Hi everyone! I'm currently working as an IT Administrator in a small town in Germany with around 5 years of experience focused mainly on on-prem infrastructure. Right now, my net salary stands at 2300€ per month. I'm starting to feel a bit stuck, especially since even some production workers seem to earn as much or more, making me question my career path.
I'm curious about a few things:
- Could my specialization in on-prem infrastructure be part of the issue?
- Should I consider shifting towards Cloud technologies like AWS or Azure, or possibly DevOps?
- Is it realistic to aim for a gross salary of 50,000 to 70,000€ with my background?
- What skills would lead to the biggest salary jump for me here in Germany?
I have a C1 level in German and I'm open to learning new technologies or switching directions entirely if it makes sense for my long-term career. I'd really appreciate any honest advice from those who have gone through similar changes.
5 Answers
Making the transition to DevOps could be a game changer for you! You could aim for 50k in your first year, 60k in your second, and then 70k by the third. Focus on building your skills in AWS, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, and Jenkins.
If you’re looking to make a substantial salary jump, shifting to areas like DevOps or Cloud computing is indeed the way to go. I did a similar switch - I started as an admin, learned Linux, SIEM, and automation, then moved into security roles. That opened up a lot more opportunities for higher pay.
Your title as a Sysadmin is quite broad, which makes your actual pay rate challenging to gauge. But honestly, you're currently underpaid. If companies in your area aren’t valuing Sysadmins effectively, switching careers could be an option. Upskilling is a good strategy, though!
You might want to consider the fact that being in a small town can limit your salary potential. Moving towards cloud infrastructure could definitely open up more opportunities for you, especially with the solid foundation you already have.
Absolutely! I lived in a smaller city with similar salary caps. After relocating to a major city, I doubled my salary just by getting into a Sysadmin role there. Sometimes, changing your location can make a huge difference in career growth.
To really increase your market value, start experimenting with infrastructure automation tools like Ansible and Terraform. Getting familiar with Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure) is becoming essential, and knowing Kubernetes is a bonus, even if it isn’t needed at every company.
I come from a similar background, and since moving to the cloud space six years ago, I’ve seen my worth in the job market increase significantly. It’s worth considering!