DevOps Engineer Salary Guide 2025

Malaysia vs USA vs Singapore vs Hong Kong vs Australia

DevOps Engineers have become the backbone of modern, cloud-driven organizations. Their ability to streamline software delivery, automate infrastructure, and maintain system reliability makes them indispensable across industries: from fintech and SaaS to healthcare and logistics. As global companies continue to scale their engineering capabilities, understanding DevOps salary benchmarks across key markets is crucial for making informed hiring and payroll decisions.

The demand for skilled DevOps professionals remains strong worldwide, but compensation levels vary widely between regions. Countries like the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia continue to offer premium salaries, while Malaysia is rapidly emerging as a cost-effective, high-quality hub for DevOps outsourcing, offering significant payroll savings without compromising on technical excellence or productivity.

In this article, we’ll explore how DevOps Engineer salaries compare across Malaysia, the USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia. We’ll also analyze the factors influencing these differences, such as cost of living, industry demand, and skill specialization, and discuss why Malaysia has become a strategic destination for building scalable, compliant, and cost-efficient DevOps teams.

DevOps Engineer Salary Breakdown by Country (2025)

Malaysia

Malaysia’s DevOps talent pool is expanding rapidly, fueled by cloud adoption and digital transformation. Skills in Kubernetes, Terraform, Jenkins, and AWS are highly sought after.

Market Insight: Malaysia offers affordable DevOps talent with strong cloud and automation skills, ideal for scaling global teams.

Also Read: Top Professional SEO Services in the US

United States

The U.S. remains the highest-paying market, especially in tech hubs like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York.

Market Insight: High salaries are offset by steep living costs. Many firms retain strategic roles locally and outsource execution to offshore teams.

Singapore

Singapore’s smart nation initiatives and fintech boom drive demand for DevOps Engineers.

Market Insight: Engineers with cloud certifications and CI/CD expertise command premium packages.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s finance sector increasingly relies on DevOps for secure, scalable infrastructure.

Market Insight: Salaries are moderate but offer exposure to high-compliance environments.

Australia

Australia offers strong pay and work-life balance, especially in Sydney and Melbourne.

Market Insight: Engineers with multi-cloud and infrastructure-as-code skills are in high demand.

Also Read: How to Successfully Outsource Data Engineering 

Comparing DevOps Engineer Salaries Across Countries

Malaysia: High ROI Talent

DevOps Engineers in Malaysia earn between USD 21,000 and 38,000 annually, significantly lower than their counterparts in Western markets. But this affordability doesn’t come at the expense of quality. Malaysia offers a deep pool of English-speaking professionals trained in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform. For global employers, this creates an ideal mix of cost savings, up to 65% compared to the U.S., and technical capability. Many companies choose Malaysia to build scalable DevOps teams without inflating payroll budgets.

United States: Top Salaries with High Costs

In the U.S., DevOps Engineers remain among the highest-paid globally, with senior professionals earning USD 150,000–160,000+ per year. Compensation often includes stock options, bonuses, and other benefits. However, these high salaries are offset by steep living costs in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle. For employers, scaling DevOps teams locally can be cost-prohibitive. As a result, many U.S. companies retain strategic roles in-house while outsourcing infrastructure automation and monitoring to offshore teams in Malaysia to maintain velocity and reduce costs.

Singapore: Regional Tech Hub with Competitive Pay

Singapore offers USD 66,000–125,000 annually for DevOps Engineers, making it one of Asia’s most competitive markets. The city-state’s push toward digital transformation and smart nation initiatives has created strong demand for cloud-native infrastructure and CI/CD expertise. While salaries are attractive, they can be challenging for companies building larger teams. A smart strategy is to base senior leadership in Singapore while scaling execution teams in Malaysia, where payroll costs are lower but technical skills remain world-class.

Hong Kong: Growing Demand in Finance

DevOps Engineers in Hong Kong earn USD 41,000–64,000 per year, a moderate level compared to Singapore or the U.S. However, demand is rising due to the city’s finance-driven economy and increasing reliance on secure, automated infrastructure. Engineers here gain valuable experience in compliance-heavy environments, which is a plus for global employers. Many companies use Hong Kong as a specialist hub for financial DevOps operations, while building larger-scale teams offshore in Malaysia for cost efficiency and round-the-clock support.

