Microsoft Azure stands out as one of the most lucrative career domains, offering promising career growth, immense job satisfaction, and global recognition.
In this blog, I have narrowed down the list of the top 5 highest paying Microsoft Azure Certifications in 2024 that will maximize your earning potential. These certifications are globally recognized and provide a significant boost to your career.
Let’s dive in!
List of Highest Paying Microsoft Azure Certifications 2024
According to statista.com, web and software developers, including all Azure-related roles, are in high demand. At the end of 2024, the projected growth of Azure-certified professionals found to be 30%, surpassing any other jobs in the United States.
Here is the list of best paid Azure certifications you can try in 2024 to land a dream job:
1. AZ-204: Microsoft Certified Azure Developer Associate
Topping the list, the Azure Developer Associate certification is one of the highest-paying Azure certifications. It is particularly taken by developers specialized in crafting, testing, and maintaining cloud applications on Azure.
Roles and responsibilities of Azure Developer Associate
Your proficiency in developing and securing Azure solutions, integrating services, and optimizing application performance will be evaluated while taking this certification.
After completing this certification, you can possess the ability to skillfully develop compute solutions, collaborating seamlessly with others to fulfill both business and technical requirements.
Before taking the AZ-204 Exam, the candidate must have:
- Minimum of 2 years of working experience with Azure as a professional developer.
- Proficiency in programming languages like C# or Python is crucial, alongside a solid grasp of the following areas:
- Software Development Kit (SDK)
- Data storage options
- Data connections
- APIs
- Application authentication and authorization
- Compute and container deployment
- Debugging techniques
Grasping the above skills and achieving hands-on experience, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the AZ-204 exam.
Salary Range
The average Azure developer salary in the USA is $126,747 per year or $60.94 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $110,000 per year, while the most experienced individuals can earn up to $156,000 per year.
Top Recruiters: Accenture, Capgemini, IBM, Microsoft
To ace the AZ-204 on your first attempt, try out the Whizlabs Microsoft Azure AZ-204 practice test and Udemy AZ-204 Practice test.
2. AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate
The AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator certification ranks second in the highest-paid Azure certification list. This Azure certification is preferred by IT professionals who specialize in the storage, identity, governance, and computing solutions within Azure platform.
Roles and Responsibilities of Azure Administrator Associate
Azure Administrator Associate responsibility is to provision and manage virtual machines, configuring and monitoring storage solutions, and setting up networking resources to support cloud-based applications.
Additionally, they monitor the performance of the cloud environment to optimize resource utilization, ensure maximum uptime, and minimize downtime.
Before Taking the Exam, you should have:
- Fundamental knowledge of cloud computing principles and concepts
- Proficiency in deploying, managing, and optimizing Azure Virtual Machines
- Familiarity with Azure networking concepts such as virtual networks, subnets, VPN gateways, and Azure Firewall
- Expertise in Azure security measures, including identity and access management (IAM), network security groups (NSGs), Azure Security Center, and encryption mechanisms
Salary Range
The average annual pay for a Azure Administrator Associate in the United States is $118,916 per year or $57.17 per hour. Entry level positions pay start at $100,000 per year while experienced workers can earn up to $140,400 per year.
Top Recruiters: Accenture, Capgemini, IBM, Microsoft
3. SC-100: Microsoft Certified Cybersecurity Architect Expert
Amid the ongoing global recession, the demand for cybersecurity has surged dramatically, placing this certification among the top 5 highest paying Microsoft Azure certifications worldwide.
Roles and Responsibilities of Cybersecurity Architect
Cybersecurity architects develop an organization’s security strategy and collaborate across functions to implement these plans.
To do so, they must have deep expertise in applying Zero Trust security strategies to various solutions, including identity, data, network, DevOps, and more.
Their responsibilities often extend to GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance), SecOps (Security Operations), and posture management.
