6 Careers You Can Have in Cloud Computing

If you’re looking for a tech job, having some cloud computing skills under your belt will help you stand out. In Skillsoft’s 2023 IT Skills & Salary Report, 82% of IT decision-makers said that their organization’s demand for cloud computing skills is increasing, and it’s the second most important investment focus behind AI and machine learning.  

Curious what types of careers you can have in cloud technology? Ahead we’ll break down some common jobs, their responsibilities, and the typical roadmap people follow. Keep in mind that lots of cloud careers require additional certifications that prove you’ve mastered concepts for certain cloud providers.  

If you’re not sure if you want to pursue cloud certifications, check out our new video-based cloud courses. These courses are free and beginner-friendly, so whether you’re actively working towards a cloud career or just want to round out your skills as a developer, you can build foundational knowledge. 

Cloud Administrator  

A Cloud Administrator is responsible for establishing and overseeing the cloud services utilized by a business. They’re kind of like a cloud super user who provides guidance and assistance to other teams that are working with cloud services. This role is less technical than a Cloud Developer, but Cloud Administrator Associate is a great entry-level job title to look for if you want to work in cloud computing.  

Cloud Administrators primarily concentrate on configuring and maintaining the cloud services, so they might have basic programming skills and experience with auditing and monitoring. The specific services and technologies that Cloud Administrators use are contingent upon the company’s requirements and preferences. The average salary of someone who’s a Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, which is the most popular cloud certification worldwide, is $74,146, according to the IT Skills & Salary report.

Computer Systems Analyst 

Computer Systems Analysts (aka Systems Architects) evaluate an organization’s existing computer systems and procedures and suggest solutions that improve operational efficiency. Often this involves researching cloud systems and weighing the costs and benefits of adopting them.  

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for Computer Systems Analysts was $103,800 in May 2023.  

Computer and Information Systems Manager 

Computer and Information Systems Managers is a broad job title for cloud professionals who coordinate and oversee computer-related activities within organizations. This could include IT tasks like analyzing computing needs and recommend upgrades, as well as project management skills like planning and supervising system installations and maintenance. The median salary for a Computer and Information Systems Manager is $169,510 per year, according to the BLS.  

Cloud Developer 

A Cloud Developer (or Cloud Engineer) leverages cloud-based technologies to achieve specific business objectives. They develop functionalities by integrating various cloud services into applications. For example, a Cloud Developer might use a cloud-provided API to retrieve data from a database or implement auto-scaling configurations using cloud services. Typically, Cloud Developers are proficient in programming languages like Python and Go. A Cloud Developer salary can vary depending on the certifications someone holds, but the average annual salary of a Cloud Engineer is $96,655, according to the 2023 Skillsoft IT Skills and Salary report.   

Cloud Security Engineer 

Cloud professionals often specialize in certain aspects of the cloud. Cloud Security Engineers (or SecOps Engineers) are dedicated to safeguarding an organization’s cloud infrastructure against various types of misuse, spanning from inadvertent errors to deliberate malicious actions by external entities. They also regulate access to cloud services and manage access roles across teams.  

You need an extensive understanding of networking principles, data confidentiality measures, and industry-standard security protocols to become a Cloud Security Engineer. Check out our interview with Codecademy’s Senior Cloud Security Engineer to learn more about their day-to-day responsibilities. 

Cloud Architect 

Cloud Architects handle an organization’s overall cloud infrastructure and technical strategy. People in this mid- to senior-level role are in charge of making high-level decisions about which cloud services to use and how to connect them. The average annual salary for a Cloud Architect is $135,881, according to data from the most recent Skillsoft IT Skills and Salary report. Being an effective Cloud Architect requires soft skills like leadership, communication, and collaboration.  

Cloud Architects typically have many different cloud certifications as well as solid technical experience with primary operating systems, programming languages, networking technologies, and security principles.  

Anyone who’s interested in having a cloud career should understand cloud offerings and services. If you’re a beginner, you should have a grasp on the five core cloud services: compute, storage, databases, networking, and machine learning/AI. From there you can decide what part of cloud computing you’d like to specialize in or work towards one of these specific careers. 

Ready to get started? Head to our course catalog to take our new video-based cloud courses. There are over 60 courses that cover key cloud providers like Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, CompTIA Cloud Essentials+, and more.  

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