TL;DR
AWS Certifications That Boost Salary in the US can turn cloud skills into a serious pay advantage—but only if you choose the right credential for the right role. Many professionals chase popular exams without knowing which certifications actually lead to higher-paying jobs, leaving them with extra study time but little salary growth
The problem is simple: not all AWS certifications deliver the same return. Associate-level credentials can strengthen your resume, while Professional and Specialty certifications—such as Solutions Architect Professional, DevOps Engineer Professional, Security, and Machine Learning—often align with the highest US salary ranges
The solution is to match your certification to your target job, experience level, and salary goal. This guide breaks down the top-paying AWS certifications, expected US earnings, and the best path to choose—so you can check current salary benchmarks on WhatIsTheSalary.com before investing in an exam.
Which AWS Certifications Boost Salary in the US?
Here is what US professionals reported earning by AWS certification. The data comes from Skillsoft’s IT Skills and Salary survey, which ran from May to September 2024 and included 2,217 US respondents.
| Certification | Avg US salary | Level | Sample size |
| Cloud Practitioner | $142,704 | Foundational | 50 or more |
| Solutions Architect Associate | $155,597 | Associate | 50 or more |
| Developer Associate | $165,171 | Associate | Under 50 |
| SysOps Administrator Associate* | $168,563 | Associate | Under 50 |
| Advanced Networking Specialty | $187,630 | Specialty | Under 50 |
| DevOps Engineer Professional | $196,814 | Professional | Under 50 |
| Security Specialty | $203,597 | Specialty | Under 50 |
| Machine Learning Specialty (retired) | $213,267 | Specialty | Under 50 |
| Solutions Architect Professional | $221,069 | Professional | Under 50 |
Pay rises with exam level, and the professional and specialty exams sit at the top. But seven of these nine averages come from fewer than 50 respondents, so treat them as a direction, not a promise. Only Cloud Practitioner and Solutions Architect Associate had enough responses for Skillsoft to call them solid.
Why Salary Sources Do Not Agree
Different sources give different numbers, and that is normal. Each one measures a different group of people.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median of $130,390 for computer network architects as of May 2024. Its wider computer and information technology group has a median of $105,990, compared with $49,500 for all US occupations. BLS counts everyone in the job, certified or not.
Skillsoft runs higher because certified respondents skew experienced. The average AWS certification holder in that survey was 39, held 14 certifications, and 52% managed a team. Those are senior people, not fresh graduates.
Cost of living also hides inside every average. A cloud engineer in California and one in Montana can hold the same badge and earn very different pay.
Some training blogs advertise a flat 26% raise or a $12,000 premium. I could not trace either number to a method I trust, so I left them out.
AWS Certifications by Career Stage
Entry Level: Cloud Practitioner
This exam costs $100, runs 90 minutes, and needs no prior experience. Holders report a $142,704 US average, but do not expect that as a first salary. Many holders earned it years ago, next to other credentials.
For a first cloud job, the badge shows you speak the language. It rarely moves your pay by itself. If you are building a tech career without a degree, the same logic shows up in how people get hired as a cybersecurity analyst without a degree. Employers want proof you can do the work, and certifications help provide it.
Associate Level: Best Value for Most People
Solutions Architect Associate, Developer Associate, and CloudOps Engineer Associate cost $150 each. AWS recommends about a year of hands on experience before you sit them. Reported US averages are $155,597, $165,171, and $168,563, with the last one listed as SysOps Administrator in the survey.
Solutions Architect Associate holders often work as cloud architects, while Developer Associate holders tend to be cloud engineers. The Solutions Architect number has stayed steady across three survey years: $155,020, $160,052, then $155,597. That tells me the exam holds its value without spiking.
One perk: after you earn any AWS certification, AWS gives you 50% off your next exam. Stacking two associates costs less than it looks.
Professional Level: Highest Pay, Higher Bar
Solutions Architect Professional reports $221,069 and DevOps Engineer Professional reports $196,814. Each exam costs $300, and AWS recommends two or more years of hands on work.
Solutions Architect Professional has swung from $168,080 to $174,137 to $221,069 across survey years, partly because the sample is small. I would not bank on that top number. Also check whether a figure is base salary or total comp. RSUs, signing bonuses, and annual bonuses at large cloud employers change the picture fast.
Why AWS Security Specialty Leads the Pack
Security Specialty tops Skillsoft’s US list at $203,597. Two surveys ago it earned $149,741. Last year it earned $166,449. That is roughly a 22% jump in one year.
Skillsoft points to demand. Cybersecurity is the hardest area for IT leaders to hire for, and cloud ranks third. Employers pay up for people who cover both.
Be realistic about who holds it, though. AWS recommends five years in IT security, including two securing AWS workloads. Every holder in the survey also had a cybersecurity certification, CISSP was the most common companion, and 35% were in management. This is a second or third credential, not an entry ticket.
If that route appeals to you, the cybersecurity career path guide maps the steps from analyst to senior roles, and the CISO salary guide shows where security leadership can eventually pay. AWS has also updated the exam to version SCS-C03, with new coverage of generative AI and machine learning security.
The Machine Learning Specialty Is Gone
Many pages still rank the Machine Learning Specialty near the top, with a reported $213,267 US average. The exam is retired. AWS made March 31, 2026 the last day to take it.
If you already hold it, the certification stays active for three years from the date you earned it. If you want a machine learning credential now, AWS points people toward AI Practitioner, Machine Learning Engineer Associate, and the new Generative AI Developer Professional.
