How statistics are calculated
We count how many offers each candidate received and for what salary. For example, if a DevOps developer with CI/CD with a salary of $4,500 received 10 offers, then we would count him 10 times. If there were no offers, then he would not get into the statistics either.
The graph column is the total number of offers. This is not the number of vacancies, but an indicator of the level of demand. The more offers there are, the more companies try to hire such a specialist. 5k+ includes candidates with salaries >= $5,000 and < $5,500.
Median Salary Expectation – the weighted average of the market offer in the selected specialization, that is, the most frequent job offers for the selected specialization received by candidates. We do not count accepted or rejected offers.
Trending DevOps tech & tools in 2024
DevOps
What is a DevOps Engineer?
A DevOps engineer is an IT generalist who should have a wide-ranging knowledge of both development and operations, including coding, infrastructure management, system administration, and DevOps toolchains. DevOps engineers should also possess interpersonal skills since they work across company silos to create a more collaborative environment.
DevOps engineers need to have a strong understanding of common system architecture, provisioning, and administration, but must also have experience with the traditional developer toolset and practices such as using source control, giving and receiving code reviews, writing unit tests, and familiarity with agile principles.
Roles and Responsibilities
The role of a DevOps engineer will vary from one organization to another, but invariably entails some combination of:
- Release engineering
- Infrastructure provisioning and management
- System administration
- Security
- DevOps advocacy
Release Engineering
Release engineering includes the work required to build and deploy application code. The exact tools and processes vary widely depending on many variables, such as what language the code is written in, how much of the pipeline has been automated, and whether the production infrastructure is on-premise or in the cloud.
Release engineering might entail:
- Selecting, provisioning, and maintaining CI/CD tooling
- Writing and maintaining bespoke build/deploy scripts
Infrastructure Provisioning and System Administration
Infrastructure provisioning and system administration include deploying and maintaining the servers, storage, and networking resources required to host applications.
For organizations with on-premise resources this might include managing physical servers, storage devices, switches, and virtualization software in a data center. For a hybrid or entirely cloud-based organization this will usually include provisioning and managing virtual instances of the same components.
DevOps Advocacy
DevOps advocacy is often undervalued or overlooked entirely but is arguably the most important role of a DevOps engineer. The shift to a DevOps culture can be disruptive and confusing to the engineering team members. As the DevOps subject matter expert, it falls to the DevOps engineer to help evangelize and educate the DevOps way across the organization.
Top 7 DevOps Engineer Skills
Skill | Description |
---|---|
Communication and collaboration | It’s important for a DevOps engineer to communicate and collaborate effectively with teams, managers, and customers. These so-called “soft-skills” are often overlooked and undervalued, but the success of DevOps relies heavily on the quality and quantity of feedback across the entire value stream. |
System administration | A DevOps engineer will have experience with system administration, such as provisioning and managing servers, deploying databases, security monitoring, system patching, and managing internal and external network connectivity. |
Experience with DevOps tools | Since using the right tools are essential to DevOps practices, the DevOps engineer must understand, and be able to use, a variety of tools. These tools span the DevOps lifecycle from infrastructure and building, to monitoring and operating a product or service. |
Configuration management | DevOps engineers will often be expected to have experience with one or more configuration management tools such as Chef, Puppet, or Ansible. Many organizations have adopted these or similar tools to automate system administration tasks such as deploying new systems or applying security patches to systems already running. |
Containers and container orchestration | With containerization, a technology popularized by Docker, the code for the application and its runtime environment are bundled in the same image. This makes traditional configuration management tools less necessary. At the same time, managing containers brings its own challenges, and experience with the class of tools known as “container orchestrators” (e.g., Docker Swarm or Kubernetes) becomes a necessary skill for the DevOps engineer. |
Continuous integration and continuous deployment | Continuous integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) are core practices of a DevOps approach to software development, and enabled by a host of available tools. The most fundamental function of any CI/CD tool or set of tools is to automate the process of building, testing, and deploying software. DevOps engineers will usually need experience with configuring and deploying one or more CI/CD tools, and will usually need to work closely with the rest of the development organization to ensure that these tools are used effectively. |
System architecture and provisioning | A DevOps engineer should have the ability to design, provision, and manage computer ecosystems, whether on-premise or in the cloud. |
Where is CI/CD used?
CI/CD: The DevOps Superhero
Automated Bug Extermination
- Like a stealthy ninja, CI/CD sneaks in to squash code bugs automatically, preventing them from spawning like pesky roaches in production code.
