SalaryScope South Africa logo
2026 comparison

IT Support Technician vs DevOps Engineer salary in South Africa

Compare salary, demand, difficulty, and long-term growth to choose the right career path.

Quick answer

IT Support Technician vs DevOps Engineer in South Africa

Higher paying career
DevOps Engineer
Monthly difference
R75 000
Easier to enter
IT Support Technician
Better long-term
DevOps Engineer

Winner summary

Winner for salary
DevOps Engineer (+R75 000/month)
Easier entry
IT Support Technician
Best long-term
DevOps Engineer
Verdict

Choose DevOps Engineer if your goal is higher income and long-term growth.

Choose IT Support Technician if your goal is faster entry and lower barriers.

Career overview

IT Support Technician

Demand: 9/10

Salary guide
Requirements

N+ / A+ / IT diploma.

  • A+ / N+
  • Customer service
  • Patience and clear communication
Salary
EntryR12 000
MidR30 000
SeniorR45 000
Top 20%R65 000

DevOps Engineer

Demand: 10/10

Salary guide
Requirements

IT, Computer Science or cloud certification route.

  • Linux administration
  • Cloud platforms
  • Scripting
Salary
EntryR30 000
MidR75 000
SeniorR120 000
Top 20%R180 000

Salary breakdown

Entry
IT Support TechnicianR12 000
DevOps EngineerR30 000
Mid
IT Support TechnicianR30 000
DevOps EngineerR75 000
Senior
IT Support TechnicianR45 000
DevOps EngineerR120 000
Top 20%
IT Support TechnicianR65 000
DevOps EngineerR180 000

Demand and difficulty

Demand

IT Support Technician (9/10)9/10
DevOps Engineer (10/10)10/10

Difficulty

IT Support Technician (3/10)3/10
DevOps Engineer (8/10)8/10
Salary difference
+R75 000/month

The salary gap at senior level is about R75 000 per month. DevOps Engineer earns more due to higher demand and stronger salary growth at senior level.

See full DevOps Engineer salary in South Africa →

Key questions

Which pays more in South Africa?

DevOps Engineer pays more, with senior salaries around R120 000 per month compared to R45 000 for IT Support Technician.

Which is easier to enter?

IT Support Technician is easier to enter due to lower difficulty and more accessible requirements.

Which is better long-term?

DevOps Engineer offers stronger long-term potential based on higher salary ceilings and demand.

Detailed comparison

When comparing IT Support Technician vs DevOps Engineer in South Africa, the senior-level salary difference is R75 000 per month.

IT Support Technician is better for quicker entry into the workforce. DevOps Engineer is better for long-term earnings and career growth.

Skills and requirements

IT Support Technician

Core skills
  • Hardware troubleshootingHigh
  • Windows / Office 365High
  • Active DirectoryMedium

DevOps Engineer

Core skills
  • Cloud (AWS / Azure)High
  • Docker / KubernetesHigh
  • LinuxHigh
  • CI/CDHigh

Side by side

Hardware troubleshooting
IT Support Technician needs this
Less central
Windows / Office 365
IT Support Technician needs this
Less central
Active Directory
IT Support Technician needs this
Less central
Cloud (AWS / Azure)
Less central
DevOps Engineer needs this
Docker / Kubernetes
Less central
DevOps Engineer needs this
Linux
Less central
DevOps Engineer needs this

Career progression

IT Support Technician

HelpdeskR16 000
IT Support TechR30 000
Senior SupportR45 000
SysadminR65 000

DevOps Engineer

Junior DevOps EngineerR40 000
DevOps EngineerR75 000
Senior DevOps EngineerR120 000
Platform LeadR150 000

Related insights

Compare more careersExplore related comparisonsFind higher paying jobs

More IT Support Technician salary comparisons

Other careers people compare with IT Support Technician salary in South Africa.

See full IT Support Technician salary guide →

More DevOps Engineer salary comparisons

Other careers people compare with DevOps Engineer salary in South Africa.

See full DevOps Engineer salary guide →

Explore related salary guides

Related careers
Systems Administrator salaryR70 000Network Engineer salaryR90 000
Higher paying alternatives
Municipal Manager salary - higher earning pathR200 000Psychiatrist salary - higher earning pathR170 000
Easier entry careers
Bookkeeper salary - easier entry option3/10Private Tutor salary - easier entry option3/10
Similar industry salaries
Technology career: Software Engineer salaryTechnology career: Cloud Engineer salary
Popular career comparisons
Software Engineer vs Data Scientist salary in South AfricaChartered Accountant vs Financial Analyst salary in South Africa
Explore more salary guides
how much Backend Developers earn in South Africahow much Machine Learning Engineers earn in South Africahow much Product Managers earn in South Africahow much Data Scientists earn in South Africahow much Data Engineers earn in South Africahow much Mobile App Developers earn in South Africa
Compare Related Share