THE 20 TOP-PAYING IT CERTIFICATIONS GOING INTO 2024

Nearly all IT leaders agree that certified staff add value to their organizations, with most saying in excess of $30,000 a year. And when you consider the monetary costs of preparing for and sitting the exam, the payback is quite substantive, especially how those returns show up for the organization.

Most often, leaders notice an uptick in productivity as those employees who earn certifications feel energized and more engaged at work. But certifications make a difference in other ways too.

Shorter resolution times, projects move faster, deployments are smoother, and employee retention edges up as well. This is all according to recent findings from Skillsoft’s annual IT Skills and Salary survey, which has collected data about certifications and their value to individuals and organizations for nearly two decades. The survey also informs a comprehensive report you can find here, with a new volume releasing this December. Subscribe to the blog for updates on its release.

This year, we examined the reported salaries of individuals around the world to find the highest-paying certifications in the IT industry.

This list is the result of thousands of IT professionals graciously participating in the survey, which is distributed worldwide primarily by Skillsoft, but also by its partners like Google Cloud, Microsoft, ISACA, Nutanix, and CompTIA.

The cumulative results are fascinating insights into the value of skills and certifications. This year in the U.S. alone, more than 1,900 professionals took the survey. That’s how we’ve arrived at this specific list. However, this year, we’re also reporting the survey results of those who reside in Europe and the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions to give a broader view of how certifications are valued around the world.

In this year’s list, you’ll see similar trends to past years. Certifications with a focus on cybersecurity or cloud computing tend to earn IT professionals higher salaries in part due to the sustained demand for these skills. Cybersecurity, in particular, continues to grow in importance to individuals and organizations as threats become more prevalent and severe — which also helps to drive up salaries for those with skills to combat them.

However, it’s important to remember salaries are the culmination of several factors, including the ability to apply your skills at work, job role, continuous professional development, tenure, and hard work. What’s more, this list also provides a snapshot of the average certification holder, including the average number of certifications held, the most popular cross-certification, if they are in management, and their average age.

As we compile this list, we look for certifications that have at least 50 survey responses — unless noted otherwise — before considering other factors. To see more about how we collected this data and compiled the list, read the methodology at the end of the post.

Let’s dive in.

#1 GOOGLE CLOUD – PROFESSIONAL CLOUD ARCHITECT

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $200,960

Google Cloud’s Professional Cloud Architect certification has ranked highly on this in the past, often trading places for the top with others like the Professional Data Engineer certification and comparable credentials from AWS. Last year, it ranked third with an average annual salary of $161,371.

This year, it’s the highest-paying certification in the field.

Developments in cloud — particularly the reliance on and maturation of the technology — have led many in the industry to entrust providers like Google with their data. For reasons like these, cloud architects have grown increasingly necessary for organizations of all sizes.

This certification validates the holder’s proficiency in crafting, managing, and implementing secure, scalable, and reliable cloud solutions using Google Cloud technologies. It signifies an individual’s understanding of Google Cloud’s infrastructure and services, enabling them to devise and optimize cloud architectures that are efficient, cost-effective, and resilient.

Google recommends professionals have at least three years of experience before sitting the exam, with at least one designing and managing solutions in Google Cloud. There is a $200 USD exam fee, and professionals have two hours to complete the exam. The certification lasts for two years before professionals must recertify. Testing is done online or from a testing center.

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#2 GOOGLE CLOUD – PROFESSIONAL DATA ENGINEER

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $193,621

Google Cloud’s Professional Data Engineer certification has historically earned IT professionals high salaries, and there are even fewer exceptions to this rule today. Roles like data engineers, scientists and specialists continue to grow in demand — much faster than average in the U.S. — as data and its application become far more critical to how virtually everyone makes decisions.

This certification validates an individual’s capability to construct and manage effective data processing systems using Google Cloud. It affirms their ability to create secure, scalable, and reliable data solutions.

