Despite layoffs plaguing companies last year, the tech industry is growing much faster than other sectors.
CompTIA predicts 3% year-over-year growth for net tech employment, which would equate to approximately 272,323 additional workers by 2023.
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While realistically securing a career in tech where in-demand skills are constantly evolving is easier said than done, certifications are a big part of the solution—and can oftentimes be a cheaper, quicker, and more flexible way to learn. And in terms of the golden, or should we say green, question—salary, these jobs largely pay six-figures.
In fact, the annual salary for those holding certain IT certifications in the United States is reaching $200,000, according to a new survey by Skillsoft.
The skills training company surveyed over 1,900 tech professionals, and found that Google Cloud’s Professional Cloud Architect certification is the highest-paying certification in the field—with an average annual salary of $200,960. That’s a 25% increase from last year’s results.
However, the median salary for all computer and IT occupations is nearly half that—$100,530, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What may be contributing to the higher salaries for some individuals? Continuous learning and upskilling. Many of the professionals surveyed by Skillsoft have multiple certifications (some have over a dozen) and many have earned a new one in the past year.
Greg Fuller, senior director of tech and dev at Skillsoft says while certifications in topics such as cloud and cybersecurity remain long standing favorites, Google’s platform has been gaining momentum in conjunction with an overall reliance on cloud infrastructure.
Looking at the IT industry as a whole, demand far outweighs supply, he adds.
“And, with the current AI wave, we’ll likely see IT salaries surge even higher next year,” Fuller says. “Earning certifications is a win-win scenario for talent and organizations alike, with the former able to increase their value and proficiency and the latter seeing improved quality of work, increased engagement, and faster performance across their IT workforce.”
Kunal Ahuja, general manager at Skillsoft’s Codecademy consumer business, says based on the new research, it is clear that careers in tech continue to be worth it—especially for those who recognize the need to upskill as tech evolves.
“Technologists who demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and upskilling—whether through certifications or online courses—will be most successful and highly valued in today’s skill-based economy,” Ahuja says.
For those interested in the fine print, here are some of this year’s top-paying certifications based on Skillsoft’s list.
Google Cloud: Professional Cloud Architect
Average salary: $200,960
Average number of certifications of holders: 9
Exam fee: $200
Recommended experience (according to Google): 3+ years of industry experience including 1+ years designing and managing solutions using Google Cloud
Google Cloud: Professional Data Engineer
Average salary: $193,621
Average number of certifications of holders: 9
Exam fee: $200
Recommended experience (according to Google): 3+ years of industry experience including 1+ years designing and managing solutions using Google Cloud
Project Management Professional (PMP)®
Average salary: $176,116
Average number of certifications of holders: 7
Exam fee: $405 for Project Management Institute members; $575 for non-members
Recommended experience (according to PMI): With a four-year degree, 3 years of experience leading projects plus project management training; without, 5 years of experience plus training.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect—Professional
Average salary: $174,137
Average number of certifications of holders: 15
Exam fee: $300
Recommended experience (according to AWS): 2+ years of hands-on experience designing and deploying cloud architecture on AWS
