The information technology industry loves certificates, but not all of them are equal. We have prepared an overview of the highest-payed ones with the open data research.
From lowest paid to highest, here is the list ↓
1. CompTIA Security+
IT professionals who want to demonstrate baseline security skills for job roles such as security engineer, network administrator, help desk technician, and systems administrator should become CompTIA Security+ certified. In addition, many government organizations require their employees to obtain this certification.
Average salary: ~$110,000/year
2. Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization
There is a high demand for IT professionals who can set up and manage virtual environments. On many occasions, the person who sets up a virtual environment is not the same person who manages it, so it is crucial to understand both sides of the process. The Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization certification gives you the knowledge to do that.
Average salary: ~$115,000/year
3. Cisco Certified Network Professional – Enterprise (CCNP)
Enterprise networking has some special requirements. You need to be able to design, implement and troubleshoot WANs, LANs, and other types of networks that are part of a large enterprise.
Average salary: ~$118,000/year
4. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
Microsoft's Azure is one of the largest cloud platforms, and the demand for skilled administrators is really high. Microsoft designed this certification so that individuals could develop the skills required to administer various cloud services.
Average salary: ~$121,000/year
5. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Core Infrastructure
Many enterprise network environments still run on Windows Server. Although Linux is dominant in the industry, Windows still plays a role on the server, and many enterprises rely on it, which means they need experts. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Core Infrastructure proves you have the skills necessary to work with Windows Server, Active Directory, virtualization, storage, and networking services.
Average salary: ~$125,000/year
6. VCP-DVC - VMware Certified Professional - Data Center Virtualization
Virtualization is a fundamental skill you can add to your arsenal. It is relevant in the enterprise, but virtualization is also used on personal devices and in the cloud. If you have this certification, you'll be able to prove your skills with VMware and take your career as a systems administrator or engineer further than ever before.
Average salary: ~$132,000/year
7. CISA - Certified Information Systems Auditor
As an auditor, you have to ensure that your company's IT systems are safe and reliable. The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification is a globally-recognized designation that validates your audit, risk, and cybersecurity skills.
Average salary: ~$134,000/year
8. NCP-MCI - Nutanix Certified Professional - Multicloud Infrastructure
The industry is shifting from a cloud-or-no-cloud model to a multicloud approach where different parts of an enterprise system are wired together from the best available solutions—and those solutions are frequently in different clouds. With a Nutanix Certified Professional certificate, you'll be able to help enterprises make their systems work together seamlessly and securely across multiple cloud platforms.
Average salary: ~$142,000/year
9. PMP - Project Management Professional
Being part of the tech industry is more than just writing code and working on computers—it's also making sure projects get done on time and within budget. That's where project management professionals (PMPs) come in.
Project management professionals are responsible for coordinating the efforts of diverse teams, including IT workers, for completing projects successfully. PMPs plan, execute and oversee projects from beginning to end.
Average salary: ~$149,000/year
10. CISM – Certified Information Security Manager
If you are interested in a leadership role within information security, CISM is the proper certification. A CISM certificate allows you to demonstrate your skills in enterprise security management and will help you advance in your career.
Average salary: ~$149,000/year
11. CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
There are many reasons a person might choose to pursue a career in Cybersecurity, but one of the biggest causes for being drawn to this profession is its stability. With so many major companies and organizations affected by cyber-attacks almost weekly, people who work with computers must understand how they can protect themselves from such threats.
Average salary: ~$151,000/year
12. CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
The Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control certification is a way to demonstrate that you can identify, assess, respond to, and recover from IT security risks. It's a vendor-neutral certification, so you're not tied to any particular product or platform.
Average salary: ~$152,000/year
13. AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
Getting certified as an AWS solutions architect is a great way to add a valuable skill to your resume. AWS is one of the most-used cloud platforms globally, and having a certification will open up all sorts of opportunities. Even just the "associate" level of certification will set you apart from the pack and let you build valuable skills.
Average salary: ~$159,000/year
14. Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect
Google Cloud is a highly versatile platform. And while many companies use AWS, Google Cloud is especially popular for data-related use cases, so it's no surprise that the Google Cloud Certified professional cloud architect is one of the most desirable certifications.
Average salary: ~$169,000/year
15. Google Certified Professional Data Engineer
Data science, machine learning, and AI are at the forefront of the industry. As a Google-certified Data Engineer, you'll be ready to join an organization and help it harness the power of data. You'll be able to take raw data, clean it up, transform it into readable formats, and store it so that your organization can efficiently access and use it.
Average salary: ~$172,000/year