Security, Virtualization Roles Among Best-Paid IT Certifications

Technicians with certifications in security, virtualization and cloud computing top this year’s list of best-compensated IT workers, according to a new survey.

Professional development and IT training firm Global Knowledge recently released its annual list of the 15 Top-Paying IT Certifications for 2017.

The list is based on the U.S. portion of Global Knowledge’s 2017 IT Skills and Salary Survey.

To be considered for the annual list, a certification had to generate at least 115 survey responses to ensure the data was statistically valid.

1. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

Avg. Salary: $131,298

Learn more: ISACA – formerly Information Systems Audit and Control Association, but now an acronym only – offers and manages the CRISC certification. Information is available at the ISACA website.

2. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Avg. Salary: $128,156

Learn more: Visit the ISACA website.

3. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

Avg. Salary: $125,091

Learn more: Top AWS Certifications.

4. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Avg. Salary: $121,729

Learn more: CISSP Certification Prep Course.

5. Project Management Professional (PMP)

Avg. Salary: $119,349

Learn more: PMP page at Project Management Institute website.

6. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Avg. Salary: $115,471

Learn more: CISA page at ISACA website.

7. Citrix Certified Professional – Virtualization (CCP-V)

Avg. Salary: $105,086

Learn more: CCP-V .

8. ITIL v3 Foundation

Avg. Salary: $103,408

Learn more: ITIL certification tracks

9. VMware Certified Professional 5 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DCV)

Avg. Salary: $102,962

Learn more: VCP5-DCV.

10. Citrix Certified Associate – Networking (CCA-N)

Avg. Salary: $102,598

Learn more: CCA-N exam.

11. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) – Server Infrastructure

Avg. Salary: $101,150

Learn more: MCSE Cloud Platform and Infrastructure.

12. Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) – Windows Server 2008

Avg. Salary: $99,558

Learn more: Windows Server 2012 or 2016 requires a single exam.

13. Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization (CCA-V)

Avg. Salary: $99,411

Learn more: CCA-V.

14. Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) Routing & Switching

Avg. Salary: $96,826

Learn more: CCNP Routing and Switching certification.

15. Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) – Windows Server 2012

Avg. Salary: $93,718

Learn more: MCSA Windows Server 2012.

*Note: With most certifications, upgrading to the Citrix Certified Professional-Virtualization (CCP-V) increases the average salary (this year from $99,411 to $105,086).

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