Cloud specialists get the big bucks, but theres still a role for generalists
Summary
As the world continues to move to the cloud, theres going to be an increasing need for engineers, AI specialists, and operations people who can keep things connected, secure, and running. Its fair to suggest that Linthicum is the ultimate insider on all-things cloud, having consulted with numerous companies, and having written a range of books and articles. The upwards trajectory in rates is clear, even for generalists: "In 2010, a cloud-computing specialist or an experienced consultant cost about $35-$45 USD per hour, or about $80,000 per year if salaried. Crucially, Linthicum says the unintended consequence of specialization is that IT often misses the bigger-picture issues that will only be caught by experts with a broader knowledge of all solutions, both cloud and non-cloud. I suspect that this inability to see the big picture will have a few negative effects, including the fact that many viable solutions wont be considered because no one in the organization understands how they work, or why they should be leveraged as an alternative to the current path."