Feature Factory Fast-Track
- CI/CD is the express train for new features, zipping them from concept to customer faster than you can say "deployment". Choo choo!
The Great Wall of Updates
- In the realm of software, CI/CD stands guard like an impassable fortress, ensuring only the worthiest updates breach its walls to reach the user kingdom.
Breaking Bad (Code) Habits
- Like a strict fitness trainer for developers, CI/CD keeps coders in top shape, making sure they don’t get away with lazy commit-push-run cycles.
CI/CD Alternatives
Serverless Architecture
Definition: Deploying code without managing the underlying infrastructure.
Examples: AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions, Azure Functions
Tasks: Automates the deployment process by abstracting the server layer.
// AWS Lambda Node.js example
exports.handler = async (event) => {
const response = {
statusCode: 200,
body: JSON.stringify('Hello from Lambda!'),
};
return response;
};
- Pros: Scale automatically, Pay-per-use pricing, No server management
- Cons: Cold starts can affect performance, Testing complexity, Vendor lock-in risks
Feature Flagging
Definition: Enables toggling features without deploying new code.
Examples: LaunchDarkly, Split.io
Tasks: Control rollout of features for testing and gradual release.
// LaunchDarkly feature flag example in Java
LDClient client = new LDClient("YOUR_SDK_KEY");
boolean showFeature = client.boolVariation("your.flag.key", user, false);
if (showFeature) {
// Show the feature to the user
}
client.close();
- Pros: Fine-grained control over features, Facilitates A/B testing, Quick rollback of features
- Cons: Managing flags can get complex, Overhead of additional service, Can mask code issues
Monolithic Repository (MonoRepo)
Definition: Store all code in a single version-controlled repository.
Examples: Google’s Piper, Facebook’s Mercurial
Tasks: Simplifies dependency management and streamlines code sharing.
// No specific code sample, as MonoRepo is a strategy rather than a tool.
- Pros: Simplified dependency management, Improved code visibility, Atomic commits across projects
- Cons: Steeper learning curve, Scalability challenges, Potential for merge conflicts
Quick Facts about CI/CD
Continuous Integration Dances Into Town
Imagine a world where coders were like solo artists, crooning in their cubicles, never really syncing up. That was development before 1991, when the whole "Continuous Integration" (CI) jig kick-started. Thanks to Grady Booch who first waltzed in with the term. He wasn't inventing salsa, no, he was preaching the gospel of merging code often to avoid the integration headache a.k.a the "Integration Hell." It was less "Nightmare on Elm Street" and more "A Midsummer Night's Merge."
CI/CD Software: From Snail Mail to Instant Messaging
Jump to the '00s, and there's a software speed dating scene -- CI servers like Jez Humble's Jenkins (born Hudson in 2004, but had some identity issues so it rebranded in 2011) strutted onto the floor. Jenkins was like that one friend who ensures you don't text your ex; it keeps developers from re-breaking the build, by automating testing and reporting back in real-time. It’s "look, but don't touch" – but with code commits.
Scripted Pipelines: When Code Does Ballet
pipeline {
agent any
stages {
stage('Build') {
steps {
echo 'Building..'
// Imagine tiny ballerinas pirouetting here
}
}
stage('Test') {
steps {
echo 'Testing..'
// Code in tutus, doing jetes
}
}
stage('Deploy') {
steps {
echo 'Deploying..'
// And now, a code grand finale
}
}
}
}
Fancy a dance of the scripts? Jenkinsfile brought the concept of "Scripted Pipelines" into the limelight around 2016. It's where the code plays choreographer, outlining the steps in the CI/CD waltz so precisely that deviation isn’t an option. And watching your builds execute stage by stage? That's the modern-day ballet. No tights necessary.
What is the difference between Junior, Middle, Senior and Expert CI/CD developer?
Seniority Name | Years of Experience | Average Salary (USD/year) | Responsibilities & Activities | Quality-wise |
---|---|---|---|---|
Junior | 0-2 | 40,000 - 70,000 |
| Requires close supervision and frequent code reviews |
Middle | 2-5 | 70,000 - 100,000 |
| Deliver quality code with less supervision |
Senior | 5-10 | 100,000 - 130,000 |
| Consistently provides high-quality solutions with minimal guidance |
Expert/Team Lead | 10+ | 130,000 - 160,000+ |
| Ensures and sets the standard for exceptional quality |
Top 10 CI/CD Related Tech
Version Control Systems: Git
Imagine a digital time machine for your code, that's Git! It's the bedrock of modern software development, letting developers travel back to happier times before they introduced that apocalypse-causing bug. It’s crucial for branching, merging, and not losing your mind when collaborating with a merry band of coding comrades.
