DevOps Engineer vs Data Architect: Which Pays More?
Side-by-side salary comparison by city, experience level, and career growth outlook. Data reflects current market rates.
DevOps Engineer
Automate infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud deployments.
Data Architect
Design enterprise data systems, lakes, and pipelines for scalability and governance.
Data Architect earns more on average — the national median is $51,485/year (52%) higher than a DevOps Engineer. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
DevOps Engineer vs Data Architect — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | DevOps Engineer | Data Architect | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $143,393 | $223,662 | DevOps $80,269 |
| New York, NY | $119,390 | $176,070 | DevOps $56,680 |
| Seattle, WA | $138,602 | $213,160 | DevOps $74,558 |
| Austin, TX | $109,601 | $169,668 | DevOps $60,067 |
| Chicago, IL | $106,405 | $163,518 | DevOps $57,113 |
| Boston, MA | $130,457 | $192,776 | DevOps $62,319 |
| London, UK | £75,853 | £114,371 | DevOps $38,518 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$135,262 | CA$200,067 | DevOps $64,805 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a DevOps Engineer or Data Architect earn more?+
A Data Architect earns more on average. The national median salary for a DevOps Engineer is $99,130/year, compared to $150,615/year for a Data Architect — a difference of $51,485 (52%).
Which has better career growth — DevOps Engineer or Data Architect?+
DevOps Engineer roles are growing at 28% YoY while Data Architect demand is growing at 28% YoY. Data Architect has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from DevOps Engineer to Data Architect?+
Yes. Many professionals transition between these roles, especially since both are in the same category. Shared skills include: AWS.
Which is harder to automate — DevOps Engineer or Data Architect?+
Data Architect has a lower AI automation risk (28% vs 38%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.