Cloud Engineer: Job Description, Salary, and Required Skills
The cloud computing industry is booming as more businesses benefit from the advantages of cloud services. In 2019, the global cloud computing market was valued at $266 billion, according to Grand View Research, and this number is expected to increase by 59% with the rising trend of remote work due to COVID-19. As a result, cloud engineering has become one of the most in-demand tech jobs for both IT professionals looking to change careers and newcomers to the industry.
Cloud engineers play a significant role as more businesses move their operations, applications, and processes to public, private, and hybrid cloud infrastructures. Their primary responsibility is to assess an organization’s architecture and migrate various tasks to a cloud-based system. To do this, they need a mix of technical skills, business acumen, and expertise in at least one major cloud provider such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
The salary of a cloud engineer in India varies greatly depending on several factors, including location, job role, skillset, and experience. On average, a cloud engineer in India earns INR 925,000 per year. However, with the increasing need for cloud engineers and their specialized skills, this figure is expected to grow significantly.
To become a cloud engineer, you need to have a comprehensive understanding of cloud computing, virtualization, and networking, along with a strong background in programming and a deep knowledge of at least one major cloud provider. The job roles and responsibilities of a cloud engineer include designing and developing cloud-based solutions, creating and maintaining cloud-based infrastructure, and ensuring system security and availability.
Some of the top companies in India hiring cloud engineers include Amazon, Microsoft, Google, IBM, and Accenture. Cloud engineering is an attractive career option due to its good salary range and the ability to work remotely. Additionally, with more businesses moving to cloud-based systems, it is a career with promising job opportunities.
Who is a Cloud Engineer and What is Their Role?
Cloud computing has become a necessary technology for businesses in today’s world. With that being said, a Cloud Engineer is an IT expert responsible for all technical tasks related to cloud computing. This includes the design, planning, management, maintenance, and support of a company’s existing infrastructure. Furthermore, they investigate alternatives for moving various functions, such as database storage, to a cloud-based system.
To complete the migration successfully, Cloud Engineers must have technical skills and the ability to negotiate with vendors, maintain data security, and follow best practices. They work with IT teams to integrate current structures into cloud-based systems and report progress to upper management.
Cloud Engineer is a versatile term that encompasses many positions, involving architects for the cloud, cloud software engineers, cloud security engineers, cloud-based systems engineers, and cloud network engineers. Each position focuses on a unique aspect of cloud computing. Companies that want to deploy cloud services, scale up cloud resources, or improve knowledge and technology around the cloud commonly hire cloud engineers.
CLOUD ENGINEER SALARIES IN INDIA
According to a study conducted by Indeed in January 2020, the average annual salary for a Cloud Engineer in India is between 7.5-8 lakh rupees, based on 228 salaries provided in the past three years. Due to a high demand and low supply of cloud engineers, it is expected to increase significantly in the coming years.
If you want to know what you’re capable of earning, it’s recommended to check out the cloud engineer salaries in India by job title. You can find this information at sites like Payscale.
CLOUD ENGINEER SALARY DETERMINING FACTORS
As a Cloud Engineer, several factors influence your salary. Some of the key factors include years of experience in the field, level of education, specific cloud technologies and platforms you are proficient in, and the location of your employer.
// Example code for calculating average salary
// List of salaries of five cloud engineers
const salaries = [90000, 110000, 80000, 120000, 95000];
// Calculation of average salary
const totalSalary = salaries.reduce((acc, salary) => acc + salary, 0);
const averageSalary = totalSalary / salaries.length;
console.log(`The average salary for cloud engineers is $${averageSalary}.`);With this information in mind, it’s important to continually develop your skills and knowledge in cloud technologies to increase your earning potential in this growing field.
Cloud Engineer Salary Based on Experience
As a cloud engineer, your salary increases as you gain more experience. Working for a reputable company can lead to a higher pay raise. Here is a breakdown of average salaries based on experience:
- 0-3 years: $16,800
- 4-6 years: $23,600 – $25,700
Within four years, your salary can triple. However, it’s crucial to continue improving your skills and staying current with industry developments.
Cloud Engineer Salary by Location in India
Here are the average annual salaries for cloud engineers in the IT hubs of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu:
| Job Location(State) | Average Salary per Annum |
|---|---|
| Karnataka | ₹9,14687 |
| Maharashtra | ₹7,19,119 |
| Tamil Nadu | ₹4,27,000 |
Note that the compensation for cloud engineers may vary depending on the location and demand.
Popular Job Profiles in Cloud Computing
Cloud computing has various popular job profiles including Solutions Architect, SysOps Engineer, and DevOps Engineer. These titles are granted to cloud engineers with recognized certifications from cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, and GCP after passing exams that focus on certain aspects of cloud computing. Here are the average annual salaries of each of these cloud engineers:
| JOB ROLE | AVERAGE SALARY PER ANNUM |
|---|---|
| Solutions Architect | $87,000 |
| DevOps Engineer | $96,000 |
| SysOps Engineer | $112,000 |
Salary by Skillset:
SKILL | AVERAGE SALARY PER ANNUM
IT Security | $16,738
Cloud Computing | $12,155
Amazon Web Services | $12,186
Linux | $11,866
Microsoft Azure | $11,177
The salary of a cloud engineer is influenced by various factors, including their skillset. The table above lists the average annual salaries for common skills in this field.
