It's the question every IT professional asks before investing hundreds of hours and dollars into a certification: "Will this actually make me more money?"
The short answer is yes—but the long answer is more nuanced. Not all certifications deliver the same ROI, and the salary boost depends on your experience level, specialization, and how you leverage the credential.
I dug into every major salary study, survey, and labor market analysis from the past three years to give you a definitive, data-backed answer.
The Major Studies: What the Research Shows
1. Skillsoft / Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary Report
The Skillsoft IT Skills and Salary Report (formerly Global Knowledge) is the largest and most frequently cited annual survey of IT professionals worldwide. It surveys tens of thousands of IT workers across 150+ countries each year.
Key findings:
- Certified IT professionals earn an average of $11,000 more per year than their non-certified peers
- 92% of IT professionals hold at least one certification
- Professionals who earned a new certification in the past year saw salary increases of 10-20%
- The gap widens with seniority—certified senior engineers earn up to $20,000 more than uncertified peers at the same level
- Certification holders report higher job satisfaction and are promoted 30% faster
The 2024 report specifically highlighted cloud and security certifications as delivering the highest premiums, with AWS and CISSP certified professionals earning the most significant salary differentials.
Bottom line: The Skillsoft data consistently shows a strong, measurable correlation between holding certifications and earning higher pay.
2. Pearson VUE Value of IT Certification Study
Pearson VUE, the company that administers most major IT certification exams (Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, AWS, and more), conducts a comprehensive study on the career impact of certifications.
Key findings:
- 35% of IT professionals reported a direct salary increase after earning a certification
- Among those who received raises, the average increase was 20% or more
- 44% of certified professionals said their certification led to a new job or promotion
- 70% of hiring managers said they prefer candidates with certifications
- Certified professionals are $12,000-$15,000 ahead in annual salary compared to non-certified professionals in the same roles
The study also found that certifications matter most during job transitions—switching companies or roles. Certified candidates receive higher starting offers because the credential reduces perceived hiring risk.
Bottom line: Certifications don't just boost your current salary—they significantly improve your earning power when changing jobs.
3. CompTIA Workforce and Learning Trends Report
CompTIA, one of the world's largest IT certification bodies, publishes annual workforce research that tracks how certifications affect careers.
Key findings:
- 91% of employers say certifications play a key role in the hiring process
- 64% of IT managers believe certified employees are more productive and deliver higher-quality work
- Certified professionals are more likely to be promoted within 12 months of earning their credential
- Entry-level certified professionals earn $5,000-$10,000 more in starting salary compared to uncertified candidates
- 82% of HR managers use certifications to gauge an applicant's willingness to learn and grow
CompTIA's data is particularly relevant for career changers and entry-level professionals, where certifications serve as a strong signal of competence when work experience is limited.
Bottom line: Certifications are most impactful for getting your foot in the door and accelerating early-career growth.
4. Robert Half Technology Salary Guide
Robert Half, one of the world's largest staffing firms, publishes an annual salary guide that consistently identifies certifications as salary differentiators.
Key findings:
- Job postings requiring AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud certifications list salaries 5-15% higher than equivalent roles without certification requirements
- CISSP holders earn an average of $15,000-$25,000 more than non-certified security professionals
- PMP-certified project managers earn $10,000-$20,000 more than those without the credential
- Employers are willing to pay a certification premium because it reduces onboarding time and risk
Robert Half specifically notes that certifications in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI/ML command the highest premiums in 2025-2026.
5. Burning Glass / Lightcast Labor Market Analysis
Lightcast (formerly Burning Glass Technologies) analyzes millions of job postings to identify labor market trends. Their data provides a unique, real-world view of what employers actually pay for certifications.
Key findings:
- Jobs requiring certifications list salaries an average of 8-12% higher than equivalent roles without cert requirements
- AWS Solutions Architect certification adds the largest salary premium among cloud certs
- CISSP certification has the highest salary premium among security certifications
- Certification-required roles receive 40% fewer applicants, giving certified professionals a competitive edge
- In government and defense sectors, certain certifications (Security+, CISSP) are legally required, making them non-negotiable
Bottom line: Real job posting data confirms that employers literally put their money where their mouth is—certified roles pay more.