In this way, organizations stand to gain substantially by employing those who’ve earned this certification, as they bring specialized expertise in handling and analyzing vast datasets. Their skills in developing data processing systems can help organizations enhance operational efficiency, make data-driven decisions, and drive innovation.

To earn this certification, candidates must pass the exam, which has some changes coming Nov. 13, according to Google. The new exam will focus more on changes to Google Cloud’s data storing, sharing, and governance, and less on operationalizing machine learning models. The exam costs $200 USD. It’s 50 to 60 questions, taken over two hours.

Google does recommend at least three years of professional experience, with at least one working with its platform, before sitting the exam. If passed, you’ll have two years before the certification expires.

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#3 PMP®: PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $176,116

The Project Management Institute (PMI®) Project Management Professional (PMP) is one of the most highly regarded certifications of its kind, and it continues to show up on this list year after year. It provides employers and customers with a level of assurance that a project manager has both experience and knowledge.

In 2022, this certification earned professionals $148,290 on average, ranking seventh on the list. The substantive uptick in average earnings may reflect the growing demand for project managers and project management skills as a persistent gap exists. This year’s IT Skills and Salary survey revealed that more than half of IT decision-makers rank their team’s abilities in this area as medium to low, with only 14% saying their team’s skills are high. PMI reports 25 million project management professionals are needed by 2030 to close the talent gap.

To earn the PMP, candidates must meet the Institute’s requirements. Candidates must have a four-year degree, three years of experience leading projects, and 35 hours of project management education or a CAPM® certification. Or, candidates must have a high school diploma, five years of experience, and 35 hours of project management education/training or hold the CAPM® certification. Then, pass the exam. It consists of 180 questions.

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#4 AWS CERTIFIED SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT – PROFESSIONAL

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $174,137

Last year, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional certification topped this list, with an average annual salary of $168,080. AWS certifications have continued to command high salaries for IT professionals due to the assurances they bring to organizations seeking highly skilled talent. What’s more, AWS is one of the top vendors IT leaders plan to invest in this coming year, so having reliable, skilled professionals architecting their cloud infrastructures becomes increasingly important.

This certification validates an individual’s advanced technical skills and expertise in designing and deploying scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on the AWS platform. This certification, designed for seasoned solutions architects, serves as a testament to their comprehensive understanding of AWS architecture and design. Certification holders bring specialized knowledge in devising and implementing complex AWS architectures, optimizing infrastructure, enhancing security, and reducing costs.

AWS recommends two or more years of hands-on experience and familiarity with a scripting language, Windows, Linux, and many AWS services. Candidates pursuing this certification should also feel confident translating business requirements into technical solutions.

Earning this certification requires professionals to pass the current exam. The exam costs $300 USD, lasts 180 minutes, and consists of 75 questions. It can be taken online or at a Pearson VUE testing center.

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#5 CISM – CERTIFIED INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGER

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $167,396

ISACA’s Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification continues to be a highly credible, high-paying credential in the cybersecurity field. Last year, it ranked as the second highest-paying certification, commanding an average annual salary of $162,347.

CISM sustains its presence this year for good reason. Cybersecurity continues to remain a top priority for organizations who must protect sensitive data from ceaseless threat actors. This certification signals to organizations and industry peers that a professional can lead security teams and efforts effectively.

CISM validates the ability to manage, design and assess an enterprise’s information security. It proves expertise in these domains: information security governance, information security risk management, information security program, and incident management.

To earn this certification, professionals must first have five years of professional work experience in the required domains before they can sit the exam, which costs $575 USD for ISACA members and $760 USD for non-members.

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#6 AWS CERTIFIED SECURITY – SPECIALTY

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $166,449

Ranked in the same position this year is the AWS Certified Security — Specialty certification. Last year, at number six on the list, it earned professionals an average salary of $149,741.