Cloud Engineer: Job Role and Responsibilities
The demand for Cloud Engineers has increased rapidly due to the growth of Cloud Computing in recent years. As a Cloud Engineer, your job responsibilities may vary depending on the industry you serve. However, some of the common tasks you may perform include:
* Cloud Security Engineering
* Cloud System Management
* Cloud Development
* Cloud Solution Architecture
* Cloud Network Engineering
Cloud Engineering mainly encompasses three categories:
* Solution Architecture
* Cloud Development
* System Operations Engineering
In summary, a Cloud Engineer is responsible for managing, developing, and securing the Cloud Infrastructure while maintaining high availability of the services.
Software Architect
A software architect is responsible for designing and developing infrastructure and applications with technical expertise and experience. Their primary role is to create blueprints for application design, ensuring that the resulting applications are scalable, fault-tolerant, and maintainable on Cloud Platform. In addition, a software architect is responsible for selecting the appropriate cloud service and managing migration of complex multi-tier apps, deploying enterprise-wide scalable operations, and reducing costs.
CLOUD DEVELOPER
A cloud developer is responsible for coding, developing, deploying, and debugging cloud-based applications using high-level programming languages, APIs, command line interfaces, and SDKs. They must have knowledge of cloud architecture best practices and the key features of cloud service providers. Additionally, they should be able to manage the application lifecycle.
System Engineer Operations
A System Engineer Operations administers the application after its development process. They monitor and manage system operations and perform tasks such as systems administration, monitoring and auditing. They should have experience with virtualization technology, networking concepts like DNS, TCP/IP and firewalls, interpreting architectural specifications, deploying scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems, and managing data flow to and from a service provider.
Skills Required to Become a Cloud Engineer
To become a successful cloud engineer, you need to have certain skills. Here are some of them:
- Database Knowledge: Knowing a database querying language and platform such as MySQL and Hadoop can be beneficial.
- Programming: Knowledge of programming languages such as PHP, Java, .NET, Python, and Ruby is required.
- Linux: It’s important to know about Linux since many modern apps and websites run on it.
- Network Integration: Integration of your network with cloud services is critical. Knowledge of cloud networking and virtual networks along with making the process easy for end-users is essential.
- Cloud Service Providers: Understanding cloud service providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, OpenStack, and Google Cloud Platform is necessary.
- APIs and Web Services: Understanding open web services such as XML, SOAP, UDDI, and WSDI, and APIs is important for cloud architects.
- Information Security: Knowledge of cybersecurity and having a degree is essential since businesses are putting an emphasis on data and application security.
CLOUD ENGINEER SALARIES IN INDIA’S TOP COMPANIES
Salaries for cloud engineers in India vary depending on the company. Below are some of the top companies and their average annual salary for cloud engineers:
| Company | Average Salary per Annum |
|---|---|
| Nivio Technologies | ₹18,53,084 |
| HCL Technologies | ₹7,00,000 |
| Microsoft | ₹14,00,000 |
| Adobe | ₹7,60,000 |
| Microland | ₹13,45,871 |
Cloud Engineer Salaries in Different Countries
When considering cloud engineer salaries, it’s important to take regional differences into account. Here are the annual average salaries for cloud engineers in various locations.
LOCATION AVERAGE SALARY PER YEAR
New York, NY $139,440
Boston, MA $124,803
Chicago, IL $118,758
Atlanta, GA $113,709
Austin, TX $115,084
The above data represents salaries as per latest research.
Job Opportunities in Cloud Computing
Cloud computing presents numerous job opportunities for hopefuls. Those interested in this field can combine their analytics and visualization skills with cloud computing to further enhance their resume. As the demand for cloud engineers continues to grow, it is predicted that those pursuing careers in this field will have a bright future ahead. To improve your cloud expertise and add certification to your resume, consider enrolling in a cloud computing course.
Cloud Engineer Salary in India
As per a study by Indeed in January 2020, the average annual salary of a cloud engineer in India is Rs 7,51,756. The study analyzed 228 salaries submitted to Indeed over the last three years.
Does a Cloud Engineer Need Coding?
It’s clear that having coding skills can be beneficial in Cloud Computing. However, it’s important to note that Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform offer a variety of services that don’t necessarily require coding.
Is Cloud Engineering a Promising Career?
Cloud engineering is a rapidly growing field that offers both excitement and job satisfaction. With a high demand for cloud engineers, professionals in this field utilize skills such as system architecture, networking, machine learning, and much more in positions that combine DevOps, web security, disaster recovery, and containerization.
Is Cloud Technology the Future?
Cloud technology is a rapidly growing and cost-effective solution that offers businesses a scalable and efficient way to expand. With a promising future, cloud computing provides benefits for both providers and users.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A CLOUD ENGINEER?
Becoming a cloud engineer requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, along with three to five years of work experience. Some positions may require a master’s degree, and certain technologies require specific credentials. It is not an entry-level role.
Additional Resources
Explore these resources to learn more about Cloud Computing:
- Cloud Computing MCQ: Practice multiple-choice questions
here. - Cloud Computing Interview Questions: Find commonly asked interview questions
here. - Characteristics of Cloud Computing: Read about the essential characteristics of Cloud Computing
here. - Types of Cloud Computing: Learn about different types of Cloud Computing
here. - Cloud Computing Projects: Discover interesting Cloud Computing projects
here. - Applications of Cloud Computing: Explore the practical applications of Cloud Computing
here. - Virtualization in Cloud Computing: Read about how virtualization enables Cloud Computing
here.