# Initialize a new Git repository
git init
# Add a file to the staging area
git add .
# Commit your changes
git commit -m "Initial commit"Continuous Integration Servers: Jenkins
Jenkins, the butler of software development, is always ready to take your coat and integrate your code. It's an automation server that can build, test, and deploy your precious codebase. Jenkins is like that overly eager friend who insists on doing every group project in school. Oh, and it has more plugins than a rock band's equipment room.
# Create a new Jenkins job
jenkins-cli create-job my-new-job < config.xml
# Build a Jenkins job
jenkins-cli build my-new-jobContainerization: Docker
Docker is like those Russian nesting dolls, but for apps and their environments. It packs everything your app needs into a neat container that can be moved around like a chess piece. With Docker, 'But it works on my machine' excuses are shoved firmly into the bin of history.
# Pull an image from Docker Hub
docker pull nginx
# Run a Docker container
docker run -d -p 80:80 --name webserver nginxContinuous Deployment: Kubernetes
Kubernetes, or K8s for short (because counting eight characters is hard), is the godzilla of container orchestration. It makes sure all your containerized apps play nicely together on a cluster. Kubernetes is like a hyper-organized party planner for containers, keeping the champagne (your apps) flowing smoothly.
# Create a Deployment
kubectl create deployment hello-world --image=gcr.io/google-samples/hello-app:1.0
# Expose your Deployment as a Service
kubectl expose deployment hello-world --type=LoadBalancer --port 80Infrastructure as Code: Terraform
Need to spawn an army of servers with a flick of your fingers? Terraform's your wizard's wand! Declare all your infrastructure as code and watch Terraform conjure clouds with the ease of a maestro. It's like playing a strategy game, but instead of training in-game units, you're amassing actual servers.
# Define your infrastructure as code
resource "aws_instance" "web" {
ami = "ami-0c55b159cbfafe1f0"
instance_type = "t2.micro"
}
# Apply the configuration
terraform applyConfiguration Management: Ansible
Ansible is the digital equivalent of remotely whispering sweet nothings into your servers' ears to configure them just the way you like. It's super simple to use, and with it, you can avoid getting up close and personal with every machine. Think of it as telepathically telling your infrastructure what to do.
# Define a task using Ansible
- name: Ensure nginx is at the latest version
ansible.builtin.yum:
name: nginx
state: latestMonitoring and Logging: Prometheus and Grafana
If you ever wanted superpowers to see into the health of your systems, meet Prometheus and Grafana. They’re like the dynamic duo of monitoring, one scraping metrics faster than a desperate dieter and the other making dashboards more beautiful than a unicorn in a field of rainbows. Together, they’ll give you the vision of an eagle on every aspect of your system.
# Example Prometheus target configuration
- job_name: 'my-app'
static_configs:
- targets: ['localhost:9090']
# Example Grafana visualization setup
# Dashboard creation is more of a UI-driven process!Scripting Languages: Bash/Python
For when you need to hack together a quick solution or automate a mundane task, scripting languages like Bash and Python have your back. Bash is the granddaddy of command-line magic in Unix-like environments, and Python is like the Swiss Army knife of programming - both are must-haves for any automation shenanigans.
# Bash script to print "Hello, World!"
echo "Hello, World!"
# Python script to print "Hello, World!"
print("Hello, World!")Binary Repositories: Artifactory/Nexus
Think of these as the grand libraries of Alexandria, but for your code artifacts. They keep your precious binaries safe and sound, indexed like a librarian on a power trip. Artifactory and Nexus are the burly bouncers at the club, ensuring only the VIPs (verified packages) get through.
# Uploading an artifact to Artifactory
curl -H "X-JFrog-Art-Api:API_KEY" -T path/to/file.zip "http://yourdomain.com/artifactory/your-repository/file.zip"
# Downloading an artifact from Nexus
wget --http-user=admin --http-password=admin123 --output-document=file.zip http://localhost:8081/repository/your-repository/file.zipCode Quality & Review Tools: SonarQube
SonarQube is like the judgy in-law of the coding world, it'll scrutinize your code in ways you never thought possible. But instead of awkward family dinners, you get a ton of insight into the health of your precious codebase, with all the metrics on bugs, vulnerabilities, and style issues you could wish for.
# Example to run SonarQube analysis
mvn sonar:sonar \
-Dsonar.projectKey=my_project_key \
-Dsonar.host.url=http://localhost:9000 \
-Dsonar.login=my_token