Data Engineer vs DevOps Engineer salary
In South Africa, a devops engineer earns about 1% more than a data engineer — $54,609 vs $53,936 per year.
Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is ZAR). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies
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Technology
DevOps Engineer$54,609/yr
- Monthly
- $4,550
- Hourly
- $26
- Range
- $34,948–$78,635
- 10-yr outlook
- +21%
Pay range, side by side
| Percentile | Data Engineer | DevOps Engineer |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (10th) | $34,520 | $34,948 |
| 25th | $44,225 | $44,781 |
| Median | $53,936 | $54,609 |
| 75th | $65,799 | $66,625 |
| Senior (90th) | $77,669 | $78,635 |
National South Africa figures in ZAR. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.
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Frequently asked questions
- Does a data engineer or devops engineer earn more in South Africa?
- A devops engineer earns more, at about R 893 000 per year vs R 882 000 for a data engineer — roughly 1% (R 11 000) more.
- What is the salary range for these roles in South Africa?
- A data engineer typically earns R 564 500–R 1 270 100, while a devops engineer earns R 571 500–R 1 285 900 per year.
- How much do these jobs pay per month in South Africa?
- On a monthly basis before tax, a data engineer averages about R 73 500 and a devops engineer about R 74 400.
- How do entry-level salaries compare?
- At the 10th percentile in South Africa, a data engineer earns about R 564 500 while a devops engineer earns about R 571 500 per year.
- How do senior-level salaries compare?
- At the 90th percentile in South Africa, a data engineer earns about R 1 270 100 while a devops engineer earns about R 1 285 900 per year.
- Are data engineer and devops engineer similar careers?
- Both roles sit in the Technology category on Pay by Role, which is why we compare them head-to-head. Day-to-day work still differs — review each job page for skills and outlook.