If you’re exploring a career in tech, you’re probably discovering a lot of exciting potential career paths, including cloud engineering. But, before you start putting all that time into building your skills, it makes sense to first ask: How much does a Cloud Engineer make, anyway?

The short answer is, “a lot.”

Over the last decade, there’s been a digital mass migration as companies moved their data and resources from local servers to cloud-based services and adopted cloud computing. This is much easier said than done, and businesses in every industry rely on Cloud Engineers to make sure the transition to the cloud is a smooth one. Once the new systems are up and running, Cloud Engineers keep those systems maintained and updated.

The bad news for companies is that there just aren’t enough Cloud Engineers to satisfy all this demand. This is good news for new developers like you though, since it means Cloud Engineers are likely to land secure, well-paying jobs.

In this article, we’ll go over how much Cloud Engineers can expect to be paid, as well as factors that affect a Cloud Engineer’s average salary.

What is the average Cloud Engineer’s salary?

The average salary for a Cloud Engineer is $96,655, according to data from Skillsoft’s 2023 IT Skills & Salary Report. Cloud Engineers who are eligible for annual bonuses are awarded $15,024 on average, the report found. These numbers can vary depending on your experience level, certifications, and location. Let’s take a closer look at what factors have the biggest effect on a Cloud Engineer’s salary.

Factors that affect how much a Cloud Engineer makes

Your location

Cloud engineers are needed all over the country, from small towns to big cities and everything in between. And just like other jobs, where you live impacts your salary since the cost of living is higher in some areas than in others.

To account for this, employers adjust the salaries they offer, and some of the highest salaries for Cloud Engineers are offered in the biggest cities in the country.

IT professionals in the U.S. earn an average annual salary of $124,931, according to Skillsoft’s 2023 IT Skills & Salary Report. Here are the U.S. states with the highest average annual salaries for IT professionals:

Your company

Even within a particular city or area, some companies are willing to pay their employees well above the regional average salary. This is usually for one of two reasons:

• First, big cities that are home to a lot of companies’ headquarters are all competing to hire the same talented Cloud Engineers
• Second, companies located outside of the biggest and most desirable areas are at a disadvantage when it comes to recruiting. So, they offer high salaries to convince more Cloud Engineers to move out of the city and work for them.

Here are 10 companies that offer some of the highest average salaries for Cloud Engineers, according to data from Indeed.

Your skillset

It’s no surprise that a Cloud Engineer with more hard and soft skills can command a higher salary at the negotiating table. But it’s also important to remember that certain skills are more helpful to Cloud Engineers than others. And, while Cloud Engineers have overlapping skill sets with Back-End Developers and cybersecurity specialists, they also use their own specific tools on the job.

Here are the top-paying cloud certifications worldwide, and how much you can expect to make on average, according to the IT Skills & Salary Report:

As far as soft skills, team management is critical for Cloud Engineers, and companies are willing to pay over 50% more for people who bring that experience with them. So, if your previous job involved managing teams and projects, make sure to emphasize that experience as you put together your technical resume.

Salary isn’t the only kind of compensation

It’s exciting to think about a six-figure paycheck once you land your dream job as a Cloud Engineer, but keep in mind that salary is just one part of the story when it comes to compensation.

So, as you start to apply to cloud engineering jobs and compare job offers, remember that a company offering a lower starting salary can make up the difference in other ways, such as:

• Annual bonuses based on your performance
• Health and dental insurance coverage
• A good remote working or flextime policy
• More vacation and comp days
• An employee ownership structure and stock purchase options
• Contributions to your 401(k) or retirement account
• Sign-on bonuses and relocation reimbursement

Becoming a Cloud Engineer will pay off

As you continue along your path to becoming a Cloud Engineer, always remember these words: It’ll all pay off in the end. And we don’t just mean financially, but personally and professionally too.

Cloud Engineers can look forward to a stable, well-paid, and fulfilling career for years to come, so there’s no better time to build up your skills. Our online programming courses, like Python and Ruby, will help you focus on all the skills you need to succeed.

This blog was originally published in October 2021 and has been updated to include recent salary data and new courses.