DevOps Engineer vs NLP 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.
NLP Engineer
Build natural language processing systems and text AI models.
NLP Engineer earns more on average — the national median is $21,100/year (21%) 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 NLP Engineer — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | DevOps Engineer | NLP Engineer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $143,393 | $175,055 | DevOps $31,662 |
| New York, NY | $119,390 | $135,980 | DevOps $16,590 |
| Seattle, WA | $138,602 | $174,364 | DevOps $35,762 |
| Austin, TX | $109,601 | $137,212 | DevOps $27,611 |
| Chicago, IL | $106,405 | $129,954 | DevOps $23,549 |
| Boston, MA | $130,457 | $156,119 | DevOps $25,662 |
| London, UK | £75,853 | £94,915 | DevOps $19,062 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$135,262 | CA$156,823 | DevOps $21,561 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a DevOps Engineer or NLP Engineer earn more?+
A NLP Engineer earns more on average. The national median salary for a DevOps Engineer is $99,130/year, compared to $120,230/year for a NLP Engineer — a difference of $21,100 (21%).
Which has better career growth — DevOps Engineer or NLP Engineer?+
DevOps Engineer roles are growing at 28% YoY while NLP Engineer demand is growing at 42% YoY. NLP Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from DevOps Engineer to NLP Engineer?+
Yes. Many professionals transition between these roles, especially since both are in the same category. Shared skills include: analytical thinking, communication, and industry knowledge.
Which is harder to automate — DevOps Engineer or NLP Engineer?+
NLP Engineer has a lower AI automation risk (20% vs 38%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.