DevOps Engineer vs MLOps Engineer: 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.
MLOps Engineer
Build and maintain infrastructure for deploying machine learning models at scale.
DevOps Engineer earns more on average — the national median is $0/year (0%) higher than a MLOps Engineer. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
DevOps Engineer vs MLOps Engineer — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | DevOps Engineer | MLOps Engineer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $143,393 | $144,519 | DevOps $1,126 |
| New York, NY | $119,390 | $119,390 | DevOps +$0 |
| Seattle, WA | $138,602 | $139,997 | DevOps $1,395 |
| Austin, TX | $109,601 | $107,475 | DevOps +$2,126 |
| Chicago, IL | $106,405 | $108,552 | DevOps $2,147 |
| Boston, MA | $130,457 | $133,124 | DevOps $2,667 |
| London, UK | £75,853 | £79,867 | DevOps $4,014 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$135,262 | CA$130,108 | DevOps +$5,154 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a DevOps Engineer or MLOps Engineer earn more?+
A DevOps Engineer earns more on average. The national median salary for a DevOps Engineer is $99,130/year, compared to $99,130/year for a MLOps Engineer — a difference of $0 (0%).
Which has better career growth — DevOps Engineer or MLOps Engineer?+
DevOps Engineer roles are growing at 28% YoY while MLOps Engineer demand is growing at 52% YoY. MLOps Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from DevOps Engineer to MLOps Engineer?+
Yes. Many professionals transition between these roles, especially since both are in the same category. Shared skills include: Kubernetes.
Which is harder to automate — DevOps Engineer or MLOps Engineer?+
MLOps Engineer has a lower AI automation risk (22% vs 38%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.