Salary Premiums by Certification Type
Not all certifications are created equal. Here's how different types stack up based on aggregated data from the studies above:
| Certification Category | Avg. Salary Premium | Best Certifications | Time to Earn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud Architecture | $15,000-$25,000 | AWS SA, Azure SA Expert | 2-4 months |
| Cybersecurity | $15,000-$30,000 | CISSP, CISM, CCSP | 3-6 months |
| Cloud Entry-Level | $5,000-$12,000 | AWS CCP, AZ-900, GCP CDL | 2-4 weeks |
| Security Entry-Level | $5,000-$10,000 | Security+, CEH | 1-3 months |
| Project Management | $10,000-$20,000 | PMP, PSM, SAFe | 2-6 months |
| IT Service Management | $5,000-$10,000 | ITIL 4, ServiceNow CSA | 2-4 weeks |
| DevOps & Containers | $10,000-$20,000 | CKA, AWS DevOps Pro | 2-4 months |
| AI & Machine Learning | $12,000-$22,000 | Azure AI-102, AWS ML | 2-3 months |
The pattern is clear: Advanced, specialized certifications deliver the biggest salary gains, while entry-level certs provide a meaningful but smaller boost.
When Certifications Matter Most
The salary premium from certifications isn't uniform across all situations. Based on the research, certifications deliver the biggest ROI in these scenarios:
1. Career Changers (Highest Impact)
If you're transitioning into IT from another field, certifications are your strongest tool. Without relevant work experience, a certification proves to employers that you have validated, testable skills.
Impact: Entry-level certifications like AWS Cloud Practitioner or CompTIA Security+ can be the difference between getting an interview and being filtered out by ATS systems.
2. Mid-Career Professionals (3-10 Years Experience)
This is the sweet spot for certification ROI. You have enough experience to context your learning, and the certification signals that your skills are up-to-date and validated.
Impact: Mid-career professionals see the largest absolute salary increases—typically $10,000-$25,000—after earning advanced certifications like CISSP, AWS Solutions Architect, or PMP.
3. Job Transitions
Certifications have the biggest immediate impact when you're changing jobs. Research from Pearson VUE shows certified candidates receive higher starting offers because employers view certifications as risk reduction.
Impact: Certified professionals negotiate 12-18% higher starting salaries when switching companies.
4. Government & Defense Contractors
In government IT, certifications aren't optional—they're legally required. DoD Directive 8570/8140 mandates certifications like Security+, CISSP, and CISM for anyone with access to government IT systems.
Impact: Without the required certification, you literally cannot work in these roles. The premium is essentially infinite—it's the entire salary.
When Certifications Matter Less
To be fair, certifications don't always deliver a salary boost:
- FAANG/Big Tech Senior Roles: Companies like Google, Meta, and Netflix weight interview performance and experience far above certifications for senior+ roles
- Highly Specialized Niches: If you're a world-class Kubernetes contributor or maintain a popular open-source project, the certification adds little to your established reputation
- Certification Stacking Without Depth: Collecting 10+ entry-level certs doesn't compound salary Premium—it's better to go deep (e.g., AWS SAA → SAP → DevOps Pro) than wide
- Expired/Outdated Certs: A certification from 5+ years ago without renewal signals stagnation, not growth
The ROI Calculation: Is It Worth the Investment?
Let's do the math on a typical certification investment:
Example: AWS Solutions Architect Associate
| Cost Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exam fee | $150 |
| Study materials (course + practice exams) | $50-$100 |
| Study time (100 hours × opportunity cost) | Varies |
| Total out-of-pocket | $200-$250 |
Expected Returns
| Scenario | Annual Salary Increase |
|---|---|
| Same job, performance review | $3,000-$8,000 |
| Internal promotion | $8,000-$15,000 |
| Job change to new company | $12,000-$25,000 |
Break-even time: 1-4 weeks of the salary increase covers the total cost. After that, it's pure return.
