Certification
Certifications and skills contribute to a higher salary, distinguishing you from competitors and helping you get promoted. According to a survey of Global Knowledge, 83% of IT professionals in the US and Canada have at least one IT certification. In America, the salary of IT certification holders is USD 8,400 higher than the average. (11.7%)
Recruiting professionals with certifications is also beneficial to employers. Among the interviewees, 44% of IT employers believe that IT certifications can help workers to finish their work quicker. 33% of recruiters hold that employees will implement systems with higher efficiency and 23% think certifications are helpful to deploy products and services with less time and fewer mistakes.
Then, let’s take a look at 13 skills and certifications for IT workers in 2021.
13 high-salary certifications in 2021
- Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Citrix Certified Professional – Virtualization (CCP-V)
- Citrix Certified Associate – Networking (CCA-N)
- VMware Certified Professional 6-Data Center Virtualization (VCP6-DCV)
- Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization (CCA-V)
- ITIL v3 Foundation
- CompTIA Project +
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
CRISC is regarded as “the sole certification that enables IT professionals to cope with IT and enterprise management risks and to become the strategic partners of enterprises”. This information security certification attests to your abilities in terms of risk management, assessment, mitigation, reaction, supervision, and report.
Requirements: To gain CRISC certification, you need three-year or more experience to finish at least two of the four themes. You also need to get CPE credits every year to maintain the validity of the certification.
The average salary for those with CRISC certification: USD127,507
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
ISACA also provides CISM certification. This one focuses on the IT security of management and proficiency in establishing, designing, and managing enterprise security methods.
Requirements: You should have at least five-year experience in information security. You must gain experience within 10-year of the exam date or five-year after you pass the exam. You also need CPE to validate the certification.
The average salary for that with Isaca CISM certification: USD122,448.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
AWS is still the primary cloud platform. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate is designed for those people with an AWS platform background. It emphasizes designing and deploying scalable systems on AWS including how to maintain development cost-effectiveness without sacrificing security, reliability, and quality.
Requirement: One year or above experience in AWS practical system design. Be familiar with at least one advanced programming language. Know about the best practices developed from AWS applications.
The average salary for those with AWS certification: USD119,085.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
CISSP is provided by ISC, recognized by ANSI, and formally approved by the U.S. Department of Defense. It is a standard of the National Security Agency ISEEP plan. The certification is recognized globally aiming to help IT, security professionals, to construct the best practice of modern security.
Requirements: You should have at least five-year experience of in information security and at least three-year of a security manager. You must gain experience within 10-year of the exam date or five-year after you pass the exam. You also need CPE to validate the certification. Besides, you should have at least five-year full-time working experience of two or more themes of the exam.
The average salary for those with CISSP certification: USD118,179.
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
ISACA describes CISA as “a globally recognized information system audit and control certification”. It was released in 1978, mainly displaying that you are able to audit each stage of the whole process, report compliance programs, and assess loopholes.
Requirements: You should have at least five-year experience of in information audit, control, and security. Before taking the Isaca CISA exam, you have to pass an entry exam. Like other certifications of ISACA, CPE credits are also needed.
The average salary for those with CISA certification: USD110,634.
Project Management Professional (PMP)
PMP certification is provided by PMI, but it adopts a more advanced approach to manage projects. PMP expressed that PMP certification enables you to work in any industry in any way and any place.
Requirement: You need to have at least a degree at a four-year university, three-year experience in project management, 4,500 hours of leadership and guidance project, and 35 hours of project management education. The second level requires five-year of working experience, 7,500 hours of leading and guiding projects, and 35 hours of project management education.
The average salary for those with PMP certification: USD105,324.
Citrix Certified Professional – Virtualization (CCP-V)
CCP-V certification confirms the ability to use Citrix technology in virtual desktop applications. Its themes include pre-installation, the technology required for installation, configuration technology modules, and testing configuration. In 2014, the certification replaced the Citrix Certified Enterprise Engineer (CCEE) certification, focusing on the skills to deploy, maintain and configure solutions based on Citrix XenDesktop software.
Requirements: Relevant certifications of other levels are needed.
The average salary for those with CCP-V certification: USD102,353.
Citrix Certified Associate – Networking (CCA-N)
This CCA-N certification puts a focus on the proficiency in using NetScaler Gateway in an enterprise environment. The exam covers such themes as using NetScaler Gateway to securely access remote desktops, applications, and data.
Requirements: No prerequisite
The average salary for those with CCA-N certification: USD95,583
VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP6-DCV)
The latest VCP certification of VMware–VCP6-DCV, particularly designed for the skill to troubleshoot vSphere V6 infrastructure. VMware lists it as one of the most popular certifications worldwide.
Requirements: You should first pass the VCP certification exam which is the basis of the VMware certification plan. Every two years, you need to re-certify the current VCP and choose another VCP or another exam level.
The average salary for those with VCP6-DCV certification: USD96,309.
Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization (CCA-V)
The CCA-V certification is a consultant-level virtualization certification provided by Citrix, putting an emphasis on the management, maintenance, monitoring, and troubleshooting of solutions built on the XenDesktop 7.6 platform.
Requirements: No prerequisite.
The average salary for those with CCA-V certification: USD98,583
ITIL v3 Foundation
The ITIL framework is one of the popular options in enterprise IT management, helping companies to combine business targets and IT strategy. It has a history of 30 years, still one of the paramount options as IT framework.
Requirements: No prerequisite
The average salary for those with ITIL v3 Foundation certification: USD93,638.
CompTIA Project +
CompTIA Project Plus affirms the proficiency of project managers in managing the project life cycle. It covers the basic skills of being a project manager including budgets, establishment of workflow, and schedule.
Requirements: At least 12-month experience in project management.
The average salary for those with CompTIA Project + certification: USD92,593.
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise
This certification is suitable for IT professionals engaging in enterprise network technology. After passing the CCNP exam, you can choose to take other certification exams in the fields of coordination, data center, security, services or wireless.
Requirements: No prerequisite.
The average salary for those with CCNP Enterprise certification: USD90,303. crisc isaca
