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Top 10 Highest Paying IT Certifications for 2021
2020 has been a year full of uncertainties. It entirely changed the working norms in the corporate world. We have to accept the fact that change is inevitable. The global pandemic has positively impacted the careers of many, and it will continue to move.
According to the International Labour Organization,
The economic backlash of the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out some 81 million jobs in 2020.
COVID-19 has also affected the IT sector. Many companies in the IT industry are more careful with their budgets. Research by UK job board CV-Library found that,
64.7% of IT professionals are worried about losing their job during the coronavirus pandemic.
Many countries conducted a job retention program to sustain in this global pandemic.
Image source: OECD
Few companies utilized the opportunity of lockdown and planned the organization's expansion giving way to various job opportunities.
To come out of the job crisis caused by the global pandemic, one should take a step ahead in one career and stand out of the crowd by attaining professional certifications.
The IT industry is dynamic and has an ocean of job opportunities. This growing field has some best certifications for 2021. Professional certifications add credibility to your profile.
According to Indeed.com,
The Top 10 highest paying certifications are:
- Google-Certified Professional Cloud Architect
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect
- AWS Certified Developer
- Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect- Expert
- Google-Certified Professional Cloud Architect
Google-Certified Professional Cloud Architect
Google certified professional cloud architect is a professional certification accredited by Google to validate the knowledge of designing, developing, and managing solutions on Google Cloud Platform. With Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect certification, you will create and plan cloud architect solutions. Also, It enables you to analyze technical and business processes.
Due to the global pandemic, the remote working norm adopted, cloud computing is in high demand. According to Gartner,
Worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services is forecast to grow 18.4% in 2021 to total $304.9 billion, up from $257.5 billion in 2020
According to Markets and Markets,
The cloud technology adoption is expected to increase in sectors where the WFH initiative helps sustain enterprise business functions.
Certification: Exam registration fee: $200 (Excluding tax) | Prerequisites: None, recommended 3+ years experience | Question type: Multiple choice questions | Time: 2 hours | Mode: Online-proctored exam or onsite-proctored exam at a testing center
Salary: According to Payscale.com, The average annual wage of cloud architect in the US:
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management Professional (PMP), accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI), is an industry-standard certification globally recognized.
PMP certification validates your Project Management knowledge, experience, and skills to potential employers. It also provides the professional skills necessary to lead project teams and bring projects to successful completion. A PMP certification will enable you to showcase your competencies in leading and directing projects and attain higher salaries than non-certified individuals. The PMP Certification has consistently been among the top-ranked certifications worldwide.
According to PMI,
CIO magazine ranked the PMP as the top project management certification because it proves you have the specific skills and experience employers seek.
There is an accelerating demand for project managers worldwide.
According to Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—Eleventh Edition,
The majority of survey respondents, almost 82%, holds the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Also, they reported higher median salaries than those of non-certified professionals- 22% higher on average across 42 countries surveyed.
Certification:
- 180 questions (175= scored questions, 5= Unscored (pretest) questions)
- The PMP exam duration is 230 minutes.
- Two 10- minutes break
- Questions types:
- Multiple choice
- Multiple responses
- Matching
- Fill-in-the-blank questions
- Drag and drop
- Hot-Spot (Graphic) questions
Salary: According to Payscale.com,
The average annual salary of a Project Management Professional (PMP)
For different job roles,
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
Certified Scrum Master (CSM), accredited by Scrum Alliance, validates the understanding of Agile principles and practices and makes you stand out from the crowd. Scrum is the most popular and most used methodology of Agile.
Due to the ra[pid adoption of Agile project management, there is a huge demand for Certified Scrum Masters
According to the 14th Annual State of Agile Report (2020),
Scrum and related variants remain be most common and most used Agile Methodologies. Fifty-eight percent of the respondents use Scrum Methodology.