Australia: Balanced Pay and Lifestyle

In Australia, DevOps Engineers earn USD 76,000–110,000+ annually, with strong demand in government projects, enterprise cloud platforms, and infrastructure modernization. Salaries are attractive, and the country offers a balanced work culture, making it a popular destination for senior roles. However, higher payroll costs mean many companies adopt a hybrid model, keeping strategic oversight in Australia while outsourcing execution to Malaysian teams. This approach allows organizations to maintain control while optimizing payroll and delivery speed.

Why These Salaries Differ

DevOps salaries vary widely across regions, and it’s not just about technical skills. Factors like cost of living, industry demand, specialization, and remote work trends all shape compensation. Let’s break down the key drivers.

1. Cost of Living

Countries like the U.S., Singapore, and Australia offer high salaries—but they also come with steep living costs. In contrast, Malaysia’s lower cost of living allows engineers to enjoy strong purchasing power even at modest salary levels.

Example:
A senior DevOps Engineer in Sydney may earn USD 108,000 annually, but with rent and expenses exceeding USD 3,000/month, much of that income is absorbed. Meanwhile, a mid-level engineer in Kuala Lumpur earning USD 32,000 annually enjoys comparable lifestyle benefits thanks to lower housing and healthcare costs.

Tip for Employers:
Use location-adjusted salary frameworks to stay competitive while managing payroll budgets effectively.

2. Industry Demand

DevOps Engineers are critical in industries that rely on uptime, automation, and scalable infrastructure.

• SaaS & Tech: Continuous deployment and cloud-native architecture drive demand for DevOps expertise.
• Finance: Secure CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code are essential for compliance-heavy environments.
• Healthcare: DevOps supports HIPAA-compliant systems and secure patient data workflows.

Example:
A DevOps Engineer at a fintech firm in Singapore may earn USD 120,000 due to the complexity of secure deployment pipelines, while a peer in logistics earns closer to USD 85,000.

Tip for Employers:
Prioritize domain-specific experience when hiring for regulated or high-availability industries.

3. Skill Specialization

DevOps salaries are closely tied to technical depth. Engineers with advanced skills in cloud platforms, container orchestration, and automation tools often earn 25–35% more than those with basic scripting and deployment experience.

High-value skills include:

• Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, GCP
• Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes
• Infrastructure-as-Code: Terraform, Pulumi
• CI/CD Tools: Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI
• Monitoring & Logging: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack

Example:
A DevOps Engineer in Penang with Kubernetes and Terraform expertise may earn MYR 160,000 (USD 34,000), while a peer focused on basic Bash scripting earns closer to MYR 110,000 (USD 23,000).

Tip for Employers:
Use skill-based compensation models to attract and retain top-tier talent while encouraging upskilling.

Also Read: Data Engineering Salary Guide 2025

4. Remote Work & Global Hiring

Remote-first hiring has reshaped DevOps recruitment. Employers now focus on deliverables and uptime, not just location. This shift positions Malaysia as a prime destination for offshore DevOps teams.

Global Trends:

• Hybrid Teams: Strategic roles remain in high-cost markets; execution is outsourced to Malaysia.
• Offshore Hiring: Companies save 60–65% on payroll by hiring in Malaysia without sacrificing quality.

Example:
A U.K.-based SaaS company hired three DevOps Engineers in Kuala Lumpur for the cost of one London-based hire. This enabled 24/7 infrastructure monitoring and reduced payroll costs by 63%.

Tip for Employers:
Partner with an Employer of Record (EOR) to hire globally without navigating complex labor laws.

Why Outsource DevOps Roles to Malaysia?

Outsourcing DevOps engineers to Malaysia offers a rare blend of affordability, technical depth, and operational ease. With strong government support for digital transformation and a growing pool of cloud-certified engineers, Malaysia is a strategic choice for global hiring.

