AWS, Google Cloud certs command highest pay

IT professionals with certifications in AWS, Google, and Nutanix earn more on average in the U.S., according to the most recent Skillsoft study, while traditional networking certs become more of a prerequisite for tech workers who are augmenting their networking know-how with cloud, security, and AI skills.

“Traditional networking certifications didn’t make this year’s list, mainly due to it being viewed as a prerequisite skill. However, networking is present in many of the certifications that made the list. We can think of cloud being the new way of networking and we have certifications such as Google Cloud – Professional Cloud Architect or AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate,” says Greg Fuller, vice president of Codecademy Enterprise.

Networking certifications are evolving by including cloud, security, and AI expertise alongside more classic networking capabilities. For instance, there is a trend toward certifications that have a networking component, such as Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Security and CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional. Still, the purest networking certification making this year’s list is Cisco’s CCNP Enterprise, which ranked among the highest-paying certifications in Europe and the Middle East with an average salary of $56,881.

“Most networking professionals are upskilling to cloud technologies that have a large networking component. Cisco remains strong on the list, but it would be the Professional level certifications that have made the list,” Fuller says. “Many networking certifications are adding [artificial intelligence/machine learning] such as the updated CCNA certification. Microsoft has the AI Fundamentals and AI Engineer certifications. New entrants are AWS AI Practitioner, and CompTIA has AI Essential+ coming. Nothing made our list this year, but more certifications are entering the market.”

Fuller says networking professionals can continue to upskill themselves with AI certifications that also focus on cloud computing. “The backbone of AI is cloud, so getting cloud certified is a first step and then look at some of the more specialized Cloud AI certifications,” he adds.

As networking and security teams continue to converge, certifications also address these collaborative capabilities. According to Fuller, CISSP and Cisco CCNP Security certifications continue to score high, and the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification is a strong contender for professionals looking to enhance their networking and security know-how.

Cashing in on cloud

The top four certifications on the list deal with cloud expertise, and that is no surprise to Skillsoft.

“This year’s list shows that cloud computing skills remain in high demand and can be quite lucrative for tech professionals,” Fuller explains.

AWS Certified Security – Specialty ranked sixth on the list for the past two years, and it continues to rise because not only does it deal with cloud skills, but it also addresses securing the environments. “The AWS Certified Security – Specialty certification validates the ability to secure data in the AWS cloud and successfully navigate complex security challenges,” according to a Skillsoft blog on the survey findings. Annual salaries for professionals with this certification averages $203,597.

Google Cloud – Professional Cloud Architect fell to the second spot from its number one ranking last year, and Skillsoft says it will continue to warrant higher pay because while cloud is widely adopted, it remains a challenging area when it comes to filling roles with the right skills. “It’s still tough to find professionals with the right skill set. While cybersecurity is the toughest area to source talent, cloud computing isn’t far behind,” Skillsoft reports. Annual salaries for professionals with this certification averages $190,204.

Nutanix Certified Professional – Multicloud Infrastructure (NCP-MCI) V6.5 validates the sustained demand for cloud computing skills, according to Skillsoft. Organizations today likely work with multiple cloud providers, which can offer many benefits but introduce management challenges. Nutanix says it’s cloud platform can simplify the management of cloud services, and “earning this certification proves your abilities to deploy and manage virtual infrastructure components and virtual machines, operational maintenance tasks, and initiate disaster recovery,” Skillsoft says. Annual salaries for professionals with this certification averages $175,409.

CCSP – Certified Cloud Security Professional certification from ISC2 validates a professional’s ability to apply best practices, as set by the ISC2 community, to secure cloud environments, and it also meets the U.S. Department of Defense’s 8140 compliance requirements. Skillsoft identifies this certification as an “excellent choice for advanced security practitioners who want to earn more credibility at work, validate the versatility of their skill set, and join a respected peer network.” Annual salaries for professionals with this certification averages $171,524.

While Skillsoft provides the average salaries of professionals with these certifications, it is important to note that many factors come into play when calculating compensation. The ranking provides a snapshot of the average certification holder, Skillsoft says.

“Overall, the IT job market is characterized by a significant imbalance between supply and demand, which continues to drive salaries higher. Our data suggests that tech professionals skilled in cloud computing, security, data privacy, and risk management, as well as able to handle complex, multi-faceted IT environments, will be well-positioned for success,” Fuller explains.

The 20 highest-paying IT certifications in the U.S.

Salaries top $200,000 for one of the highest paying certifications, according to Skillsoft’s annual ranking. More than 2,217 U.S. professionals participated in this year’s survey that found the following top 20 highest-paying certifications on average. Here is the list of 20 highest-paying certifications in the U.S. ranked from one to 20 plus their average salaries, according to the Skillsoft research.

• AWS Certified Security – Specialty: $203,597
• Google Cloud – Professional Cloud Architect: $190,204
• Nutanix Certified Professional – Multicloud Infrastructure (NCP-MCI) v6.5: $175,409
• CCSP – Certified Cloud Security Professional: $171,524
• CCNP Security: $168,159
• CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional: $168,060
• CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure: $166,524
• CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control: $165,890
• AWS Certified Developer – Associate: $165,171
• CIPP – Certified Information Privacy Professional: $161,439
• Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert: $160,044
• CISM – Certified Information Security Manager: $157,189
• CIPM – Certified Information Privacy Manager: $155,976
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate: $155,597
• CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor: $155,362
• CGEIT – Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT: $152,838
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate: $148,849
• Google Cloud – Associate Cloud Engineer: $146,533
• CEH – Certified Ethical Hacker: $146,260
• CDPSE – Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer: $146,033

A few notable certifications that didn’t receive enough responses (Skillsoft requires 40 responses to gain a ranking) to make the list include: Google Cloud – Professional Data Engineer, with an average annual salary of $206,900; AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professionals, with an average annual salary of $221,069; and Information Security Systems Management Professional (ISSMP), with an average annual salary of $173,820.

These results reflect the 42% of survey responses from the U.S., and in November, a new volume of the IT Skills and Salary Report will be released, giving a more comprehensive view into global skills and certification trends. According to Skillsoft, more than 5,000 IT professionals around the world participated in the global survey.

Read more about network certifications

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• 9 career-boosting Wi-Fi certifications: Whether you’re just starting your IT career, have been in IT before Wi-Fi was a thing, or even if you have a non-IT position, there are certifications to help prove your wireless knowledge and skills.
• Cloud networking certs: Which is right for you? AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud offer career-boosting certifications in cloud networking.
• Cisco CCNA and AWS cloud networking rank among highest paying IT certifications: Cloud expertise and security know-how remain critical in building today’s networks, and these skills pay top dollar, according to Skillsoft. Demand for talent continues to outweigh supply.
• CompTIA to offer advanced cloud networking certification: CompTIA CloudNetX certification aims to validate the knowledge of network professionals who manage complex, hybrid cloud environments.
• Cisco debuts CCDE-AI Infrastructure certification: Cisco’s new certification aims to help prepare IT pros to design, provision and optimize networks and systems needed for demanding AI/ML workloads.