Which certifications can help boost tech professionals’ pay the most? That’s a vital question for virtually everyone in the tech industry, especially when you consider the time and expense needed to earn some of the most popular certifications.
A recent analysis by Skillsoft found that tech professionals who hold certifications in critical arenas such as cloud and cybersecurity can earn healthy six-figure salaries. While possession of a particular certification isn’t solely responsible for these high payouts—indeed, many of the tech pros surveyed by Skillsoft held multiple certifications—they’re clearly a way to open up new opportunities and land more technically sophisticated, lucrative roles.
Here’s Skillsoft’s breakdown of the correlation between certain certifications and higher salaries:
As the accompanying report notes: “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.” When it comes to a certification like the AWS Certified Security – Specialty, which requires years of experience and voluminous knowledge about cybersecurity best practices, those other factors are baked into the certification itself.
It’s also critical to note that many of the tech professionals surveyed by Skillsoft held more than two dozen certifications, in some cases, and had earned or renewed at least one certification within the past year. In other words, it’s critical to see certifications as a continuous process of learning and updating, especially in quickly evolving areas such as cybersecurity.
While certifications aren’t necessary for every tech job, they can give even the most experienced tech professionals a bit of an advantage when applying for new jobs, especially if they’re facing off against a crowded field of applicants. Some 80 percent of HR professionals at medium and large organizations said they relied on certifications during the hiring process, according to CompTIA’s recent Workforce and Learning Trends 2023 report. That data point alone should be enough to convince you to keep your certifications up to date.
