How to Become a Cloud Engineer in 2025

Dreaming of a career in cloud engineering? You’re in the right place! According to NASSCOM, by 2026, the cloud computing industry is set to create an astounding 14 million job opportunities, a number expected to triple over the next five years.

Deloitte predicts that in 2025, for the first time, global business spending on cloud computing will surpass US$1 trillion. This clearly underscores why cloud technologies have become essential to businesses worldwide.

Intrigued by the growing demand and opportunities? If so, keep reading this guide on how to become a Cloud Engineer, where we’ll walk you through a step-by-step career path to help you break into cloud engineering, even if you have no prior experience.

Table of Contents

• What is Cloud Engineering?
• How to Become a Cloud Engineer: Step-by-Step Guide
• Why Learn Cloud Computing?
• Why Becoming a Cloud Engineer is a Great Career Choice
• Skills Required to Become a Cloud Engineer
• Cloud Engineer Job Descriptions
• Future Trends in Cloud Computing
• Cloud Engineer Jobs Available Right Now
• Conclusion

Check out this video on how to become a Cloud Engineer and the skills required:

What is Cloud Engineering?

The field of cloud engineering involves designing, developing, and maintaining the infrastructure that powers cloud computing services. A cloud engineer is responsible for building and managing databases, deploying cloud-based applications, and ensuring that cloud services remain secure, scalable, and highly reliable. As businesses increasingly shift their operations to the cloud, the demand for skilled cloud engineers continues to grow rapidly.

Cloud engineers work with leading cloud technologies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to deliver seamless applications, manage massive volumes of data, and maintain critical infrastructure. A career in cloud computing not only allows you to work with cutting-edge technologies but also offers excellent growth opportunities, competitive salaries, and global demand. Let’s explore the perks and benefits of starting a career path in cloud engineering.

How to Become a Cloud Engineer: Step-by-Step Guide

To start a successful journey toward becoming a cloud engineer, here’s a detailed roadmap outlining the necessary steps:

Step 1: Educational Foundation

A strong educational background is necessary for a successful career in cloud engineering. A bachelor’s degree in a related field such as information technology or computer science will be of great help. Although not always mandatory, it greatly enhances your skills and understanding of the industry. This degree will give you a fundamental knowledge of computer science concepts, mathematics, and programming to excel in cloud engineering roles — especially as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more integrated into cloud computing.

Step 2: Gain Technical Skills in Cloud Computing Platform

Start learning basic IT concepts and gain proficiency in operating systems, networking, and programming languages such as Python, Java, or C#. Understanding these basics will provide a strong hold on your cloud computing skills. You can also get help from different resources, which are freely available on the internet, like YouTube, technical blogs, or articles, to clear your concepts of cloud engineering. Many new resources now also include modules on AI-driven cloud technologies, which are increasingly in demand.

Step 3: Specialize in Cloud Technologies

If we have the technical skills, now it’s the right time to pick the cloud technology that suits your domain the most. There are basically three big players in this industry: AWS, GCP, and Microsoft Azure. Each of them has its own benefits; it depends on the individual interests, as there are four major categories of the levels of certifications:

• Foundational Certifications – Provides a basic understanding of cloud concepts and platforms (e.g. CompTIA Cloud+ and AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner).
  
• Associate-Level Certifications – Gives an idea of the core cloud skills necessary for specific roles (e.g., Microsoft Azure AZ-900, Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect).
  
• Professional-Level Certifications – Indicate advanced expertise and ability to design, implement, and manage complex cloud solutions (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional, Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert).
  
• Specialty Certification – Focuses on deeper knowledge in specific areas like security, networking, AI, or data analytics (e.g., AWS Certified Security, Specialty, Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate).
  

It is up to you how and why you choose to move forward with the next certification. There are many options and cloud engineer courses available to start learning from cloud-based certifications. It can be challenging to start from scratch as a beginner, but you shouldn’t worry. With our detailed step-by-step guide for cloud engineers, we’ve got you covered.

Step 4: Hands-on Experience

Working on cloud computing projects is the best approach to obtaining real-world experience. You can improve your skills by working on additional projects. Training on real projects can help you grow in your profession as a cloud engineer. You should know that working on completed projects will eventually improve your knowledge, technical proficiency, and confidence in general. You’ll have in-depth knowledge of the most recent developments in cloud technology, including trends like AI in cloud computing, as a result of your hands-on experience developing real-world projects.

Step 5: Build a Fantastic Cloud Computing Portfolio

You need to develop a diverse portfolio that includes cloud-based projects, which can be helpful in cost-cutting, automation, security, and model deployment. As a suggestion, you should always choose projects with defined goals, processes, and outcomes that should be documented. Try to use real scenarios, technological assets, and practical examples, and consider showcasing how you’ve implemented emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to solve problems.

Why Learn Cloud Computing to Become a Cloud Engineer?

