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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 effectively utilizing AWS services and technologies.
AWS-certified professionals are more likely to secure lucrative job opportunities and command 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 2024 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 worldwide and reports on average salaries and other related information. See how we compiled this list in the methodology.
Keep reading to learn more about the highest-paying AWS certifications and how to earn them:
THE TOP-PAYING AWS CERTIFICATIONS WORLDWIDE
| CERTIFICATION | SALARY |
|---|---|
| AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty | $171,725 |
| AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional | $164,012 |
| AWS Certified Security – Specialty | $158,594 |
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional | $155,905 |
| AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty | $151,676 |
AWS CERTIFIED MACHINE LEARNING – SPECIALTY
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $171,725
The AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty certification is designed for individuals in development or data science roles. Professionals with this certification can validate their ability to design, implement, deploy, and maintain machine learning (ML) solutions for given business problems. Obtaining this certification helps professionals develop into valued machine learning specialists who are ready to design and implement reliable, effective, and secure ML solutions.
How to earn this certification:
- Have at least one to two years of relevant ML/deep learning experience.
- Pass the AWS Certified Database – Machine Learning exam. See training path.
AWS CERTIFIED DEVOPS ENGINEER – PROFESSIONAL
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $164,012
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 DevOps Engineer - 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.
AWS CERTIFIED SECURITY – SPECIALTY
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $158,594
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 – PROFESSIONAL
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $155,905
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 ADVANCED NETWORKING – SPECIALTY
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $151,676
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.
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 2024. 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 398 respondents who reported having one or more AWS certifications. The number of responses for each certification worldwide is as follows: AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty (59), AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional (77), AWS Certified Security – Specialty (100), AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (97), AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty (65)
