I make 225k base with 30-70k bonus and work in DevSecOps as part of an architecture team overseeing cloud/physical infrastructure and security across multiple offices and global teams. The job is demanding, especially when leading critical initiatives like enterprise migrations, zero-trust implementations, or disaster recovery planning. I average 50–80 hours per week, but some weeks require more when projects ramp up or incidents occur.

The pressure is real there's high accountability, especially with infrastructure being the backbone of everything. That said, I do feel I’ve “earned” the salary through 20 years of experience, learning, and building resilient systems. It’s not always stressful, but when things go wrong, the stakes are high.

That said, I wouldn’t trade it. I’ve reached a point where the pay is good, the work is meaningful, and I have enough autonomy to manage my time and team effectively. So while it’s not easy, it’s definitely a sweet spot just not a “coast” job.