Certification: Questions: 50 | Time limit: 60 minutes | Passing score: 37 | Prerequisites: Get training from Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST®), or receive private coaching from a Certified Agile Coach (CAC)
Salary: According to Payscale.com,
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect
AWS- Certified Solutions Architect enhances and validates your in-depth knowledge to analyze, configure, deploy, and manage the end to end operations of AWS cloud services. AWS certifications are diversely classified based on levels, roles, and specialties.
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
AWS Cloud Solutions Architect is the most sought-after role in the Cloud industry. Cloud Solution architect is the one who provides highly scalable and cost-effective AWS cloud solutions.
AWS Cloud Solutions Architect is one of the highest-paid IT Certifications. According to CIO, AWS Certified Solutions Architect is ranked number 1 among the 15 most in-demand certifications for 2021.
According to Gartner report 2020 magic quadrant for cloud infrastructure & platform services, AWS is positioned as a leader by securing the highest score in both axes of measurement, Ability to Execute, and complete vision.
Certification:
Prerequisites: For an associate-level certification, one year or more experience in solving problems and implementing solutions using the AWS Cloud is required.
For professional-level certification, two years or more of comprehensive experience designing, operating, and troubleshooting solutions using the AWS Cloud is required.
Exam Format: Multiple Choice Questions
Time: 180 minutes
Mode: Online proctored exam or Offline in a testing center
Cost: 300 USD
Salary: According to Payscale.com
AWS Certified Developer
AWS Certified Developer is a most sought after certification for a professional working in a software development team that validates high-level programming language knowledge. It validates your expertise in developing, deploying, and debugging cloud-based applications using AWS.
There is a huge demand for AWS certified professionals as there is a shortage of IT skills.
As per TechTarget,
Bowker, “The overall shortage of skills, aligns with the strategies AWS is pursuing,"
According to ITJobsWatch, AWS job vacancy trends as of 12th Jan 2021,
Even after the impact of a global pandemic, there is still a massive demand for AWS Developers.
Certification:
Prerequisites: For an associate-level certification, working knowledge of AWS cloud is recommended.
Exam Format: Multiple Choice Questions
Time: 130 minutes
Mode: Online proctored exam or Offline in a testing center
Cost: 150 USD (Practice exam: 20 USD)
Salary: According to Payscale.com,
Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is a prestigious certification for IT professionals to implement IT service management (ITSM) strategy. The main principle of ITIL is to align Information Technology and business strategy. ITIL certification is one of the top IT certifications accredited by Axelos.
There are 4 ITIL certification levels in ITIL 4 scheme:
- ITIL 4 Foundation Level
- ITIL 4 Managing Professional
- ITIL 4 Strategic Leader
- Master
There is a vast demand for ITIL certifications in 2021 due to the increase in cloud computing adoption. Cloud Computing involves many AI/ML algorithms that increase IT operational load. Due to this increased IT load, improved customer experience, and a high need for a digital approach, many organizations are rapidly embracing ITIL practices.
“In an AXELOS survey conducted with more than 2200 service practitioners based in India – 90% reported that ITIL had been adopted by their organization, with 85% saying it helped their business deliver service management improvements.”
Certification: The current version of ITIL is ITIL4. The path of the ITIL journey is demonstrated as follows:
ITIL Foundation Certification exam format
- Multiple choice examination question
- 40 questions
- 26 marks required to pass (out of 40 available) - 65%
- 60 minutes’ duration
- Closed book.
Salary: According to Payscale.com,
The average annual salary for different job roles:
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) is a prestigious certification issued by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) to address malware and data theft and implement the best practice of information security in an organization. CISM certification validates the knowledge and understanding of developing and managing an enterprise information security program.
The exam validates your expertise in the following fours areas:
- Information Security Governance
- Program Development And Management
- Incident Management
- Risk Management
According to the article published in economic times CIO.com,
“By 2021, fighting cybercrime will cost businesses globally more than $6 trillion annually, and there will be 3.5 million unfilled security jobs, according to Cybersecurity Ventures.”