The AWS Certified Security – Specialty certification validates the ability to secure data in the AWS cloud and successfully navigate complex security challenges. This certification showcases an individual’s proficiency in managing security controls, understanding AWS security services, and handling incident response. It serves as a testament to a candidate’s knowledge and skills in safeguarding AWS environments, highlighting their specialization in cloud security.

AWS recommends professionals who want to pursue this certification have at least five years of experience in an IT security role, with two years of working knowledge securing AWS workloads. What’s more, those professionals should have strong familiarity with AWS security services, logging and monitoring strategies, cloud security threat models, security operations and risks, and more.

To earn the certification, professionals must pass the exam. The exam costs $300 USD. It’s 65 questions and candidates have 170 minutes to complete it.

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#7 GOOGLE CLOUD PROFESSIONAL – CLOUD DATABASE ENGINEER

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $163,193

Google Cloud’s Professional Cloud Database Engineer certification is for those who are responsible for designing, managing, and troubleshooting databases to ensure scalable and cost-effective solutions that meet both business and technical requirements.

To earn this certification, candidates must be familiar with these areas:

• Designing highly scalable, available databases
• Managing sprawling database solutions
• Migrating data solutions
• Deploying solutions in Google Cloud

Above are the four main topics of the exam. Within each section, candidates will be tested on their abilities to assess and evaluate solutions, administer the platform, and more.

Before sitting the exam, Google recommends professionals have at least five years of database experience, two of which should be hands-on with its solutions. The exam costs $200 USD, lasts two hours, and ranges between 50 and 60 questions

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#8 GOOGLE CLOUD ASSOCIATE – CLOUD ENGINEER

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $161,075

Google Cloud’s Associate Cloud Engineer certification is for those who are responsible for deploying and managing enterprise solutions. These professionals are adept at deploying applications, optimizing infrastructure, and ensuring the reliability and security of cloud-based systems.

To earn this certification, candidates are assessed on their ability to set up, configure, deploy, and ensure the successful operation of cloud solutions. Once achieved, it opens up doors to Google’s professional-level certifications, many seen elsewhere on this list.

There are no prerequisites to sitting the exam, however, Google recommends six months of experience working with the platform. The exam lasts two hours, costs $125 USD and spans up to 60 questions. Unlike others that expire in two years, this certification remains valid for three years.

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#9 AWS CERTIFIED SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT – ASSOCIATE

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $160,052

Consistently a popular and high-paying certification is the AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate, the precursor to the professional-level credential ranked higher on this list. Last year, it earned professionals an average salary of $155,020.

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certification is a highly respected credential that validates an individual’s ability to design and deploy scalable, robust, and fault-tolerant systems on the AWS platform. This certification demonstrates proficiency over various AWS services, including compute, networking, storage, and database. It also attests to the professional’s competency in implementing security controls and compliance requirements.

Those who hope to sit this exam should have strong familiarity with the AWS Well-Architected Framework, and it helps to know the basics of programming, though AWS says deep coding experience isn’t required. To achieve this certification, candidates must pass the exam. AWS recommends a year of hands-on experience designing systems on its platform before taking the exam.

The exam costs $150 USD. Professionals have 130 minutes to complete the 65-question exam.

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#10 CISSP – CERTIFIED INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY PROFESSIONAL

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $156,699

ISC2’s Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) has been a consistently popular and well-regarded certification in the field, leading to high salaries reflected on this list for years. From 2022 to this year, the reported annual earnings stayed consistent. Last year, professionals reported an average annual salary of $158,191.

Earning the CISSP certification has been compared to earning a master’s degree in IT security, as it proves professionals have what it takes to effectively design, implement, and manage a cybersecurity program.

The CISSP exam is based around eight domains in information security:

• Security and Risk Management
• Asset Security
• Security Architecture and Engineering
• Communication and Network Security
• Identity and Access Management (IAM)
• Security Assessment and Testing
• Security Operations
• Software Development Security

To achieve this certification, candidates also need at least five years of paid, relevant work experience in two or more of the CISSP domains.