One more point. Pay for machine learning work swings hard by metro area. Before you chase that salary, check data scientist salary by city to see what your market actually pays.
Does the Certification Cause the Raise?
Not by itself, and the data is honest about that. Skillsoft notes that pay also reflects job role, tenure, and whether you manage people. IT leaders in its survey say certified staff add $30,000 or more in yearly value to their organization. That is value to the employer, not a promise about your paycheck.
Another study, commissioned by AWS and run by Enterprise Strategy Group, found 74% of certified learners said their earnings rose. That is self reported, and AWS paid for it, so read it as encouraging, not proven.
My take: a certification works best as proof. It helps you land interviews, build a promotion case, and qualify for roles that screen for it. BLS says something similar about network architects, noting that employers may require certification in the products they use.
What AWS Exams Cost and What They Expect
| Certification | Exam fee | Exam length | Recommended experience |
| Cloud Practitioner | $100 | 90 min | None required |
| Solutions Architect Associate | $150 | 130 min | About 1 year on AWS |
| Developer Associate | $150 | 130 min | 1 year building apps on AWS |
| CloudOps Engineer Associate | $150 | 130 min | About 1 year on AWS |
| DevOps Engineer Professional | $300 | 180 min | 2+ years managing AWS systems |
| Solutions Architect Professional | $300 | 180 min | 2+ years designing on AWS |
| Security Specialty | $300 | 170 min | 5 years IT security, 2 on AWS |
| Advanced Networking Specialty | $300 | 170 min | 5+ years in networking |
Even at $300, the exam fee is small next to the pay gaps in the first table. The real cost is study time. AWS certifications also stay active for only three years, so plan to renew.
How to Pick the Right One
New to cloud: start with Cloud Practitioner, then move to Solutions Architect Associate within a few months.
Building applications: Developer Associate fits software developers and pairs well with Solutions Architect Associate.
Running production systems: CloudOps Engineer Associate first, then DevOps Engineer Professional if you work on site reliability or platform teams.
Already working in security: Security Specialty, once you have the experience. If you do not, build that first.
Senior and aiming for architecture roles: Solutions Architect Professional.
How to Turn the Certificate Into a Higher Salary
Earning it is half the job. Add it to your LinkedIn profile and resume the day you pass. Skillsoft gives the same advice.
When you ask for a raise, pair the certification with a result: a cost cut, a finished migration, a faster deployment. A badge alone gives your manager nothing to defend to finance.
Ask your employer to pay for training first. Skillsoft suggests a simple business case, since employers gain from certified staff too.
When you switch jobs, compare total comp, not only base. Ask about RSUs, signing bonus, and annual bonus. Remote versus on site can also shift the number, so compare offers on equal terms.
Timing matters. A fresh certification plus a finished project is your strongest moment to negotiate, either at review time or when you hold a competing offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which AWS certification pays the most in the US?
In Skillsoft’s survey, Solutions Architect Professional reports the highest US average at $221,069, from a small sample. Security Specialty leads the main US list at $203,597. The Machine Learning Specialty reported $213,267, but AWS retired it on March 31, 2026.
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Is an AWS certification worth it for salary?
Often yes, if the exam matches your role. Reported averages rise with exam level, and employers use certifications to screen candidates. Pay still depends on experience, role, and location, so a certificate alone will not guarantee a raise.
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What is the best AWS certification for beginners?
Cloud Practitioner is the starting point, with no experience required and a $100 exam. Most people then move to Solutions Architect Associate, which AWS recommends after about a year of hands on AWS work.
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How long does an AWS certification last?
AWS certifications stay active for three years from the date you earn them. You can recertify by retaking the current exam.
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Can I get a cloud job with only an AWS certification?
It is hard. AWS recommends about a year of hands on experience for associate exams, and employers also weigh projects and work history. A certification helps you get interviews, while home labs and real builds help close the experience gap.
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How much does an AWS exam cost?
Cloud Practitioner costs $100, associate exams cost $150, and professional and specialty exams cost $300. After you earn one AWS certification, AWS gives you 50% off your next exam.
Share Your Experience
Did an AWS certification change your pay, or did it do nothing? Tell me in the comments which exam you took, what you earned before and after, and what you would do differently. Real stories help the next person decide.
How This Article Was Created
Salary figures come from Skillsoft’s IT Skills and Salary survey (collected May to September 2024, published in 2025 and updated in January 2026) and from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2024 data). Exam facts and retirement dates come from AWS certification pages and AWS announcements. I did not invent any figure. Where a number rests on a small sample, the article says so.
What I could not do: I did not scrape a full top 10 list or live People Also Ask boxes, and I did not find AWS specific salary pages on Levels.fyi or Glassdoor I could verify. I reviewed a set of current ranking pages for headings and gaps instead. Please check the FAQ questions against live People Also Ask results and confirm exam fees on the AWS site before you publish. A newer Skillsoft report may have updated AWS figures since this draft.
This article was written to inform job seekers, not to recruit or advertise.
Shahzada Muhammad Ali Qureshi (Leeo)
I’m Shahzada — a software engineer by education and an SEO professional by trade. I built WhatIsTheSalary.com to go beyond just showing salary numbers — every page is manually researched across sources like BLS, Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and PayScale to give you the full picture in one place. If you found what you were looking for here, that’s exactly the point.