Due to the above issue, there is a huge demand for cybersecurity certified professionals.
Certification:
Prerequisites: Minimum of 5 years of information security work within the ten years before your certification, and 3 of those five years need to be in management.
- Multiple choice examination question
- 150 questions
- Passing score: 450/800
- Duration: 4 hours or 240 minutes
- Exam Price for ISACA members: $575 (USD)
- Exam Price for ISACA non-members: $760 (USD)
- Mode: Online proctored exam or Offline in a testing center
Salary: According to Payscale.com,
The average annual wage for different roles:
Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) is a renowned certification offered by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). CRISC is mainly based on the risk management of Information systems. It validates the experience and expertise in managing enterprise IT risk. With CRISC certification, you will be able to implement and maintain information system control successfully. CRISC professionals are one of the highest-paid professionals. The CRISC curriculum is based on four domains prescribed by ISACA.
- Risk Identification
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Response
- Risk and Control Monitoring and Reporting
According to ISACA.org,
More than 20,000 professionals worldwide have earned the CRISC to affirm their business and IT risk management competence and their ability to design, implement, monitor, and maintain effectively risk-based information systems controls.
More than 1,300 CRISC holders are CIOs, CISOs, chief compliance, risk or privacy officers, and over 600 are CEOs, CFOs, or equivalent executives.
Certification:
Prerequisites: Minimum of three years of work experience in at least two of the four domains
- Multiple choice examination question
- 150 questions
- Passing score: 450/800
- Duration: 4 hours or 240 minutes
- Exam Price for ISACA members: $575 (USD)
- Exam Price for ISACA non-members: $760 (USD)
- Mode: Online proctored exam or Offline in a testing center
Salary: According to the Payscale.com, average annual salary
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is accredited by International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)². ISC2 is one of the world's largest IT security organizations. CISSP certified professionals are responsible for the critical security issues in an organization. This includes mobile security, risk management, application development security, cloud computing, etc. CISSP curriculum is based on eight domains:
- Security and Risk Management
- Asset Security
- Security Architecture and Engineering
- Communications and Network Security
- Identity and Access Management
- Security Assessment and Testing
- Security Operations
- Software Development Security
There is a massive demand for CISSP Professionals. Due to the impact of Covid-19, working norms have drastically changed all over the world. As employees generate, access, and share more data remotely through cloud apps, data security is critical.
According to Cybercrime Magazine, Cybersecurity Ventures predicted that cybercrime damages would cost the world $6 trillion annually by 2021. To mitigate these damages, by 2021, there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally.
Certification:
Prerequisites: Minimum 5 years of cumulative paid full-time work experience in two or more of the eight domains of the (ISC)² CISSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK).
- Multiple choice examination question
- 100- 150 questions
- Passing score: 700/1000 points
- Duration: 3 hours
- Exam Price: $699
- Mode: Pearson VUE Testing Center
Salary:
According to the Payscsle.com,
Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect- Expert
The Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Certification is accredited by Microsoft and designed for cloud professionals responsible for reliable cloud solutions for an organization.
The expert-level certification validates the knowledge of designing and implementing solutions that run on Microsoft Azure, which includes computing, network, storage, and security.
An Azure Solution Architect partners with cloud administrators, cloud DBAs, and clients to implement solutions.
Certification:
To earn this expert-level certification, you will need to clear two exams:
- AZ-300: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies exam
- AZ-301: Microsoft Azure Architect Design.
Certification level: Expert
The role of Solution Architect is both highly technical and consultative. SAS links end-users and the cloud teams that will build the solution, so they need both hands-on experiences with the Microsoft .NET stack and excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Also, According to the Microsoft Salary survey 2019,
Conclusion:
The certifications mentioned above are based on the salary data taken from Payscal.com. Many other IT certifications are equivalently necessary. Get training from a reputed Certification Planner to excel in your career in 2021.
Reach out to us at support@certificationplanner.com or +1 8553221201 if you want to discover more about your training options. Happy Learning!