WHICH AWS CERTIFICATION SHOULD I CHOOSE?

Cloud computing, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS), has emerged as a highly popular and in-demand career avenue in the IT industry. With organizations increasingly migrating their infrastructure to the cloud, the need for professionals skilled in AWS has skyrocketed.

AWS certifications are industry-recognized credentials covering a wide range of disciplines, including cloud architecture, security, networking, database management, and more. By earning an AWS certification, professionals demonstrate their proficiency in utilizing AWS services and technologies effectively.

AWS-certified professionals have a higher chance of securing lucrative job opportunities and commanding higher salaries. By staying updated with the latest AWS technologies and best practices, IT professionals can continuously enhance their skill sets, advance their careers, and stay at the forefront of the rapidly evolving cloud computing landscape.

According to Skillsoft’s IT Skills and Salary Report, several AWS certifications rank among the highest-paying certifications in the industry, making them an excellent choice for IT professionals looking to upskill in the ever-expanding field of cloud computing.

Interested in learning more about the current state of the tech industry? Get the full IT Skills and Salary report here.

This blog focuses on certification holders in the United States and reports on average salaries and more. See how we compiled this list in the methodology.

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Keep reading to learn more about the highest-paying AWS certifications and how to earn them:

THE TOP-PAYING AWS CERTIFICATIONS WORLDWIDE

WHAT DO AWS CERTIFICATIONS PAY IN THE U.S.?

AWS CERTIFIED SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT – PROFESSIONAL

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $174,137

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional certification is designed for experienced architects who possess advanced skills in designing and deploying complex AWS solutions. Organizations benefit from hiring professionals with this certification as they can effectively design and implement scalable, cost-efficient, and highly available applications on AWS. Obtaining this certification accelerates career growth for IT professionals by showcasing their ability to create robust and optimized AWS architectures.

How to earn this certification:

• Pass the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate exam. View training.
• Have at least two years of hands-on experience in designing and deploying AWS architectures.
• Clear the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional exam. See training path.

AWS CERTIFIED SECURITY – SPECIALTY

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $166,449

The AWS Certified Security - Specialty certification validates expertise in securing the AWS environment. Professionals with this certification can help organizations implement robust security measures, identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, and ensure compliance with industry standards. With this certification, professionals become trusted security experts with the ability to safeguard critical data and systems on AWS, making them highly sought after in the job market.

How to earn this certification:

• Have at least five years of relevant IT security experience.
• Pass the AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam. View training.

AWS CERTIFIED SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT – ASSOCIATE

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $160,052

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate certification is suitable for individuals who design and deploy scalable, fault-tolerant, and highly available systems on AWS. Organizations benefit from hiring AWS Certified Solutions Architects - Associates as they possess the skills to optimize AWS infrastructure for maximum performance and cost efficiency. IT professionals with this certification can fast-track their career growth by demonstrating their ability to architect and deploy successful AWS solutions.

How to earn this certification:

• Clear the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate exam. See training path.

AWS CERTIFIED ADVANCED NETWORKING – SPECIALTY

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $153,031

This certification validates expertise in designing and implementing advanced networking architectures on AWS. Professionals who hold this certification can leverage AWS networking services to build secure and efficient networks for organizations. With this certification, professionals become trusted networking specialists who can design and implement cutting-edge network solutions on AWS, positioning them for exciting career opportunities.

How to earn this certification:

• Have at least five years of hands-on experience in implementing network solutions.
• Pass the AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty exam. View training.

AWS CERTIFIED DEVOPS ENGINEER – PROFESSIONAL

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $150,546

The AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional certification is ideal for professionals who have a deep understanding of DevOps practices and can design and implement automated, scalable, and secure applications on AWS. IT professionals can propel their career growth by showcasing their expertise in provisioning, operating, and managing AWS environments. This certification equips professionals with the skills needed to drive continuous integration and delivery of workflows on AWS, making them valuable assets to organizations embracing DevOps methodologies.

How to earn this certification:

• Clear the AWS Certified Developer - Associate exam. View training.
• Have at least two years of hands-on experience in provisioning, operating, and managing AWS environments.
• Pass the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional exam. See training path.

HOW WE BUILT THE LIST

This list of top-paying AWS certifications is based on survey responses from Skillsoft’s IT Skills and Salary Survey conducted from May to September 2023. The survey asks respondents about their current jobs and experience, certifications and salaries, and more. Respondents encounter multiple choice and multi-select, open-ended, rank choice, and other types of questions while taking the survey.

The survey is distributed to IT professionals around the world by technology providers, certification bodies, and Skillsoft, among others. The focus of this list is on 477 respondents who reported having one or more AWS certifications. The number of responses for each certification worldwide is as follows: AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (145), AWS Certified Security – Specialty (115), AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (319), AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty (118), AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional (143). For the U.S.: AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (65), AWS Certified Security – Specialty (63), AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (88), AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty (60), AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional (79).

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