Strategic Advantages of Outsourcing to Malaysia

1. Lower Payroll Costs Without Sacrificing Skills

Hiring a DevOps Engineer in Malaysia can cost 60–65% less than in the U.S. or Australia, while maintaining high technical standards.

Example:
A U.S.-based e-commerce firm hired four mid-level engineers in Penang for the price of two U.S. hires, saving millions annually while maintaining deployment velocity.

2. Skilled Engineers Trained in Cloud & Automation

Malaysia produces thousands of STEM graduates annually, many certified in AWS, Azure, and GCP. DevOps engineers are well-versed in CI/CD, containerization, and infrastructure-as-code.

Example:
A Singaporean logistics company outsourced infrastructure automation to a Malaysian team with Terraform and Kubernetes expertise, accelerating deployment cycles without additional training.

3. Time Zone Overlap with APAC & Partial Europe

Malaysia’s GMT+8 time zone enables real-time collaboration across Asia-Pacific and partial overlap with Europe, ensuring faster issue resolution and smoother workflows.

Example:
A German SaaS firm set up a DevOps support team in Kuala Lumpur. With overlapping hours, they resolved deployment issues overnight and delivered updates by the next European business day.

Also Read: Hiring Data Engineer in Malaysia

4. Strong English Proficiency and Global Collaboration

Malaysian engineers are fluent in English and experienced in working with global clients via Slack, Jira, GitHub, and Zoom, ensuring seamless onboarding and communication.

Example:
A Hong Kong-based bank outsourced DevOps tasks to Malaysian engineers. Their fluency and prior experience with global finance clients enabled smooth integration into cross-border teams.

5. Simplified Payroll & Compliance with EOR

Hiring in Malaysia is straightforward with an Employer of Record (EOR), which handles contracts, payroll, and statutory contributions like EPF, SOCSO, and EIS.

Example:
A Canadian SaaS company used FastLaneRecruit’s EOR service to hire three senior engineers in Malaysia. Payroll and compliance were fully managed locally, eliminating the need for a subsidiary.

Use Case: Scaling DevOps Teams Cost-Effectively

A U.K.-based SaaS company needed to expand its DevOps capacity to support a major cloud migration. Instead of hiring locally, they partnered with FastLaneRecruit to build a five-person DevOps team in Malaysia.

• Outcome 1: Payroll costs reduced by 63% compared to hiring in London
• Outcome 2: Compliance fully managed through EPF, SOCSO, and tax filings
• Outcome 3: Cloud migration completed ahead of schedule with 24/7 support

This hybrid model enabled rapid scaling, full compliance, and high-quality delivery, all while optimizing payroll budgets.

How to Hire DevOps Engineers in Malaysia

Hiring DevOps Engineers in Malaysia is simple once you understand the local talent market, salary benchmarks, and compliance requirements. Whether you’re building a remote-first team or expanding regional operations, a structured approach ensures success.

Also Read: Data Engineer Hiring Guide

1. Define Role Requirements

Start by clearly outlining the role to attract the right candidates and avoid mismatches.

Key considerations:

• Seniority Level
  
  • Entry-level (0–2 years): Ideal for basic scripting, monitoring, and deployment support
  • Mid-level (3–5 years): Suitable for CI/CD pipeline management, cloud integration, and automation
  • Senior (6+ years): Best for infrastructure design, security, and mentoring junior engineers
• Tech Stack
  
  • Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform
  • Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI
  • AWS, Azure, GCP
  • Monitoring tools like Prometheus, Grafana
• Business Objectives
  
  • Automating deployments for a SaaS platform
  • Ensuring uptime for a financial institution
  • Migrating infrastructure to cloud-native architecture

Example:
A Singaporean fintech firm hired two mid-level engineers in Malaysia to automate secure CI/CD pipelines. Clear role definition reduced onboarding time and improved delivery speed.

2. Choose a Hiring Model

Malaysia offers flexible hiring models depending on your setup and goals.

3. Set Competitive Salary Benchmarks

DevOps salaries in Malaysia vary by location, seniority, and specialization. Engineers in Kuala Lumpur and Penang often command higher pay due to demand from multinationals and startups.

