Cloud Computing Salary: Your 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

The job outlook for cloud computing professionals is promising, with salaries that are significantly higher than average.

• The average annual median total salary for a cloud computing professional in the United States is $138,000 [1].

• Gaining specialized expertise in a particular area of cloud computing, like big data or security, can significantly boost your earning potential.

• You can further enhance your career prospects by earning certifications in popular cloud platforms, like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.

Explore how having cloud skills can lead to a higher salary and discover ways to maximize your earnings potential in this growing field. Afterward, consider enrolling in IBM’s Information Technology (IT) and Cloud Fundamentals Specialization

What is cloud computing?

You're accessing services and applications over the internet when you use cloud computing. This means you can get the resources you need and when you need them without investing in hardware or software upfront. Cloud computing offers faster innovation and flexible resources. 

Plus, it can help you save money on your overall computing costs. With the diversity, utility, and complexity of cloud computing infrastructure and applications, many different roles are available in this growing industry.

What is the average cloud computing salary?

If you're looking to enter the cloud computing field, you may wonder about the average salary. Salaries can vary depending on experience and location, but the median total salary for a cloud computing professional in the US is $138,000 [1]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation. With the demand for cloud computing services expected to grow, now could be a great time to enter this exciting and fast-growing field.

Cloud computing salary by experience

Cloud computing salaries vary depending on experience and role. With experience comes the competence to participate in more complex and strategic elements of cloud infrastructure and development projects. You may also supervise or manage other team members as you increase your experience.

Is cloud computing a high-paying job?

Cloud computing salaries are typically well above the national average [2]. Entry-level positions in the US typically pay an average salary of $130,802 a year [3]. Some senior roles in the US can command a total salary of $260,000 per year [4].

Cloud computing salary by industry

The cloud computing industry is rapidly growing, and salaries are reflecting that trend. However, salaries vary widely by industry. For example, information technology (IT) professionals in the financial services industry earn more on average than those in the manufacturing sector.

The difference in salaries may partly be due to the different skill sets needed in each industry. For example, cloud computing professionals in the financial services industry need to handle large amounts of data and transactions quickly and securely, and in a highly compliance-driven framework. In the health care industry, you may find that the regulatory demands are less stringent, but you’ll still need to be able to ensure that patient data remains protected and confidential. The environment and demands of roles in cloud computing can vary. Different industries also make different levels of profit, and that can affect wages, too.

Cloud computing salary by location

The average base cloud computing job salary varies based on location within the US. Part of this salary variation relates to the local cost of living. The following offers some examples of the median annual salaries in different cities:

• New York, NY: $121,000 [5]

• San Francisco, CA: $150,000 [6]

• Seattle, WA: $139,000 [7]

• Atlanta, GA: $112,000 [8]

• Boston, MA: $121,000 [9]

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of October 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Variations in cloud computing job salaries

When it comes to cloud computing roles and salaries, there can be a lot of variation. As we’ve seen, your salary depends on the specific role you play within the cloud computing industry and the level of experience and expertise you bring to the table. Take a deeper look at the demands of different cloud computing roles and the average salaries they pay.

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of October 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Cloud engineer

Median total annual US salary (Glassdoor): $150,000 [10]

The average cloud engineer salary offers robust earning power. Your responsibilities will include designing, building, and maintaining business cloud services. You need to have a solid technical background and be able to work with various cloud technologies. 

Cloud architect

Median total annual US salary (Glassdoor): $198,000 [4]

As a cloud architect, you’ll be responsible for designing and implementing cloud solutions. Your focus will be on ensuring that the architecture is scalable and efficient. You need to have a good understanding of both business and technology to be successful in this role.

Cloud developer

Median total annual US salary (Glassdoor): $128,000 [11]

If you’re more interested in coding and developing applications, you might consider becoming a cloud developer. Your responsibilities would include creating applications that run on the cloud platform. To succeed in this role, you must have strong programming skills and experience with various development tools and frameworks. 

Cloud administrator

Median total annual US salary (Glassdoor): $118,000 [12]

Finally, if you’re interested in managing and administering clouds, you could become a cloud administrator. In this role, you’ll be responsible for keeping the clouds running smoothly and troubleshooting any issues that arise. You need good problem-solving skills and experience working with different types of clouds.

Which pays more, cloud or cybersecurity?

Both areas offer competitive wages. For comparison, a cloud specialist makes a median annual total salary of $126,000, while a cybersecurity specialist earns $148,000 [13,14]. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Tips for earning a higher salary in cloud computing

You can boost your cloud computing job salary in several ways. The more relevant and desirable your skill set, the more you are likely to be paid. Check out some tips to make your resume more marketable.

Keep your skills up to date.

The cloud computing landscape is constantly changing, so it’s essential to keep your skills up to date. Whether you’re a developer, system administrator, or network engineer, make sure you’re familiar with the latest tools, trends, and technologies.

Get certified.

If you want to stand out from the crowd, get certified in a popular cloud platform, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. Employers are often willing to pay premium salaries for candidates with cloud certifications.

Read more: Azure Certification Path: Levels, Qualifications, and More

Learn multiple languages.

Some of the most popular languages for cloud development are Java, Python, and JavaScript. However, learning multiple languages will make you more versatile and marketable. For example, if you know both Java and Python, you can develop more diverse applications for both the AWS and Google App Engine platforms.

Develop a specialty.

While generalists are in demand, specialists are always in high demand, and they command higher salaries. If you can develop expertise in a specific area of cloud computing, such as big data or security, you’ll be in a great position to earn more money.

Is cloud computing in demand?

The job outlook for cloud computing is bright. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that employment opportunities will grow faster than average from 2024 through 2034, with approximately 317,700 job openings yearly [15]. This growth is driven by trends such as the increasing use of cloud-based services by businesses and the growing demand for more efficient and effective ways to store, manage, and analyze data. 

Cloud computing offers many benefits that increase the adoption of cloud technology, including the ability to scale services up or down quickly and easily, pay only for what you use, and enjoy increased security and reliability.

Explore our free cloud computing career resources

Join Career Chat, Coursera’s LinkedIn newsletter, for weekly updates on in-demand skills, tools, and certifications in cloud computing. Check out these other helpful resources: 

• Watch on YouTube: Your Quick Guide to Cloud Computing

• Get expert tips: Reimagining Work and Learning with AI: Expert Insights from Dr. Jules White

• Hear from an insider: Meet the Software Engineer Looking to Be a More Competitive Job Candidate

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