If you lack the necessary experience, you can still take the certification exam and become an Associate of ISC2 if you pass. Then, you’ll have up to six years to obtain the required experience to earn your CISSP. The exam is $749 USD, and starting April 2024, the exam will refresh.

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#11 CISA – CERTIFIED INFORMATION SYSTEMS AUDITOR

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $154,500

Also ranking in the same position this year is ISACA’s Certified Information Systems Auditor certification. Last year, in the eleventh position, it earned certification holders an average salary of $142,336.

CISA-certified professionals can serve as the conduit between technical, legal and compliance teams and ensure organizations protect privacy and manage risk in an efficient, cost-effective way.

This certification has been around since 1978, making it one of the oldest, and most respected, credentials on this list. ISACA’s CISA certification validates audit, risk and cybersecurity skills pertaining to these domains:

• Information Systems Auditing Process
• Governance and Management of IT
• Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation
• Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience
• Protection of Information Assets

Earning this certification means you meet the minimum requirements and pass the exam. Like the CISM, professionals who pursue this exam must have at least five years of professional auditing experience. The exam costs $575 USD for ISACA members and $760 USD for non-members. Starting August 2024, there will be an updated exam.

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#12 AWS CERTIFIED ADVANCED NETWORKING – SPECIALTY

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $153,031

The AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty certification is meant for those who wish to prove their expertise working with complex networks.

According to the IT Skills and Salary survey, more than half of IT leaders say their team’s networking skills fall somewhere between medium and low. That’s to say, relatively few feel very confident in their team’s abilities in this area (7% who say “high”), creating an opportunity for specialists — like those with this certification — to have an outsized impact on their teams and likely earn generous salaries, like what’s shown here.

A specialty certification, it’s meant for those with at least five years of experience. Like other specialty certifications, AWS also recommends having hands-on experience with AWS services, security, and storage best practices. Candidates for this certification should also have knowledge of networking architectures, interconnectivity options, developing automation scripts and tools, and network security.

To earn this certification, candidates must pass the exam, which consists of 65 questions, lasts 170 minutes, and costs $300 USD.

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#13 AWS CERTIFIED DEVOPS ENGINEER – PROFESSIONAL

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $150,546

The AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional certification demonstrates an individual’s proficiency in operating and managing distributed application systems on the AWS platform. This certification has seen an increase in demand over the past several years, as more employers require it for hire, according to Lightcast.

Candidates who plan to pursue this certification should have at least two years of experience provisioning, operating, and managing AWS environments. They should also know at least one programming language and feel confident building a highly automated infrastructure. Other helpful skills:

• Administering operating systems
• Familiarity with modern development processes
• Familiarity with continuous delivery systems and security controls on AWS

To earn this certification, candidates must pass the exam, which costs $300 USD and lasts for 180 minutes. It can be taken at a Pearson VUE testing center or online.

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#14 BTA CERTIFIED BLOCKCHAIN SECURITY PROFESSIONAL (CBSP)

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $129,185

This certification from the Blockchain Training Alliance hasn’t made the list before, partly due to a lack of responses collected, but reports of a recent spike in demand for these skills help explain what could be a notable rise in certifications on the topic. Further, IT leaders say their teams’ blockchain skills could be improved, with 66% saying they’re medium to low. Only 9% feel confident (or rank those skills as “high”) in their team’s skill, according to the IT Skills and Salary survey.

The Certified Blockchain Security Professional (CBSP) certification validates one’s expertise in blockchain security. The exam covers twelve sections, including topics such as fundamental blockchain security, smart contract security, and blockchain risk assessment.

The CBSP certification is suitable for various professionals, including blockchain architects, developers, system administrators, and network security architects. It verifies their understanding of security threats and attacks on blockchain networks, best practices for blockchain security, and risk mitigation techniques.

To earn the certification, candidates must pass a 70-question multiple-choice exam that lasts 90 minutes. It is a performance-based assessment, meaning candidates must demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. Exams are online, and it costs $275 USD.