Before taking this exam, candidates ideally would have:
Passed any one of the associate-level certifications:
- AZ-500: Azure Security Engineer Associate
- SC-300: Identity and Access Administrator Associate
- SC-200: Security Operations Analyst Associate
Salary Range
The average salary for a cybersecurity architect in the USA is $155,000 per year or $74.52 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $137,500 per year, while the most experienced workers can earn up to $195,867 per year.
Top Recruiters: Capgemini, IBM, Microsoft, Wipro
4. AZ-500: Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer Associate
Being an Azure security engineer has been one of the highest-paying Azure jobs in the world for several decades.
Roles and Responsibilities of Azure Security Engineer
A Microsoft security engineer carefully watches over a company’s resources, checking solutions in Azure and the organization’s systems. They suggest ways to improve security using different tools or settings.
Handling incidents is also part of their job, along with working with others to make sure security plans are put into action.
Salary Range
In the US, the average salary for an Azure Security Engineer is $129,122, with an additional average cash compensation of $24,476. This brings the average total compensation for a Security Engineer in the US to $153,598.
Top Recruiters: Capgemini, IBM, Microsoft, Wipro
5. AI-102: Microsoft Certified Azure AI Engineer Associate
The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate certification stands out as one of the highest-paying Azure certifications available.
Azure AI engineers are tasked with developing end-to-end secure solutions following product requirements. They collaborate with architects and other team members throughout the development cycle to build, deploy, integrate, and maintain solutions across various applications.
Roles and Responsibilities of Azure AI Engineers
People with this certification possess the technical chops to develop various AI-based solutions, including generative AI, natural language processing, and computer vision.
Must have skills before sitting for the exam:
- Proficiency in C# and Python or similar languages are required.
- Knowledge of data storage and processing using Azure services.
- Familiarity with AI and machine learning concepts, including understanding algorithms and model assessment.
Moreover, practical experience with Azure AI technologies is crucial for certification. This involves:
- Deploying machine learning models.
- Building and training machine learning models on Azure.
- Integrating AI models into solutions.
- Monitoring, optimizing, and troubleshooting AI solutions.
You can check practice tests for this certification here:
- Whizlabs Azure AI Engineer Associate Practice Exam, which provides a set of extensive questions, with accurate & detailed explanations
- Pluralsight AI-102 Practice test
Therefore, a combination of technical skills in AI and machine learning concepts, and hands-on experience with Azure AI technologies is essential for individuals aiming to obtain this certification.
Salary Range
Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Certification holders typically earn between $130,000 to $180,000 per year.
Top Recruiters: Google, Capgemini, IBM, Microsoft, Wipro
Pursuing these Azure certifications can significantly boost your career prospects and earning potential in the rapidly growing field of cloud computing.
Benefits of holding Microsoft Azure Certification
Holding an Microsoft Azure certification offers several benefits as listed below:
- Career Growth: Azure certifications enable individuals to advance their careers, secure better job opportunities, and achieve higher positions within their current companies.
- Flexible Career Options: With an Azure certification, you can pursue various career paths, such as cloud architect, developer, or solution architect, across different industries and global locations.
- Higher Earning Potential: Azure certification significantly increases earning potential, with roles like Azure cloud architects earning an average annual salary of $133,721 in the US.
- Sharpened Skill Set: Azure certification helps you develop advanced skills in cloud computing, AI, and machine learning, making you more competitive in the job market.
- Global Recognition: Azure certifications are recognized and respected worldwide, opening doors to international job opportunities and collaborations.
- Validation of Expertise: Obtaining an Azure certification formally recognizes your expertise in Azure technologies, enhancing your professional credibility and attractiveness to employers.
Final Words
I hope this article helps you gain complete insights on demanding Azure certifications with high salaries.
Obtaining one or more of above mentioned certifications not only demonstrates expertise to employers but also distinguishes individuals for Azure-related positions.Investing time and effort into achieving these certifications can lead to rewarding career advancements and substantial financial benefits.
With the increasing demand for Azure skills, getting certified in Microsoft Azure 2024 and into 2025 can significantly propel one’s career in the cloud.
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