5-year ROI: Even at the conservative end ($3,000/year), that's $15,000 return on a $250 investment—a 6,000% ROI.
No other professional development investment comes close to this return.
Which Certifications Deliver the Highest Salary Increase?
Based on a composite analysis of all the studies mentioned, here are the top 10 certifications ranked by salary impact in 2026:
| Rank | Certification | Avg. Salary Premium | Why It Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CISSP | $25,000-$35,000 | Required for security leadership; gold standard |
| 2 | AWS Solutions Architect (Pro) | $20,000-$30,000 | Highest cloud demand; validates architecture skills |
| 3 | CISM | $18,000-$28,000 | Management-level security; scarcity premium |
| 4 | Azure Solutions Architect Expert | $18,000-$25,000 | Enterprise cloud dominance; Microsoft ecosystem |
| 5 | Google Cloud Professional Architect | $15,000-$25,000 | Growing demand; multi-cloud premium |
| 6 | PMP | $10,000-$20,000 | Universal PM credential; required in many orgs |
| 7 | CCSP | $12,000-$22,000 | Cloud security intersection; high demand |
| 8 | CKA (Kubernetes) | $10,000-$20,000 | Container orchestration demand; DevOps premium |
| 9 | AWS Solutions Architect (Associate) | $10,000-$18,000 | Most popular cloud cert; gateway to higher roles |
| 10 | CompTIA Security+ | $5,000-$12,000 | DoD requirement; entry-level security standard |
How to Maximize Your Certification Salary Boost
Getting certified is just the first step. Here's how to maximize the financial return on your certification investment:
1. Time Your Certification Strategically
Earn your certification 1-2 months before you plan to negotiate a raise or start a job search. The credential is most valuable when it's fresh and you can point to it in conversations.
2. Update Your LinkedIn and Resume Immediately
48% of recruiters filter candidates by certifications on LinkedIn. Add your certification the same day you pass, including the credential ID and verification link.
3. Negotiate Proactively
Don't wait for your employer to notice. Schedule a meeting with your manager, present the certification, and make a data-backed case for a raise. Reference industry salary data to support your request.
4. Consider Changing Jobs
The data is clear: certification + job change = biggest salary jump. If your current employer won't adjust your pay, the market will. Certified professionals switching companies see 15-25% salary increases on average.
5. Stack Strategically
Build a certification pathway that tells a career story:
- Cloud track: CCP → SAA → SAP → DevOps Pro
- Security track: Security+ → CySA+ → CISSP → CCSP
- Management track: ITIL 4 → PMP → SAFe
Each sequential cert compounds your value rather than adding marginal returns.
The Bottom Line
The research is overwhelming and consistent: IT certifications do increase salary. Every major study—Skillsoft, Pearson VUE, CompTIA, Robert Half, and Lightcast—reaches the same conclusion.
The key takeaways:
- Certified professionals earn $10,000-$25,000 more on average than uncertified peers
- The premium is highest for cloud and security certifications
- Certifications deliver the biggest boost during job transitions and for career changers
- The ROI is extraordinary—typically 5,000-10,000% over five years
- Mid-career professionals (3-10 years) see the largest absolute salary gains
- Certification + job change is the most effective salary acceleration strategy in IT
The question isn't whether certifications increase salary—the data shows they clearly do. The real question is: which certification will deliver the biggest return for your specific career path?
Ready to start your certification journey? Explore our certification study guides and find the right certification for your goals.
Data sources: Skillsoft IT Skills and Salary Report (2023-2025), Pearson VUE Value of IT Certification Study, CompTIA Workforce and Learning Trends Report, Robert Half Technology Salary Guide (2025-2026), Lightcast/Burning Glass Labor Market Analysis, Dice Tech Salary Report
