Difference between Cloud Engineer and DevOps Engineer
Last Updated :
22 Mar, 2025
1. Cloud Engineer:
A cloud engineer is an IT professional who is responsible for creating and maintaining cloud infrastructure and platforms for individuals or business. So, a cloud engineer is mainly responsible for various technical responsibilities under cloud computing.
Different Job responsibilities :
- Creating brainstorming cloud designs and creative solutions.
- Taking care of confidential data over cloud.
- Ensuring compatibility across different platforms.
- Developing and implementing cloud monitoring strategies.
- Managing cloud infrastructure.
- Measuring performance.
Cloud Engineer Job Roles:
- Cloud developer
- Cloud Architect
- Cloud Security Engineer
- Cloud Network Engineer etc.
2. DevOps Engineer :
A DevOps Engineer focuses on automating the software development lifecycle (SDLC) to improve efficiency, speed, and quality. The primary goal of a DevOps Engineer is to bridge the gap between development and operations, ensuring seamless software delivery and integration through continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) pipelines.
DevOps Engineers use various automation tools to automate the processes of building, testing, and deploying applications, which helps teams work faster and more efficiently.
DevOps Engineer Responsibilities:
- Automation: Implementing and managing automated workflows for building, testing, and deploying software.
- CI/CD pipeline management: Managing the automation of code integration and delivery.
- Collaboration: Working closely with development, operations, and quality assurance teams to streamline workflows.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Using tools like Terraform and CloudFormation to automate the provisioning of infrastructure.
- Monitoring and performance: Ensuring software applications and infrastructure are working smoothly and efficiently.
DevOps Engineer Job Roles:
- Software Engineer
- Software Tester
- Software Developer
- Security Engineer
- Quality Assurance
- Automation Expert
Difference between Cloud Engineer and DevOps Engineer
| S.No. | Cloud Engineer | DevOps Engineer |
|---|
| 01 | A Cloud Engineer is an IT professional responsible for creating and maintaining cloud infrastructure and platforms. | A DevOps Engineer bridges software development, engineering, and management to speed up the software development process. |
| 02 | Focuses on technical responsibilities related to cloud computing. | Focuses on development, operations, and ensuring smooth software deployment and testing. |
| 03 | The primary focus is on cloud infrastructure and its operations. | Focuses on development, operations, and quality assurance (QA). |
| 04 | Cloud Engineer is considered a subset of DevOps Engineer. | DevOps Engineer is considered a superset of Cloud Engineer. |
| 05 | The job growth for Cloud Engineers is comparatively less than that of DevOps Engineers. | DevOps Engineers have higher job growth prospects compared to Cloud Engineers. |
| 06 | The salary of a Cloud Engineer is comparatively lower than DevOps Engineers. | DevOps Engineers earn higher salaries due to the demand for CI/CD skills. |
| 07 | Cloud Engineers have a limited understanding of the software lifecycle. | DevOps Engineers have a comprehensive understanding of the software lifecycle. |
| 08 | Agile methodology is partially followed. | DevOps Engineers diligently follow Agile methodology. |
| 09 | Cloud Engineers create cloud solutions and designs. | DevOps Engineers focus on finding automation solutions. |
Key Takeaways:
- Cloud Engineers specialize in creating, maintaining, and securing cloud infrastructure for businesses.
- DevOps Engineers focus on automating the software development lifecycle, from code writing to deployment.
- DevOps Engineers generally enjoy higher salaries and faster career growth due to the increasing demand for continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) skills.
- Cloud Engineers often work with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, while DevOps Engineers work with a variety of tools and platforms to ensure seamless software delivery.
Job Growth and Career Path
- Cloud Engineer Career Path: Cloud Engineers typically start by learning cloud technologies such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Career advancement opportunities include roles such as Cloud Architect or Cloud Security Engineer.
- DevOps Engineer Career Path: DevOps Engineers have a broader skill set, covering cloud platforms, automation tools, and programming. As organizations continue to adopt DevOps practices, career growth is abundant, with roles such as Automation Expert, Software Developer, or Security Engineer.
