersecurity Engineering online. Build hands-on network defense skills and prepare for the CEH exam.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Move from building features to owning the product. Franklin's M.S. in Information Technology with Tech Product Management builds skills in product strategy, systems analysis, and cross-functional leadership.</p>
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
<p>Ready to lead, not just build? Franklin's online Master's in Information Technology with IT Management builds skills in executive communication, business environment analysis, and organizational leadership you can apply across IT and technology leadership roles.</p>
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do DevOps Engineers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by devops engineers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for devops engineers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's DevOps Engineers
Based on 764,542 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for DevOps Engineers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 290,694 | 38% |
| Software Engineering | 249,908 | 33% |
| Agile Methodology | 244,043 | 32% |
| Software Development | 222,267 | 29% |
| Java (Programming Language) | 216,618 | 28% |
Top 5 Common Skills for DevOps Engineers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 259,895 | 34% |
| Management | 157,775 | 21% |
| Problem Solving | 154,589 | 20% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 141,661 | 19% |
| Leadership | 114,269 | 15% |
Based on 764,542 job postings related to devops engineers, computer science was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 38% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for software engineering, agile methodology, software development, java (programming language) and sql (programming language) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for devops engineers, followed by management, problem solving, troubleshooting (problem solving), leadership and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 290,694 | 38% |
| Software Engineering | 249,908 | 33% |
| Agile Methodology | 244,043 | 32% |
| Software Development | 222,267 | 29% |
| Java (Programming Language) | 216,618 | 28% |
| SQL (Programming Language) | 185,067 | 24% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 175,902 | 23% |
| JavaScript (Programming Language) | 170,835 | 22% |
| Amazon Web Services | 159,026 | 21% |
| Application Programming Interface (API) | 152,829 | 20% |
| Automation | 131,830 | 17% |
| Debugging | 119,857 | 16% |
| DevOps | 118,352 | 15% |
| C# (Programming Language) | 116,494 | 15% |
| Git (Version Control System) | 112,205 | 15% |
| CI/CD | 111,931 | 15% |
| Microsoft Azure | 111,177 | 15% |
| Scalability | 105,169 | 14% |
| Scrum (Software Development) | 98,977 | 13% |
| RESTful API | 97,113 | 13% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 259,895 | 34% |
| Management | 157,775 | 21% |
| Problem Solving | 154,589 | 20% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 141,661 | 19% |
| Leadership | 114,269 | 15% |
| Operations | 104,279 | 14% |
| Writing | 89,228 | 12% |
| Planning | 87,260 | 11% |
| Innovation | 83,111 | 11% |
| Research | 72,070 | 9% |
| Information Technology | 69,371 | 9% |
| Mentorship | 67,911 | 9% |
| Self-Motivation | 65,588 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 65,385 | 9% |
| Mathematics | 59,416 | 8% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 57,667 | 8% |
| Detail Oriented | 57,400 | 8% |
| Sales | 54,932 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 50,164 | 7% |
| Presentations | 45,947 | 6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about devops engineers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for devops engineers.
What do devops engineers do?
How much do devops engineers make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.