Tips:

• Benchmark against local hubs: Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru
• Adjust compensation for in-demand skills like Kubernetes or AWS certifications
• Offer training stipends or performance bonuses to attract top talent

Example:
A U.S.-based healthcare company offered upper mid-level salaries and AWS certification support.

4. Ensure Payroll Compliance

Malaysia has clear labor and tax regulations that employers must follow when hiring full-time engineers. Ensuring compliance from day one helps avoid fines, misclassification risks, and employee dissatisfaction.

Key statutory requirements:

• EPF (Employees Provident Fund): Mandatory retirement savings contributions
• SOCSO (Social Security): Coverage for workplace injury and disability
• EIS (Employment Insurance System): Protection against job loss
• PCB (Potongan Cukai Bulanan): Monthly income tax deductions

How FastLaneRecruit helps:

• Automates payroll and statutory contributions
• Provides monthly reports and audit-ready documentation
• Keeps you updated on labor law changes and compliance risks

Example:
A Canadian AI company hired DevOps Engineers in Malaysia through FastLaneRecruit. Payroll automation and statutory filings were handled from day one, ensuring smooth onboarding and full compliance.

FastLaneRecruit’s EOR Solution

For companies without a Malaysian entity, FastLaneRecruit’s EOR service offers a fast, compliant way to hire DevOps Engineers.

What FastLaneRecruit covers:

• Compliant employment contracts
• Monthly payroll with EPF, SOCSO, EIS
• Income tax (PCB) deductions and filings
• Compliance with Malaysian labor laws
• Onboarding and local HR support

Benefits:

• Hire in days, not months
• Full compliance with zero misclassification risk
• Transparent payroll reporting
• Seamless integration with global HR systems

Example:
A Singapore-based SaaS company used FastLaneRecruit’s EOR to hire three engineers in Penang. Within two weeks, contracts were signed, payroll was active, and the team was fully operational, without registering a Malaysian subsidiary.

Also Read: Why Should You Hire Data Engineers in Malaysia?

Conclusion

As digital transformation accelerates across every industry, DevOps Engineers remain at the heart of innovation and reliability. Their expertise in automation, cloud infrastructure, and continuous deployment makes them vital for organizations aiming to scale efficiently in 2025 and beyond.

While global markets like the U.S., Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia continue to offer high compensation, the Malaysian market presents a compelling balance between affordability and capability. With a growing pool of cloud-certified engineers, strong English proficiency, and government-backed digital initiatives, Malaysia offers businesses the unique advantage of reducing payroll costs by up to 65% while maintaining world-class engineering standards.

For companies seeking to scale DevOps operations globally without the complexity of local compliance, Malaysia stands out as a strategic choice. By partnering with FastLaneRecruit, employers can seamlessly hire skilled DevOps Engineers through a compliant Employer of Record (EOR) model, ensuring faster onboarding, transparent payroll, and full statutory compliance. In short, Malaysia isn’t just a cost-saving alternative; it’s a long-term investment in technical excellence, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth for global teams.

Ready to Build a Smarter DevOps Team?

Hiring DevOps Engineers doesn’t have to be slow, expensive, or complicated. With Malaysia’s growing pool of cloud-savvy, English-speaking engineers, global companies can expand their infrastructure capabilities while keeping payroll lean and compliant.

By partnering with FastLaneRecruit, you gain:

• Access to skilled Malaysian engineers trained in Kubernetes, Terraform, Jenkins, AWS, and GCP
• Payroll savings of up to 65% compared to hiring in the U.S. or Europe
• Seamless compliance with EPF, SOCSO, EIS, and PCB fully managed
• Faster hiring timelines, your team can be operational in days, not months
• Transparent payroll reporting that integrates with global HR systems

Whether you’re a startup scaling fast, an enterprise optimizing infrastructure costs, or a tech firm expanding into APAC, FastLaneRecruit makes offshore DevOps hiring simple, compliant, and scalable.

Let’s build a future-ready DevOps function: efficient, global, and built to last. Reach out to FastLaneRecruit today and start building your offshore DevOps team with confidence.