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#15 CISCO CCNA

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $128,651

The CCNA certification demonstrates your ability to navigate the evolving IT field by covering networking fundamentals, security, automation, and more. With CCNA training, you gain the skills to excel in managing and improving advanced networks.

It’s one of the first certifications a candidate can earn to then branch out to other, more advanced certifications, like Cisco’s CCNP Enterprise, which has historically made this list in the past. This year, only 19 respondents to the survey reported having the certification in the U.S. We look for 50 to 100 to report these figures more reliably. Those who responded earned an average salary of $160,399, which would place it high on this list.

Those who go after this certification tend to hold careers as network administrators or engineers. To earn the certification, you must pass the exam. It tests candidates on these topics, including:

• Network fundamentals
• Network access
• IP connectivity
• IP services
• Security fundamentals
• Automation and programmability

The certification remains valid for three years. Candidates must complete their exam through one of the Pearson VUE testing centers around the world. It costs $300 USD and lasts 120 minutes.

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THE EXTENDED CUT OF OUR TOP-PAYING IT CERTIFICATIONS LIST

This list has a long history of sharing the 15 top-paying IT certifications. However, as more certifications come onto the scene and technology evolves, we’re broadening our horizons to look further and dig deeper into the survey findings.

New this year is an extension of our annual list. Below, you’ll find another five certifications that earn IT professionals generous salaries due to their rigor, credibility and validation. For those in leadership building a team, certifications like the ones below not only prove that a prospective candidate has the skills you’re after, but demonstrate their commitment to learning, personal and professional development, and interest in going above and beyond.

Let’s keep going.

#16 AWS CERTIFIED DEVELOPER – ASSOCIATE

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $127,259

The AWS Certified Developer – Associate certification validates knowledge and proficiency in core services, best practices, and developing cloud-based applications. It’s also a great building block toward more advanced or specialized certifications, like many others on this list.

This certification is best suited for individuals who have experience in a developer role, know at least one programming language, and have familiarity with AWS. It is also beneficial for those who wish to earn this credential to have strong on-premises IT experience and a solid understanding of transitioning from on-premises to cloud environments.

Earning this certification means first sitting the exam, which consists of 65 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions and allows roughly 130 minutes to complete. The cost of the exam is $150 USD, and it can be taken at a Pearson VUE testing center or through an online proctored exam.

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#17 AWS CERTIFIED DATABASE – SPECIALTY

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $122,677

The AWS Certified Database – Specialty proves an individual’s knowledge to design, administer and recommend the best database solutions based on the needs of the organization.

Today, those in IT leadership feel their teams’ abilities in this area are generally strong, with 39% saying their staff’s skills are somewhat high or high, according to the IT Skills and Salary survey. However, the highest percentage of respondents (42%) say their team’s skills fall somewhere in the middle of high and low. Likely, this leaves many data-focused teams with skills gaps, which often add stress or hamper projects. Those who pursue this certification become a valued team member who can alleviate issues like these.

It’s best suited for those with experience administering on-premises and cloud relational and non-relational databases. Candidates should have five years of experience, with at least two hands-on working with AWS. They must feel confident designing database solutions using AWS services based on the needs and requirements of the organization.

The exam is 180 minutes and costs $300 USD. It consists of 65 questions, which can be either multiple choice or multiple response. The exam can be taken at a Pearson VUE testing center or through online proctoring.

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#18 COMPTIA SECURITY+

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $121,653

Among the most popular IT certifications, CompTIA’s Security+ has made this list at varying ranks in the past. While popular, passing this exam calls for celebration as it covers a broad range of topics and requires close study to gain the familiarity necessary. Said differently, it’s not an easy exam to pass.

However, once earned, professionals open up opportunities to both advance their careers and deepen their expertise in this area. It often serves as an employment requirement and meets the Department of Defense’s directive 8140/8570.01-M.

