Main image of article Command a Better Tech Salary with Strategic Skill Stacking

What is the difference between a DevOps Engineer and a Cloud Security DevOps Engineer? About $45,000 a year. Adding security expertise to an already strong skill set can make a big difference in your earning potential. This is the advantage to having multiple skills in your arsenal.

The Most In-Demand Job Skills in IT and Engineering report by Ceipal reveals something fascinating about today’s tech market: the most successful (and well-paid) professionals don’t specialize in one skill. They have become strategic skill stackers. The real money and job security comes from identifying and developing complementary skill clusters that multiply your market value.

 

Summary

Traditionally, professionals have picked a career specialty with a particular skill, studied that in depth, and pursued jobs based on that skill. With the way technology changes so quickly these days, that seems like an outdated approach. Today’s data shows that the highest-paying roles are not single-skill positions but ones with multiple high-demand capabilities, requiring professionals to “skill stack.” Forbes suggests thinking of skill stacking like building with LEGOs: “each skill adds stability and dimension,” and brings the potential for a greater salary.

So, do you really need to stack skills? Consider this scenario: A cloud engineer might earn about $110,000. However, add DevOps expertise, and you’re looking at $130,000. Layer in security knowledge, and you're commanding even more. Each additional complementary skill multiplies value.

This multiplication effect happens because you’re solving more complex problems that require integrated knowledge. A company doesn't just need someone who knows AWS; they need someone who can build secure, scalable cloud solutions. Skill stacking is smart, potentially lucrative, and it doesn’t have to be difficult if you create a plan for your career trajectory.

 

The key to successful skill stacking isn’t random accumulation but strategic combination. According to the Jobs Skills report findings, certain skill clusters consistently command top compensation:

  • The Cloud-Security-DevOps Trio is the most popular combination in today’s market. Cloud computing provides the foundation, DevOps adds operational efficiency, and security ensures enterprise readiness. Professionals who master all three are invaluable because they can own entire application lifecycles from development through secure production deployment.
  • The Data-AI-Engineering Stack targets the growing demand for intelligent systems. Data engineering provides the pipeline foundation, cloud skills enable scalable processing, and AI/ML knowledge transforms raw data into business insight. Skills related to artificial intelligence, data, and cloud engineering all enjoyed growth in value between 2023 and 2024, making this combination particularly powerful.
  • The Full-Stack-DevOps-Cloud Combination is especially helpful in smaller companies or teams, where wearing multiple hats is expected. Full-stack development provides application creation capabilities; DevOps enables deployment and monitoring; and cloud know-how ensures scalable infrastructure.

 

Building valuable skill stacks takes a little research and planning. You need a strategic approach that considers timing, complementarity, and market demand.

  • Start with your foundation skill, the one that currently pays your bills and where you have experience and use this as your base for building complementary capabilities. If you’re a software developer, consider that your foundation.
  • Identify adjacency opportunities by examining job descriptions for roles one level above your current position. What skills appear consistently alongside your foundation skill? If you’re a developer and consistently see DevOps and cloud requirements, those become logical next targets.
  • Follow the problem chain by understanding how your work connects to broader business challenges. If you build applications, learn about deployment and monitoring. If you manage infrastructure, understand security and compliance. If you work with data, explore automation.

The most successful skill stackers think in terms of problem-solving workflows, asking what someone needs to know to take a project from conception to production to ongoing operation. Then they fill those knowledge gaps.

 

Strategic skill stacking requires thoughtful sequencing that builds naturally on previous knowledge and maximizes learning efficiency, meaning you don’t have to go out and learn all these new skills at the same time.

  • Build on what you know by starting with skills that leverage your existing knowledge. A database administrator learning cloud database services will progress faster than someone completely new to databases. A developer learning DevOps practices will grasp automation concepts more quickly than someone without programming experience.
  • Follow market timing by prioritizing skills with immediate demand over those that might be important someday. Skills in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, programming languages, and DevOps can earn a premium salary right now, making them logical skill choices over emerging technologies.
  • Create demonstration opportunities as you develop each new skill. Find ways to apply new capabilities in your current role or through side projects. This creates evidence of your expanding expertise and provides concrete examples for salary negotiations or job interviews. You are devoting your time learning these skills; make sure you can show them off.

 

 

Certifications play a crucial role in skill stacking, but don’t just go out and gain certifications for the sake of adding them to your resume. The best certifications elevate practical skills that connect directly to business needs.

Cloud certifications from AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud provide credible validation of your ability to architect and manage cloud infrastructure. Security certifications become increasingly useful as organizations prioritize cybersecurity.

The key is selecting certifications that complement rather than compete with each other. A cloud certification plus a security certification creates a more desirable combination than two competing cloud certifications.

Do your homework to determine which certifications make sense for you and your career goals. CIO provides this list of the 20 most valuable certifications to have in IT, which can give you a starting point. The right certifications can set you apart and directly correlate with salary premiums.

 

The biggest mistake people make in skill stacking is trying to learn everything on a basic level instead of gaining real expertise in a few strategic and valuable skills. Don’t fall into this trap of appearing like an expert without the substance to back it up.

Another common error is following technology hype instead of market demand. Just because a technology is trending on social media doesn’t mean it’s creating high-paying jobs. Focus on skills with proven demand and clear career paths

Finally, avoid accumulating certifications and skills without understanding how they work together. That will only serve to limit your upward mobility. Learn how your skills complement each other and practice combining them in real-world scenarios.

 

As you develop your skill stack, track both your capabilities and your market value, Document projects in a portfolio that demonstrates your integrated skills shows progression from single-skill work to complex, multi-faceted projects.

And, of course, keep an eye on AI skills, which are in great demand. According to HR Dive, “Half of the highest-paid skills in tech are AI-specific, which suggests that job seekers with AI skills can stand out in a competitive job market, and potentially earn more than their counterparts.” The market rewards those who develop capabilities that span the full spectrum of modern technology challenges, and this includes AI.

Yes, the multi-skill premium will help you to earn more money, but it will also help you to build career resilience. Having strategically stacked skills will enable you to adapt to new challenges and maintain relevance regardless of how individual technologies evolve.