DevOps Vs Developer Salary In India – A Complete Guide For 2025
In the current rapid technology era, the need for high-skill professionals is higher than ever. Two of the most desired professions are DevOps Engineers and Software Developers. Although both of these positions play key roles in software development lifecycles, their salaries, abilities, and career prospects vary widely—particularly in India. With digitalization thriving and businesses gravitating toward automation and cloud-native technologies, DevOps and development professionals are transforming in remarkable ways.
If you are eyeing a career in IT or changing jobs, knowing the salary movement, demanded skills, and career growth opportunities in DevOps compared to Developer roles in India will enable you to make a well-informed choice.
Key Takeaways: DevOps Vs Developer Salary In India (2025)
High Demand: Both DevOps Engineers and Developers are in high demand among Indian IT firms, startups, and MNCs.
Salary Growth: DevOps roles typically offer 15–25% higher salaries than traditional development roles at mid to senior levels.
Skill Focus: DevOps demands a mix of development, operations, automation, and cloud skills, while developers primarily focus on coding and building software applications.
Location Impact: Major tech cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai offer higher packages due to demand and living costs.
Career Shift: Developers are shifting to DevOps because of better compensation and future-readiness.
Hiring Top Industries: FinTech, EdTech, E-Commerce, HealthTech, SaaS, and Cloud Services.
Salary Comparison: DevOps vs Developer in India
Let’s divide the salary range based on experience, city, and skill set.
Beginner (0–2 Years Experience)
DevOps Engineer: ₹5 LPA – ₹7 LPA
Software Developer: ₹3.5 LPA – ₹6 LPA
Mid-Level (2–5 Years Experience)
DevOps Engineer: ₹8 LPA – ₹14 LPA
Software Developer: ₹6 LPA – ₹12 LPA
Senior-Level (5–10+ Years Experience)
DevOps Engineer: ₹15 LPA – ₹30+ LPA
Software Developer: ₹12 LPA – ₹25 LPA
DevOps engineers generally get more pay because they are skilled in infrastructure automation, CI/CD, cloud, and system reliability.
Trending Job Roles & Titles
DevOps Field
- DevOps Engineer
- Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)
- Infrastructure Automation Engineer
- Cloud DevOps Expert
- CI/CD Engineer
- Platform Engineer
Developer Field
- Software Developer
- Front-End Developer
- Back-End Developer
- Full-Stack Developer
- Application Developer
- Java/.NET/Python Developer
Why DevOps Is More Paying Than Development?
1. Multi-Skill Requirement
DevOps positions require skill in:
- Linux/Unix Systems
- Scripting Languages (Bash, Python)
- CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitLab)
- Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Monitoring & Logging (Prometheus, ELK)
While developers are more concerned about writing clean and efficient code, DevOps engineers must comprehend both development and operations. Such cross-functional skills deserve the premium pay.
2. Automation & Cloud Integration
Companies are spending big on cloud and automation. DevOps engineers optimize release cycles, enhance deployment effectiveness, and maintain scalable infrastructure—drivers of business agility and cost-effectiveness.
3. A Bedrock for Business Continuity
DevOps maintains system availability, continuous delivery, and infrastructure as code, hence becomes vital for business uptime and quicker go-to-market.
Highest Cities Paying Big Bucks for DevOps and Developers in India
City Avg DevOps Salary (₹ LPA) Avg Developer Salary (₹ LPA)
- Bangalore 10 – 28 7 – 20
- Hyderabad 9 – 26 6.5 – 18
- Pune 8.5 – 24 6 – 17
- Chennai 8 – 22 6 – 15
- Gurgaon 9 – 25 7 – 18
- Noida 8 – 23 6.5 – 16
Skillsets in Demand (2025 Trends)
DevOps Engineers
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC) – Terraform, CloudFormation
- CI/CD Pipeline Tools – Jenkins, GitHub Actions
- Containers – Docker, Kubernetes
- Monitoring – Grafana, Prometheus
- Configuration – Ansible, Chef, Puppet
- Cloud – AWS, Azure, GCP
- GitOps & DevSecOps concepts
Developers
- Programming – Python, Java, JavaScript, Go, C#
- Frameworks – React, Angular, Django, Spring Boot
- Databases – MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL
- APIs – REST, GraphQL
- Version Control – Git, GitHub
- Testing – JUnit, Selenium, Jest
Career Path Comparison: DevOps vs Developer
Feature DevOps Developer
- Primary Role Infrastructure Automation & CI/CD Application Design & Coding
- Skills Needed Scripting, Cloud, Tools, Linux Programming, Algorithms, Databases
- Career Growth High – Cloud + Automation Focus High – Tech-Driven Innovations
- Switching Potential Developer → DevOps Possible Vice Versa Less Common
- Remote Work High High
- Future Scope Excellent (Cloud-Native Future) Excellent (AI, ML, Web, App Dev)
Pros & Cons: DevOps Career in India
✅ Pros:
- High Salary Packages
- In-demand in all industries
- Cloud & Automation based career
- Fast track promotions
- Remote work options available
❌ Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Needs constant upskilling
- Stressful during outages or incidents
Pros & Cons: Developer Career in India
✅ Pros:
- Strong basis in programming
- Several specialization possibilities
- Easy entry point for starters
- Community support and resources
❌ Cons:
- Slower growth in salary as compared to DevOps
- Less scope without full-stack or system design skills
- Repetitive work in certain companies
Who Should Opt for DevOps?
If you:
- Like working on infrastructure & automation
- Are okay with scripting and debugging
- Are interested in cloud technologies
- Like dynamic and cross-functional settings
→ Then DevOps is for you.
Who Should Opt for Developer Career?
If you:
- Adore creating user-focused applications
- Are good at logic, algorithms, and design
- Like to concentrate on clean code and product features
→ Then Developer role is best for you.
Conclusion: Which Is Better – DevOps Or Developer Salary in India?
There is no single solution. If your first preference is salary, then DevOps generally has a more advantageous pay rate, particularly for individuals with cloud and automation backgrounds. Yet, developers are the backbone of software innovation, and with proper specialization (for instance, AI, full-stack, or blockchain), their compensations can be huge as well.
In short:
- Freshers may begin as developers and then move to DevOps.
- For quicker salary increments and cloud-native job roles, DevOps is a great fit.
- Both the jobs are in demand and provide great opportunities in India’s thriving tech sector.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the average DevOps Engineer salary in India in 2025?
DevOps Engineers take home between ₹6 LPA to ₹30 LPA based on experience, skill, and location.
2. Do DevOps engineers get higher pay than software developers?
Yes, DevOps engineers tend to get 15–25% more on average because of their cross-functional capabilities and cloud knowledge.
3. Can any software developer turn into a DevOps engineer?
Yes. Most developers make the shift to DevOps after acquiring CI/CD, automation tools, and cloud platforms skills.
4. Which one has better job prospects in India – DevOps or Development?
Both have enormous opportunities. DevOps is expanding exponentially because of digital transformation and cloud migration.
5. Is it easier to learn DevOps or Development?
Development is simpler to begin with, but DevOps provides greater long-term benefits if you commit yourself to continuous learning.