Best 6 Entry-Level Cloud Computing in 2024

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Are you considering a career in cloud computing? If so, this might be the ideal time to jump in and make an impact in this ever-evolving field.

The need for skilled cloud professionals is soaring as more businesses move their operations to the cloud to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance scalability — so there are many job opportunities for those who want to enter the industry.

Embarking on a career in cloud computing offers the chance to transition to more advanced roles, and it’s a great choice for a lucrative career in the technology industry.

To help you on your way to a career in cloud computing, we’ve rounded up some of the best entry-level cloud computing jobs.

After reading our list, you may enjoy reading our Top 10 Cloud Security Certifications for 2024.

Key Takeaways

  • The demand for skilled cloud professionals is skyrocketing as more businesses move their operations to the cloud.
  • The increasing need for cloud solutions has led to a significant demand for cloud experts who have the skills to design, create, and maintain these solutions.
  • Choosing a career in the cloud industry means embarking on a continuous learning journey that will be highly valued for many years to come.
  • A job in cloud computing can offer a dynamic, rewarding, and well-paying career path with plenty of opportunities for growth.

Typical U.S. Salaries for Cloud Computing Jobs

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Job Title Average Salary Average Low-High Range
Cloud Technician $60,582 $54,000-$72,000
Cloud Administrator $116,344 $87,527 – $145,161
Cloud Engineer $124,335 $81,461-$187,471
Cloud Developer $149,057 $112,113-$186,000
Cloud Support Engineer $120,000 $49,000-$190,000
Cloud DevOps Engineer $140,071 $105,141-$175,000

6 Best Entry-Level Cloud Computing in 2024

6. Cloud Technician

The main responsibility of cloud technicians is to manage and maintain infrastructure and services in the cloud. This entails such tasks as setting up and configuring cloud-based storage resources, networking modules, and virtual machines.

Cloud technicians are also responsible for guaranteeing the reliability, efficiency, and safety of the cloud systems, including monitoring and resolving any issues that may come up. They also work with other teams across the business to install applications and services, enhance the efficiency of cloud resources, and establish strategies for backing up and recovering from disasters.

Ultimately, cloud technicians are essential in ensuring the effective and secure operations of their organizations’ cloud infrastructures as well as enabling those companies to take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing.

There are numerous opportunities for cloud technicians to advance in their careers. As cloud technicians gain knowledge, skills, and experience, they can move into more senior positions, including cloud architect and cloud consultant roles, and take on greater responsibilities.

The average annual salary for a cloud technician in the U.S. is $60,582, according to Glassdoor, with a low of $54,000 and a high of $72,000.

Cloud Technician Requirements

  • Although you might not need a college degree to become a cloud technician, many employers prefer candidates with bachelor’s degrees in computer science, information technology, or a related field.
  • Learn about cloud technologies, such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud Platform.
  • Understand networking, security, virtualization, and storage for cloud computing.

Earning a certification, such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals or AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, will help you stand out to employers during your job search.

5. Cloud Administrator

Cloud administrators are responsible for managing cloud computing services within their organizations. Their main responsibilities include migrating on-premises infrastructure to the cloud, customizing cloud environments to meet their companies’ requirements, and designing systems to manage data efficiently. They work alongside other cloud professionals, such as cloud engineers and architects, to ensure that cloud-based networks continue to function well.

Additionally, cloud administrators may also have maintenance duties, such as addressing trouble tickets and alerts, creating solutions for any problems that arise, and implementing cloud-native and serverless development approaches for new applications. There are cloud administrator positions available in a number of industries, including healthcare, sales and marketing, finance, and technology.

The employment prospects for network and computer systems administrators, which include cloud administrators, appear favorable. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is projected to grow 2% from 2022 to 2032, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations.

The average salary for a cloud administrator in the US is $109,998 annually, with a low of $87,527 and a high of $145,161, according to Talent.com. And according to Salary.com, the average salary is $126,710, with a low of $114,338 and a high of $140,901.

Cloud Administrator Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science, programming, networking, information systems. or a related field. Some employers may require candidates to have master’s degrees in these subjects.
  • At least three years’ experience using cloud-enabled technologies, including Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform.
  • Training and expertise in cloud-related technical skills, including networking, virtualization, networking, operating systems, and programming languages. data management, networking, data sharing, virtualization, automation, containers, distributed storage systems, operating systems, and programming languages.

Earning a technical certification, such as CompTIA Cloud+, a vendor-neutral certification that covers administration skills, can help boost your job prospects.

4. Cloud Engineer

The role of cloud engineers is to design, develop, and maintain cloud-based solutions tailored for businesses. Their primary objective is to help their clients operate more efficiently and solve problems using cloud technologies. Cloud engineers collaborate closely with customers, other cloud specialists, and stakeholders to craft infrastructures customized to meet clients’ specific business requirements and align with their current processes.

Cloud engineers work with cloud service providers, including Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and Amazon Web Services, to implement and configure cloud-based resources, such as storage systems, networking components, and virtual servers.

As well as designing and deploying cloud infrastructures, cloud engineers oversee and supervise cloud environments to ensure high availability, performance, and security for cloud-based apps and services.

If last year is any indication, the job prospects for cloud engineers in 2024 and beyond are looking good. According to the Indeed job listings platform, the cloud engineer role came in at number three in Indeed’s list of the most in-demand careers of 2023. And Indeed noted that from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2023, there was a 65% increase in cloud engineer jobs.

The average annual salary for a cloud engineer in the US is $124,335, with a low of $81,461 and a high of $187,471, according to Indeed. And according to Salary.com, the average salary is $103,021, with a low of $91,676 and a high of $117, 717.