If you’re wondering why so many people are jumping into cloud computing these days, the answer is pretty simple, it’s where the future is heading. For anyone looking to build a career as a cloud engineer, learning cloud computing opens the door to opportunities that are not just rewarding but also future-proof.

One big reason is scalability. Businesses love the cloud because it lets them scale up or down depending on what they need, without wasting money on unnecessary infrastructure. This flexibility is what makes cloud solutions so attractive to both startups and big companies. And speaking of money, cloud computing is super cost-effective too. Companies can save on hardware, maintenance, and manpower while still keeping everything running smoothly, which means they’re always on the lookout for skilled cloud engineers to manage this for them.

Another reason why there’s so much demand for cloud engineers now is because of how AI, IoT (Internet of Things), and digital transformation are shaping industries. More and more businesses are using AI to analyze their data and make smart decisions. IoT devices are everywhere, from smart homes to industrial sensors, and all this data needs to be stored and processed somewhere. That “somewhere” is usually the cloud. This growing dependency on cloud platforms to power innovation and connect everything is creating a huge demand for professionals who know their way around cloud technologies.

So, if you’re thinking about your next move, learning cloud computing is definitely worth it. Not just because it pays well, but because you’ll be at the heart of where AI, IoT, and digital transformation are heading next, and trust me, that’s an exciting place to be.

Why Becoming a Cloud Engineer is a Great Career Choice?

Here are several convincing reasons that make cloud computing a great career choice:

• Increased Demand: Organizations are progressively shifting to the cloud. According to a recent report by Indeed, cloud job postings have increased by 70% in the past year! This means that people with the right skills can have good opportunities and job security in the near future. The high demand for cloud engineers is also fueled by businesses integrating the cloud with AI and machine learning, making this field even more critical and future-proof.
• Competitive Salaries: In the US, the typical cloud engineer pulls a sum of US$125,219, with top professionals surpassing US$200,000. Glassdoor states that the average salary in India is also rising, reaching ₹5.5 lakhs to ₹12 lakhs, with much higher salaries for skilled professionals. The competitive salaries reflect the growing need for experts who can work with modern cloud infrastructures, often blending in-demand technologies like AI into their work.
• Growth Opportunity: According to Techgig, it is estimated that there will be more than 220,000 available positions in the field of cloud computing by 2025. As a result, many tech companies are placing a high priority on filling these roles by 2025. It’s no surprise, as the cloud computing market is expected to grow exponentially, reaching an impressive $1.5 trillion by 2025. With the integration of trending technologies like AI and machine learning into cloud solutions, the potential for career growth is even more promising.
• Work Flexibility: With access to Wi-Fi, you can work pretty much from anywhere, virtually. This allows you to blend work with leisure, and even explore job opportunities abroad. It is a notable perk of being a cloud engineer, which enables you to maintain a healthy work-life balance with the convenience of working remotely. This flexibility with remote work opportunities is one of the most attractive benefits of this career path.

As of now, you have got an idea why cloud computing can be a perfect fit to upskill your career. Moving forward let us understand if it is hard to acquire skills to become a cloud engineer.

Skills Required to Become Cloud Engineer

Here, the essential skills are highlighted to provide detailed explanations and practical examples for each one of the following:

• Cloud Platform Knowledge: Select the best cloud computing platforms, like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud (GCP), but plan early! Avoid following trends blindly; instead, evaluate each platform’s offerings thoroughly. Now, put the knowledge into use! Deploy apps, manage resources, optimize costs, and try using features like serverless computing and edge computing where relevant. Hands-on training is essential for mastering cloud technologies and becoming an expert in the field.
• Networking and Internet Fundamentals: Start with the fundamentals of network protocols, subnetting, routing, and security principles. Learn the art of designing, configuring, and overseeing virtual networks on the cloud platform. And apply it in configuring and optimizing communication across various cloud resources, keeping scalability and reliability in mind.
• Operating Systems: To excel in cloud engineering, having good knowledge of Linux is important, as it involves almost all of the cloud infrastructures. Understanding command-line basics, navigating systems, and performing system administration tasks are considered essential skills. Moreover, having knowledge of Windows Server management in cloud environments can be beneficial, especially in certain scenarios.
• Programming Languages: As a cloud engineer, it is essential to have a diverse range of programming skills, such as proficiency in SQL, Python, and Java. These languages help you to create code and effectively develop, deploy, and monitor applications. Keep in mind that there are a number of programming languages to explore, so be sure to carefully review the job description to identify any preferred languages indicated by the company. Also, keep an eye on machine learning integrations which increasingly demand Python skills.
• DevOps Principles: To keep up with the evolving world of cloud engineering, understanding DevOps best practices and the associated tools is essential. Fast learners need to be proficient in Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) to proceed with software development and deployment, ensuring bug-free code. There are several tools, including Jenkins, Azure DevOps, Docker, and also Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform or CloudFormation, available to help you in this process.
• Security and Recovery: To protect the cloud from data attacks and potential cyber threats, it’s essential to take the necessary precautions and have proficient knowledge of implementing cybersecurity and cloud computing. Any malfunction within the cloud infrastructure can lead to setbacks and disruptions in client operations, ultimately posing risks to their business continuity and reputation.
• Understanding Virtualisation: As a cloud engineer, you must understand virtualisation technologies to efficiently deploy and manage application software on virtual machines (VMs). This involves creating, configuring, and maintaining VMs to reduce resource usage and manage different tasks at one time.
• Web Services and APIs: If you aim to be a cloud engineer, you need to have an understanding of web services and APIs, including XML, SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI. Why do we need open standards? To help with communication between different software systems. This helps make sharing data between different apps on the cloud smooth and easy, no matter what kind of apps they are.

