Which tech certifications will boost your pay the most? That’s a burning question for many tech professionals, especially those whose specializations—including cybersecurity and networking—can require multiple certifications to unlock lucrative job opportunities. Nobody wants to spend the time and energy pursuing a certification that won’t pay off in a serious way.
With all that in mind, a new report by Skillsoft attempts to break down the highest-paying certifications. “Certifications with a focus on cybersecurity or cloud computing tend to earn IT professionals higher salaries in part due to the sustained demand for these skills,” reads the report’s intro. “Cybersecurity, in particular, continues to grow in importance to individuals and organizations as threats become more prevalent and severe—which also helps to drive up salaries for those with skills to combat them.”
As the report cautions, however, you can’t attribute a tech pro’s entire salary to one particular certification, or even a collection of them; other factors, including skills and experience, have an impact on one’s compensation. However, it’s pretty clear from industry data and other reports that a strong correlation exists between certain certifications and pay premiums.
Skillsoft’s report is also interesting because it offers additional data on certification holders’ average age, number of certifications held, whether they’re in a management position, and the most popular cross-certification. We’ve excerpted their top 10 certifications (along with the certification holders’ average salary and most popular cross-certifications) in the chart below, but you should definitely read the full report for even more valuable data:
For more on which certifications can produce the greatest pay premiums, check out Foote Partners LLC’s “IT Skills & Certifications Pay Index & IT Skills & Certifications Volatility Index.” Always keep in mind that, as certifications become more popular, their pay premium declines; tech professionals with rarer certifications are in shorter supply, and thus higher demand (with the accompanying pay boost).
While certifications aren’t necessary for every tech job, also remember that they’ll give you an advantage in 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’s reason enough to consider taking the time and resources to earn one.
