Global Knowledge, a Skillsoft company has released what it considered the 15 Top-Paying Certifications List for 2021, revealing the most in-demand skills and technology areas for organizations today and, crucially for employees, the average salaries associated with them.
Cybersecurity and cloud certifications lead the way as organizations focus more on risk management than ever.
IT certification is one of the best ways to validate your knowledge, skills and abilities in a subject. While the data shows these certifications have higher salaries associated with them, it’s important to remember salaries are the culmination of several factors including the ability to apply your certified skills at work, job role, continuous professional development, tenure and hard work.
The list also provides a snapshot of the average certification-holder for each credential, including the average number of certifications held, the most popular cross-certification, if they hold cybersecurity-related certifications if they are in management and their average age.
Global Knowledge noted that the list of the top-paying certifications is based on data from more than 3,700 U.S. respondents who participated in the Global Knowledge 2021 IT Skills and Salary Survey.
Here are the lists and salaries:
- Google Certified Professional Data Engineer — $171,749
- Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect — $169,029
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate — $159,033
- CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control — $151,995
- CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional — $151,853
- CISM – Certified Information Security Manager — $149,246
- PMP® – Project Management Professional — $148,906
- NCP-MCI – Nutanix Certified Professional – Multicloud Infrastructure — $142,810
- CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor — $134,460
- VCP-DVC – VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization 2020 — $132,947
- MCSE: Windows Server — $125,980
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate — $121,420
- CCNP Enterprise – Cisco Certified Network Professional – Enterprise — $118,911
- CCA-V – Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization — $115,308
- CompTIA Security+ — $110,974