Cloud Engineer: Career Overview

Official government data · Updated April 2026

Cloud Engineers earn a national median of $133,080/yr with 15.8% projected employment growth over 2024–2034. The role draws on expertise in Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service.

Median Salary

$133,080

National · 2024

10-Year Growth

15.8%

Much faster than average

Employed Nationally

1,654,440

2024 data

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Entry-level

What Employers Expect From a Cloud Engineer

These are the competencies recruiters screen for in Cloud Engineer candidates, ranked by importance. Your resume should demonstrate each one:

1 Programming 2 Critical Thinking 3 Judgment and Decision Making 4 Reading Comprehension 5 Active Learning 6 Systems Analysis 7 Active Listening 8 Complex Problem Solving 9 Technology Design 10 Systems Evaluation

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge domains most important for Cloud Engineer performance, based on verified occupational data.

Computers and Electronics Mathematics Customer and Personal Service English Language Education and Training

Tools & Technologies

High-demand tools and technologies for Cloud Engineer roles.

Amazon Web Services AWS software Apache Kafka Atlassian JIRA C C# C++ Cascading style sheets CSS Docker Git GitHub

Job Outlook: 2024–2034

Employment is projected to grow 15.8% for Cloud Engineer roles over the 2024–2034 decade. That's much faster than average compared to the 4% average across all occupations.

Current Employment
1,654,440
Projected Growth
15.8%
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Cloud Engineer do?
Cloud Engineers apply expertise in Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service to perform their core responsibilities. Key competencies include Programming, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension.
How much does a Cloud Engineer make?
The national median salary for a Cloud Engineer is $133,080 per year based on official government wage survey data. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
Is Cloud Engineer a good career in 2026?
Employment for Cloud Engineer roles is projected to grow 15.8% over the 2024–2034 decade — much faster than average compared to all occupations. There are currently 1,654,440 workers in this occupation nationally.
What education do you need to become a Cloud Engineer?
The typical entry-level education for a Cloud Engineer is Bachelor's degree. Requirements vary by employer and specialization.
What skills do Cloud Engineers need?
The most important skills for Cloud Engineer roles based on verified occupational data: Programming, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Systems Analysis, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Technology Design, Systems Evaluation. Key tools and technologies include: Amazon Web Services AWS software, Apache Kafka, Atlassian JIRA, C, C#.

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Salary, employment, and skills figures sourced from official U.S. government records and occupational databases. Actual compensation and requirements vary by location, experience, and employer. Salary and employment figures from official U.S. government records. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.