AWS EKS Kubernetes
AWS EKS runs Kubernetes on AWS with AWS managing the control plane. You provision EC2/Fargate worker nodes, deploy workloads (Pods, Services, Deployments), and Kubernetes handles scheduling, scaling, and networking. Mastery means understanding cluster architecture, RBAC, networking (CNI, Ingress), storage (EBS, EFS), observability (prometheus, logging), and cost optimization. Learning path: Kubernetes fundamentals (4 weeks) → EKS setup (2 weeks) → networking + storage (3 weeks) → production operations (4 weeks). Steep learning curve but portable across clouds.
What is AWS EKS Kubernetes
AWS EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service) is managed Kubernetes on AWS. AWS runs the control plane (API server, scheduler, etcd); you provision and manage worker nodes (EC2 or Fargate). You deploy workloads using standard Kubernetes manifests (YAML), and EKS handles orchestration, scaling, and high availability. EKS is standard Kubernetes, so skills transfer to other clouds (GCP, Azure).
📋 Before you start
💰 Salary by region
| Region | Junior | Mid | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | $100k | $160k | $220k |
| UK | £60k | £95k | £140k |
| EU | €65k | €105k | €155k |
| CANADA | C$105k | C$165k | C$230k |
🎓 Certifications
🎯 Careers using AWS EKS Kubernetes
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❓ FAQ
Should I learn EKS or ECS?
Do I need to understand Kubernetes before EKS?
What's the difference between managed and self-managed Kubernetes?
How do I secure EKS clusters?
Can I use Kubernetes operators in EKS?
How much does EKS cost?
Is EKS suitable for production?
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