The new CompTIA Security+ exam went live on Nov. 7, 2023. Check with your training provider or CompTIA to learn more about these changes and what to study in advance of sitting the exam.

In the meantime, here are the new exam domains:

• General Security Concepts
• Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations
• Security Architecture
• Security Operations
• Security Program Management and Oversight

The exam costs $392 USD, consists of 90 questions, and lasts 90 minutes. Candidates should have their Network+ and at least two years of professional IT experience before attempting this test.

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#19 COMPTIA CYSA+ (CYBERSECURITY ANALYST)

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $121,043

CompTIA’s CySA+, or Cybersecurity Analyst, certification is the intermediate security credential that falls between Security+ and CASP+, or Advanced Security Practitioner, which calls for at least five years of professional experience.

To earn this certification, candidates are tested on threat detection techniques, their ability to analyze data, identify vulnerabilities, respond to incidents, and more. The latest exam was updated in June 2023, now with greater emphasis on threat hunting, automating intel, and using various tools to monitor and respond to incidents.

The new CySA+ exam covers these domains, according to CompTIA:

• Security Operations (33%)
• Vulnerability Management (30%)
• Incident Response Management (20%)
• Reporting and Communication (17%)

The exam features up to 85 questions, lasts 165 minutes, and candidates should have their Network+ and Security+ — or similar expertise — and have roughly four years of hands-on work experience.

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#20 MICROSOFT CERTIFIED: AZURE ADMINISTRATOR ASSOCIATE

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $120,622

Microsoft’s Azure Administrator Associate certification is the most popular offered by the company just behind its Azure Fundamentals credential, according to the IT Skills and Salary survey.

Among the results, Microsoft continually proves to be one of the most popular certification providers represented in the survey. What’s more, it’s the top vendor IT leaders plan to invest in this coming year, with 46% in agreement.

The leading reason for training, according to the survey, is to support product or solution deployments, which provides clearer reason why these certifications remain particularly popular. When seeking prospective hires, certifications assure IT leaders candidates have the skills and knowledge needed for the role.

This certification helps prove to leaders that a candidate knows how to administer an enterprise’s Azure environment. To earn the credential, it requires expertise in implementing, managing, and monitoring Azure environments, covering areas like virtual networks, storage, compute, identity, security, and governance.

The exam tests candidates’ knowledge on these topics:

• Azure identity and governance management
• Storage implementation and management
• Azure compute resource deployment and management
• Virtual networking implementation and management
• Azure resource monitoring and maintenance

Candidates should also have a solid understanding of operating systems, networking, servers, and virtualization. Microsoft says candidates should have familiarity with tools like PowerShell, Azure CLI, Azure portal, Azure Resource Manager templates, and Microsoft Entra ID. The exam costs $165 USD.

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JUST MISSED THE CUT

When compiling this list, we’ve historically looked for certifications that have between 50 and 100 responses minimum to feel more confident in reporting salaries and the supporting data.

However, depending on the region, some certifications just miss the cut but are nonetheless worthy of a mention because of their relevance and reverence in the field.

Here are a few more certifications that just barely missed the cut:

GOOGLE CLOUD CERTIFIED – PROFESSIONAL CLOUD DEVELOPER

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $178,270

The Google Cloud Certified – Professional Cloud Developer certification showcases expertise in designing, building, and managing robust, scalable applications with Google Cloud technologies. It confirms the ability to leverage Google Cloud for application development.

The certification exam assesses building and designing Google Cloud solutions, managing application data, optimizing performance, and ensuring security and compliance. The exam can be taken remotely or at a test center. The cost of the exam is $200 USD.

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NUTANIX CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL – MULTICLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE (NCP-MCI) V6.5

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $139,361

The Nutanix Certified Professional – Multicloud Infrastructure (NCP-MCI) certification ranked as the eighth highest-paying certification on this in 2022 and continues to command high salaries for professionals who pass the exam.