Cloud Engineer Requirements

  • At least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field.
  • Experience in programming languages, such as GO, R, Java, Ruby, and Python.
  • At least three years experience in cloud computing.
  • Experience with Linux/UNIX operating systems.
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, or Google Cloud Platform

Many employers also prefer that candidates have technical certifications, such as AWS Cloud Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals, and Google Associate Cloud Engineer.

3. Cloud Developer

Cloud developers build applications and services designed to operate on cloud computing platforms, such as Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Services. These platforms furnish the necessary infrastructure and tools for cloud developers to easily and efficiently create, deploy, and scale applications.

These professionals help companies take advantage of the benefits that cloud platforms offer, such as scalability, increased agility, and reduced infrastructure costs. Cloud developers typically work with such technologies as virtual machines, containers, serverless computing, and distributed databases to create scalable and reliable cloud-based products.

Cloud developers use their coding skills to write and enhance code to ensure the smooth integration of applications with the cloud infrastructure. These developers work closely with other teams across the business, including software engineers, system administrators, and cloud architects.

Career prospects for cloud developers look exceptionally good. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for those in the software development field, which includes cloud developers, is projected to grow 25% from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than for all occupations.

The average cloud developer salary in the US is $130,170 per year, with a low of $112,113 and a high of $166,580, according to Talent.com. And according to Glassdoor, the average salary is $145,000, with a low of $114,000 and a high of $186,000.

Cloud Developer Requirements

  • Usually, a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, computer science, or information technology is the minimum requirement for a job as an entry-level cloud developer.
  • Strong coding skills.
  • Expertise in at least one programming language, such as Java, Python, GO, or Ruby.
  • In-depth understanding of leading cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.

Earning a technical certification in cloud development, such as an AWS certification from Amazon or a Google Cloud certification, is a great way to boost your job prospects.

2. Cloud Support Engineer

The main responsibilities of cloud support engineers revolves around offering technical support and assistance to customers that use cloud-based services. Cloud support engineers typically work for cloud providers, including Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud Platform.

The job of cloud support engineers is to troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges associated with cloud services, applications and infrastructure. This includes analyzing logs, monitoring systems, and diagnosing problems to deliver the best solutions.

Additionally, cloud support engineers offer support to customers by addressing their questions, concerns, and requests, providing guidance on best practices, and recommending solutions. They also manage incidents, such as service disruptions or outages, by coordinating with their clients’ internal teams to minimize downtime and ensure the service remains available.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the field of computer support specialists, which includes cloud support engineers, is expected to grow by grow 5% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

According to Built In, the average yearly salary of a cloud support engineer in the US is $137,911, with a low of $95,000 and a high of $190,000. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for this position in the US is $130,802, with a low of $49,000 and a high of $181,500.

Cloud Support Engineer Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in software engineering, information technology, or computer science.
  • Experience in the industry through internships or junior roles, for example. .
  • Problem-solving skills: proficiency in Linux, Windows, and either AWS or Azure; interest in networking principles and information security.

Although not required, relevant technical certifications in cloud computing, such as CompTIA Cloud+ or GCP Associate Cloud Engineer – Google Cloud certification, demonstrate to employers that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively implement and manage cloud environments.

1. Cloud DevOps Engineer

Cloud DevOps engineers are responsible for combining development (Dev) and operations (Ops) practices within a cloud computing environment.

Their main duties include automating and streamlining the processes involved in developing, testing, and deploying software, as well as infrastructure management in the cloud. This involves creating automated workflows for deployment processes, configuration management, infrastructure provisioning, and more.

Cloud DevOps engineers set up monitoring and logging solutions to track the performance, health, and security of cloud-based applications and infrastructure. They use data collection tools, analysis, and visualization to detect problems and boost system performance.

In addition, they work with orchestration platforms, such as Kubernetes, and containerization technologies, such as Docker, to package, deploy, and manage applications and microservices in the cloud. They also work with development, operations, and other teams across the business throughout the software development lifecycle.

Cloud DevOps engineers also implement security best practices and compliance requirements in the cloud, including encryption, vulnerability management, and access controls.

The field of DevOps is continuing to grow. In fact, data from Grand View Research predicts that DevOps will expand by 16.8% between 2023 and 2030, driven in part by the fact the more organizations are adopting cloud technologies. This is good news for cloud professionals, including cloud DevOps engineers.

According to Talent.com, the average annual salary for a cloud DevOps engineer in the US is $140,000, with a low of $120,000 and a high of $175,000. And according to Salary.com, the average salary is $119,560, with a low of $105,141 and a high of $133,639.

Cloud DevOps Engineer Requirements

  • Many employers prefer candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field.
  • Experience with:
    • Public clouds, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
    • Automation technologies, such as Jenkins or Kubernetes.
    • Configuration management tools, such as Chef, Puppet, or Ansible.
    • Scripting languages, such as Ruby or Python.

Technical certifications, such as AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional, and Google’s Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer, will demonstrate your commitment to the industry to prospective employers.

The Bottom Line

The demand for cloud solutions has resulted in a huge need for professionals who can help create, build, and support these solutions. Choosing a career in cloud computing will enable you to help businesses transform their technologies and offer you the opportunity to begin a lifelong journey of learning about cloud computing.

Overall, a job in cloud computing can offer you a dynamic, rewarding, and well-paying career path with plenty of opportunities for growth.

FAQs

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Linda Rosencrance
Tech Journalist
Linda Rosencrance
Tech Journalist

Linda Rosencrance is a freelance writer and editor based in the Boston area with expertise ranging from AI and machine learning to cybersecurity and DevOps. She has covered IT topics since 1999 as an investigative reporter for several newspapers in the greater Boston area. She also writes white papers, case studies, e-books, and blog posts for a variety of corporate clients, interviewing key stakeholders including CIOs, CISOs, and other C-suite executives.