Today, IT professionals are increasingly looking to move into a more lucrative position. However, they find it difficult to get their resumes past HR and recruiters and into the hands of hiring managers. One of the best ways to catch a recruiter’s eye is by attaining a highly recognized IT certification, preferably one that commands a higher salary.
Organizations look for individuals who have credible credentials that confirm their expertise. IT certifications are not only considered a reliable confirmation of a prospective employee’s knowledge, skills and aptitude, but they can also determine one’s earning potential. It is well documented that IT professionals with certifications typically earn higher salaries than those without them. For example, cloud computing professionals generally average over $100,000 per year; in contrast, those with a cloud computing certification average over $150,000-160,000 per year.
But not all IT certifications are as lucrative. A recent survey by Soft Skill found that the employees earning the highest salaries in 2023 are either certified in cloud computing, cybersecurity, or project management. IT professionals with these skills are in high demand and naturally command larger paychecks.
Here are five certifications that IT professionals get highly paid for in 2023.
1. AWS Solutions Architect Professional
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s largest public cloud service provider, making the AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification one of the most in-demand certifications for 2023. According to the 2,500+ survey respondents to Skillsoft’s IT Skills and Salary survey, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect was the highest-paying IT certification in 2022.
Its popularity will only increase as more businesses move their IT operations to the cloud. Thus, if you are a cloud computing professional with at least one year of experience creating solutions for the AWS platform and are interested in advancing your career toward a more lucrative position, you should consider attaining the AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification.
AWS solutions architects build, implement and support cloud infrastructures. Having some experience with Linux system administration, a basic understanding of databases and a working knowledge of distributed systems and multi-tier architectures, you will be able to satisfy the prerequisites for becoming certified.
See More: MCSA vs. MCSE: 11 Major Comparisons
2. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Certified Professional Cloud Architect
The GCP Professional Cloud Architect certification is a widely recognized and respected certification that demonstrates your expertise and skills in designing, developing and managing cloud solutions that are both highly secure and meet compliance regulations.
If you are a cloud professional with a minimum of three years of industry experience building and managing systems for the Google Cloud Platform (GCP), you can advance your career by becoming a GCP Certified Professional Cloud Architect.
It will not only validate your ability to design, build and maintain complex cloud-based systems on the Google Cloud platform, but it will also show that you can analyze problems, identify solutions, and implement the most appropriate cloud architecture to meet business objectives.
3. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
(ISC)2’s CISSP certification equips a professional with the ability to effectively design, manage, and implement a cybersecurity strategy. As a Certified Information Systems Security Professional, you are expected to protect an organization’s information assets by creating policies and monitoring and assessing security risks.
CISSP will also validate your ability to conduct risk assessments and provide advice on how risks can be mitigated, as well as plan, test and implement disaster recovery procedures. If you are an experienced security practitioner, manager, or executive with five years of paid work experience in two or more of the eight domains that CISSP exam covers and want to demonstrate your knowledge across a wide variety of security practices and principles, the CISSP will definitely advance your career.
See More: CISM Certification: Exam Cost, Salary, and Jobs
4. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) by Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)
CISM is an advanced certification that validates that a security professional possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to be able to design, engineer, implement, manage and evaluate an enterprise-wide information security program.
It also demonstrates competence in information security governance, information security risk management, and incident management. CISM professionals identify, assess, manage and monitor an organization’s information security risks. This certification demonstrates to employers how successful you will be in overseeing security teams and operations.
If you have a minimum of 5 years paid experience in an information security position, at least 3 of which were spent in an information security management role, you are ready to advance your career by becoming CISM certified. This certification is specifically designed for information security managers, IT auditors, and IT consultants and managers who support information security program management.
5. PMP: Project Management Professional from Project Management Institute
If you are looking to move into a managerial, leadership or strategic role, you must consider becoming a certified Project Management Professional. PMP is an internationally recognized IT project management accreditation. The average pay of PMP certificate holders has continually increased since its inception. PMP demonstrates competence in managing projects, including budgets, goals and project teams.
If you have three to five years of project management experience, including 4500 hours in a project management role (professionals who have not earned a 4-year degree are required to have 7500 hours) and a minimum of 35 hours of training in a similar project, you will meet the prerequisites for attaining the PMP certification.
As a certified project manager, you will be responsible for leading and managing all aspects of a project – from requirements definition through completion, including determining a project plan, managing resources and meeting deadlines.
See More: CISSP Certification: Exam Cost, Salary, and Jobs in 2022
The Way Forward
Now that you know which certifications will lead you toward a high-paying career, the next step is to identify which certification is best suited to you by comparing the responsibilities of each certified role against your skills, talents and preferences.
Next, determine whether your chosen certification is in demand in your region. Then, begin working toward attaining the certification by obtaining the necessary experience and training required to pass the certification exam. Finally, having attained your certification, you can add that credential to your resume.
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