Earning this certification proves your abilities to deploy and manage virtual infrastructure components and VMs, perform operational maintenance tasks, and initiate disaster recovery, according to Nutanix. It’s best suited for those with roughly three years of professional experience, including one working with Nutanix specifically.

The knowledge objectives:

• Manage Cluster, Nodes, and Features
• Manage Cluster Storage
• Configure Cluster Networking and Network Security
• Analyze and Remediate Performance Issues
• Configure, Analyze, and Remediate Alerts and Events
• Manage VM Deployment and Configuration

To earn this certification, candidates must pass the exam. It costs $199 USD, spanning 75 questions. Professionals have 120 minutes to complete the exam.

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MICROSOFT CERTIFIED: AZURE AI FUNDAMENTALS

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY: $126,517

The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals certification validates a basic understanding of machine learning, AI concepts, and Azure services. It demonstrates the ability to describe AI workloads, machine learning principles on Azure, and features of computer vision and NLP workloads on Azure. Microsoft recommends programming experience.

The skills tested:

• Artificial intelligence workloads and considerations
• Fundamental principles of machine learning on Azure
• Computer vision workloads on Azure
• Natural Language Processing (NLP) workloads on Azure

The certification exam can be scheduled with Pearson VUE or Certiport in multiple languages. The exam cost $99 USD.

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THE HIGHEST-PAYING CERTIFICATIONS WORLDWIDE

Below are the highest-paying certifications worldwide, according to the IT Skills and Salary survey. The survey was completed by 5,000+ IT professionals around the world, with the most responses from these countries:

1. United States (35%)
2. India (9%)
3. Canada (4%)
4. United Kingdom (4%)
5. Brazil (4%)
6. The Netherlands (3%)
7. Australia (3%)
8. France (2%)
9. Spain (2%)
10. Nigeria (2%)

In December, a new volume of the IT Skills and Salary Report will release, giving a more holistic view into global skills and certification trends. Remember to subscribe to Skillsoft’s blog to get updated on its release.

THE HIGHEST-PAYING CERTIFICATIONS IN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST

In this year’s survey, more than 1,600* people who live in Europe and the Middle East completed the IT Skills and Salary survey, ranking these certifications as the highest paying across the region.

*Some certifications in this table have sample sizes of fewer than 50 responses, which is the benchmark Skillsoft uses to present survey data.

THE HIGHEST-PAYING CERTIFICATIONS IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

The Asia-Pacific region accounted for more than 850* complete responses to this year’s survey, showing these as the highest-paying certifications.

*The certifications in this table have sample sizes of fewer than 50 responses, which is the benchmark Skillsoft uses to present survey data.

THE HIGHEST-PAYING CERTIFICATIONS IN THE LATIN AMERICAN REGION

The Latin American region accounted for more than 380* complete responses to this year’s survey, showing these as the highest-paying certifications.

*The certifications in this table have sample sizes of fewer than 50 responses, which is the benchmark Skillsoft uses to present survey data.

HOW WE BUILT THE LIST

Our U.S. list of the top-paying certifications is based on responses to Skillsoft’s IT Skills and Salary survey conducted May 2023 to September 2023. The survey asks respondents about their current jobs, experiences, certifications, 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. Almost 2,000 IT professionals in the U.S. participated. When asking survey participants to report their salary, those who live outside of the U.S. are asked to convert their earnings into United States dollars.

For the U.S. list specifically, certifications must have at least 50 survey responses to be considered and reported, unless disclosed otherwise. Those certifications featured in the “Just Missed the Cut” section had 49 responses each. As we compile this list, we consider relevance, demand, and certification requirements. Salaries are not normalized for cost of living or location. The top 10 U.S. states represented in this survey are as follows:

1. California (15%)
2. Texas (8%)
3. New York (7%)
4. Florida (6%)
5. Illinois (4%)
6. Virginia (4%)
7. Ohio (3%)
8. Washington (3%)
9. Georgia (3%)
10. Pennsylvania (3%)