Salary Comparison: Cloud Engineer vs DevOps Engineer
The salary comparison between Cloud Engineers and DevOps Engineers varies depending on experience, location, and demand for skills in the market. However, in general, DevOps Engineers tend to have higher salaries due to the increasing demand for their specialized skills in automation, CI/CD pipelines, and cross-functional collaboration.
1. Cloud Engineer Salary
- Entry-Level: $60,000 - $85,000 per year
- Mid-Level: $85,000 - $115,000 per year
- Senior-Level: $115,000 - $145,000+ per year
2. DevOps Engineer Salary
- Entry-Level: $70,000 - $100,000 per year
- Mid-Level: $100,000 - $130,000 per year
- Senior-Level: $130,000 - $160,000+ per year
Common Tools Used by Cloud Engineers and DevOps Engineer
- Cloud Engineers use tools like AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Terraform for cloud management and deployment.
- DevOps Engineers work with Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible, and Chef to automate the software delivery process.
Conclusion
Both Cloud Engineers and DevOps Engineers play pivotal roles in modern IT infrastructure, but they focus on different aspects of software deployment and infrastructure management. While Cloud Engineers are experts in cloud-based solutions and infrastructure, DevOps Engineers focus on improving the speed and quality of software delivery through automation and continuous integration.
If you're looking for a role that focuses on cloud technology and platforms, then Cloud Engineering might be the right fit. However, if you're interested in automating development processes and creating efficient pipelines, DevOps Engineering could offer exciting opportunities for growth and career advancement.
Similar Reads
Difference between Software Engineer and DevOps Engineer
1. Software Engineer : A software engineer is an IT person who designs, develops, maintains, tests, and evaluates computer software/software products using the principles of software engineering. Software engineers follow Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) processes during the whole development,
4 min read
Difference Between Google Cloud Compute Engine and App Engine
Google Cloud Platform provides a wide range of computing services that target broad categories of user needs. The Google Cloud Platform provides mainly 6 types of compute options: -App EngineCompute EngineKubernetes EngineCloud FunctionsCloud RunVMware EngineNow let's talk about some of these servic
4 min read
Difference between Project Engineer and Control Engineer
The expertise and areas of focus between a project engineer and a control engineer are different. From the beginning to the end, a project engineer coordinates various technical aspects while managing and supervising engineering projects. A control engineer, on the other hand, focusses on the design
4 min read
Difference between Project Engineer and Design Engineer
While both project and design engineers play crucial roles in the engineering industry, their duties and responsibilities are different. A project engineer is responsible for managing and executing engineering projects, including managing budgets, schedules, and teamwork. On the other side, a Design
4 min read
Difference between Project Engineer and Civil Engineer
While the duties and responsibilities of a project engineer and a civil engineer may seem similar, they are very different. A project engineer is involved in the coordination, management, and execution of projects, making sure that every detail complies with the necessary standards, while a civil en
4 min read
Difference between Project Engineer and Construction Engineer
While they are both associated with engineering, the duties and areas of concentration between a project engineer and a construction engineer are different. A Project Engineer controls the overall planning, coordination, and implementation of a project while a construction engineer manages on-site a
4 min read
Difference between Software Engineering and Computer Engineering
Software engineering and Computer engineering are two distinct disciplines that focus on different aspects of computer systems. While both fields require a strong foundation in computer science and mathematics, software engineering is focused on software development processes, while computer enginee
6 min read
Difference between Project Engineer and Field Engineer
Project Engineer and a Field Engineer are important terms in construction and engineering projects. Yet, they differ in scope and concentration. Project engineer plans, coordinates, and manages the projects to ensure that they are finished on schedule and within budget whereas a field engineer works
4 min read
Difference between Project Engineer and Site Engineer
Despite the fact that have different duties, project and site engineers are frequently confused in the building sector. A site engineer makes sure that construction is carried out practically on the ground, whereas a project engineer concentrates on the overall project management, planning, and coor
4 min read
Difference between Computer Science Engineering and Computer Engineering
There is no clear cut computer science engineering and computer engineering definition because there are a variety of tasks and functions where similarity also exists and they perform their task depending upon their industry and work. 1. Computer Science Engineering : It includes the study of analys
3 min read