In addition to technical expertise, don’t overlook soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and adaptability; these are crucial for working effectively in team environments and solving real-world challenges in cloud projects.

If you are good at the skills mentioned above, you have a strong chance of becoming a successful cloud engineer. Don’t be stressed about the role. Now, scroll down to the step-by-step guide that will help you the best.

Cloud Engineer Job Descriptions

The role of a cloud engineer mainly revolves around designing, maintaining, and optimizing cloud infrastructure for businesses. They help companies build a strong cloud strategy that ensures systems are secure, scalable, and cost-effective.

Responsibilities:

Some of the key roles and responsibilities of a cloud engineer include:

• Setting up and managing cloud environments while focusing on security to protect sensitive data.
  
• Making sure the cloud systems are scalable so they can handle more users or data when needed.
  
• Working on cost optimisation, so companies don’t overspend on unnecessary resources.
  
• Monitoring and improving the performance of the cloud infrastructure as part of the overall cloud strategy.
  

Cloud engineers also work closely with other teams to make sure the infrastructure supports both current and future needs of the business. Being good at balancing security, scalability, and cost makes them super valuable in today’s tech world.

Future Trends in Cloud Computing

The future of cloud computing is quite exciting, and a few major trends have already emerged. One of the most significant is the incorporation of AI and machine learning into cloud platforms. Today, companies are relying on A.I. to automate tasks, digest tons of data more quickly than humans can, and improve security. All of this is what makes the cloud too smart and too useful.

Another fast-growing trend is edge computing and serverless architectures. In edge computing, data is processed closer to the place it is generated, so apps run faster and less time is lost to delays. Serverless allows developers to concentrate on writing code without having to sweat the servers behind it, which can translate into savings on time and resources.

Of course, now people are talking a lot about sustainability as well. Business wants to make their cloud systems greener by using less energy and reducing their carbon footprint. This focus on sustainability and green cloud computing isn’t only good for the planet, but it also helps companies keep long-term costs down.

So, if you’re trying to break into a career in the cloud, keeping an eye on the trends such as AI, edge computing, serverless, and sustainability will give you a leg-up over the next few years.

Cloud Engineer Jobs Available Right Now

We have created a list of the top 4 cloud engineering job roles, along with their estimated vacancies and average salaries in the US and India, based on the latest information from Indeed and LinkedIn.

Right now, if you just Google and browse ‘Cloud/Solution Architect Jobs in India’, you’ll see that just on LinkedIn, there are over 12,000+ jobs available.

And the number is even higher in the USA, reaching more than 16,000+ vacancies as businesses continue to adopt cloud solutions rapidly.

Below are the updated job opportunities and average salaries for other popular cloud engineer job roles like cloud developer, cloud administrator, and cloud security engineer.

As you can see, the demand for cloud professionals remains strong in both countries, with competitive salaries reflecting the skills and responsibilities of these roles. If you’re aiming to build a career in cloud engineering, now is a great time to step in.

Salary of Cloud Engineers

Salaries for cloud engineers may vary in different countries and regions, depending on local job markets and the need for cloud skills. Salaries can range higher for professionals with expertise in cloud security, DevOps, and machine learning.

According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for a cloud engineer in India is ₹7,80,000 per annum. An entry-level cloud engineer can earn somewhere between 4.5–5 lakhs per annum, while a senior-level cloud engineer can earn up to 13 lakhs per annum. On top of that, there are currently over 50,000+ jobs available across India for cloud roles like architect, developer, administrator, and security engineer, showing strong demand.

The average salary for a cloud engineer is $113,965 per year in the United States. The salary of a cloud engineer can vary based on factors such as experience, location, level of education, and the specific company or industry. An entry-level cloud engineer salary ranges from $80–$83,000, and the senior-level cloud engineer can easily make up to $1,88,000 per annum. Similarly, there are over 70,000+ jobs available in the US cloud job market today, making it one of the most sought-after careers.

Conclusion

The blog has covered the essential steps on how to become a cloud engineer. It all begins with obtaining the necessary education and then pursuing a specialisation in cloud technologies through certifications and hands-on experience. It’s very important to continue to update yourself and effectively demonstrate your skills. Remember, patience and hard work are crucial components, as without them, learning holds no real value.

How to Become a Cloud Engineer in 2025 – FAQs