The IT industry is growing by leaps and bounds. CompTIA projects the IT sector will grow at a rate of 5.0% in 2018. The optimistic upside forecast is in the 7.2% range, with a downside floor of 2.8%.
The growth has led to employers demanding for more tech talents. In fact, the demand has outstripped the supply. Peradventure you have a passion for IT or you are skilled in it, this is the time to make more money.
However, before you launch your career, get a certification. Certifications enhance your chances of getting better salaries. According to a career impact survey, a certified professional has 1.57x greater chances of a pay raise than non-certified professionals. There are more benefits of getting certified as an IT professional, find it below:
- It opens the door to better employment opportunities
- It increases your knowledge and qualifications
- It gives you opportunities to network with professionals in the niche
- It increases job security and stability
- It increases the opportunities to get hired by top companies in your industry
Now you know the importance of certifications in the IT industry, let’s look at the top 7 IT certifications.
Let’s get started:
- AWS Developer Associate Certification
AWS Developer Associate certification is an award given to IT professionals who have been trained on the use of the Amazon Web Services to create applications. It is suitable for IT professionals skilled in coding with the Amazon Web Services for Amazon Simple Storage Service, Dynamo DB, AWS Elaster beanstalk, Amazon Simple Queue service, etc.
The job description entails writing codes to optimize the performance of AWS services, creating and maintaining applications for Amazon Simple Storage Service and Amazon Simple Queue service and programming using AWS APIs.
To be an AWS Developer associate, you need to have experience in designing and deploying cloud-based solutions as mentioned above. Know how to use high-level programming languages and also attend an AWS Developer Associate training, write and pass the exam to get the certification.
Once you are certified as an AWS Developer associate, you can work in top companies like Cisco, Microsoft, Security companies, IBM, Rackspace, Fujitsu, VMware, CenturyLink, Virtustream, NTT Communications, and Google.
The demand for AWS developer associate is expected to reach $236 billion by 2020. This means you cannot lack a job once you are certified.
Salary: Up to $116,456/year
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
The Certified Information Security Manager certification is essential for IT security professionals such as Security Consultants, Security Auditors, Security Engineers, and Chief Information Security Officers. Some job descriptions of the profession include designing strategies to improve IT projects security, assess, test and choose new security products and technologies and handle security-related incidents.
To be certified as an Information Security Manager (CISM), you need to have at least 5 years of experience in information security and this experience must be within a ten-year period before you apply for the certification or 5 years after you pass the exam.
Once you become a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), you can work with companies like Verizon, PwC, Highmark Health. Avanade, SRC, Inc, Silotech Group, Inc., IPKeys Technologies, LLC, JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPMCC), International Business Machines (IBM), Corp.
The demand for certified information security manager is on the increase. According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, there will be a shortage of about 1.5m cyber security professionals by 2020 in the U.S. So, it is a very lucrative field to delve into.
Salary: $116,278/ Year
- Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator Certification
A Computer hacking forensic investigator is a professional who audits systems to prevent attacks, protect businesses from data breaches, and ensure business follow security rules and policies. This certification is designed for law enforcement personnel, defense and military personnel, systems administrators, legal, banking, and insurance professionals.
To be a certified Computer hacking forensic investigator, you need a degree in computer science or forensic investigation with a major in Cybercrime and information security.
Once you write the certification exam and passed, you will be eligible to work in companies like AT & T, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Defence Point security, Geisinger, etc.
Just like the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) above, the demand for Computer hacking forensic investigator is also high.
Salary: 107,500 per year
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- Data Scientist
Data scientist are professionals who are versed in in-demand technologies such as Python, Hadoop, SAS, and R programming. Data scientists improve data security and transform bytes into insight to solve business problems. The data scientist certification is designed for Banking analysts, Business analysts, IT professionals, marketing managers, etc.
To be certified as a data scientist, you need at least a degree in Computer science, Programming languages, Mathematics, and Statistics, etc. You need a good experience in coding, analytic mind, coding in programming languages like Python, Hadoop, SAS, R Language, etc.
Once you pass the certification exams, you can work with companies like Microsoft, Boeing, Pfizer, etc.
The demand for data scientists is on the rise. According to IBM, the demand will increase to 28% by 2020.
Salary: 123,000/Year
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
The project management professional certification is the most popular certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). It is designed for project managers, team managers, project executives and software developers.
Some of the duties of a project management professional are to lead and direct projects, interact with stakeholders to manage projects and find and analyses constraints.
To be a certified project management professional, you need a four-year degree with 4500 hours of professional experience or a secondary degree with 7500 hours of professional experience. You also need 35 contact hours of project management education.
When you become a certified project management professional you can work with Amazon.com, Atkins, Capgemini, KPMG, CBRE, and EMG.
The demand for Project management professionals is rising. According to PMI’s talent gap report, about 16 million new project management jobs will be created by 2020 in 7 project-intensive industries.
Salary: 84,854/Year
- Certified Information Systems Auditor
A Certified information systems auditor is a professional who audits organization information systems and processes, maintain legal compliance, finds security risks in information systems, etc. It is a certification designed for IR Auditors, IT compliance managers, Chief compliance officers, security directors, and managers, etc.
To be a certified information systems auditor, you need a 5 years on-the-job training or 4,000 hours of work experience in full-time positions in information systems, security experience, and controls.
Once you pass the certification examination and get certified, you can work with top companies like Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Verizon, Walmart and Capital One.
The demand for information systems auditors will increase to 6 million by 2019 with a shortfall of 1.5 million.
Salary: 122,326 / Year
- Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
A certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt professional is a certification designed for Quality Engineers, Systems Managers, Analysts, Managers, and Supervisors. The main duties are to analyze and solve problems, carry out brainstorming sessions and lead projects.
To be a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt professional, you need to have 2 to 5 years of on-the-job experience in areas related to the six sigma green belt body of knowledge or a yellow belt certification.
When you pass the examination and become certified, you can work in companies like General Electric, 3m, Honeywell, Johnson & Johnson, DuPont.
Salary: 96,367/Year
Conclusion
There you have it. The 7 best-paying certifications for IT professionals. What you need to do now is to get trained, write and pass the examination, become a certified IT professional and earn big.
