AWS Cloud Practitioner
Amazon Web Services
COST $100 TIME 1 mo SALARY $85K
Entry door into cloud. No prior tech experience required. Springboard to higher AWS certs.
CLOUD CATEGORY · 9 CERTS
Cloud.
Real job placement.
AWS, Azure, Google Cloud. Every company runs on one of these. Every cert below meets the same criteria: proven job placement, real salary impact ($10K+ lift or opens a new role category), accessible without a four-year degree, and from a recognized issuer.
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Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
Microsoft
COST $165 TIME 3–4 wk SALARY $80K
Free study materials via Microsoft Learn. Gateway to Azure ecosystem.
COST $125 TIME 3–4 mo SALARY $120K
Entry-level GCP cert, the Google Cloud equivalent of AWS Cloud Practitioner. GCP is the fastest-growing of the three major clouds. Natural starting point before the Professional Architect cert.
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
Microsoft
COST $165 TIME 2–3 mo SALARY $110K
Massive Azure adoption in enterprise. Admins needed everywhere Azure is deployed.
COST $200 TIME 3–4 mo SALARY $175K
Consistently top 3 in salary rankings. GCP demand growing fast in enterprise.
AWS Solutions Architect – Associate
Amazon Web Services
COST $300 TIME 2–3 mo SALARY $125K
47K+ open jobs. Most in-demand cloud cert. Every industry runs on AWS.
AWS Certified Data Engineer
Amazon Web Services
COST $300 TIME 3–4 mo SALARY $130K
Filling a critical gap. Data pipeline and analytics on AWS. High demand, low supply.
AWS Security Specialty
Amazon Web Services
COST $300 TIME 4–6 mo SALARY $203K
Highest paying IT cert in 2025–26. Requires AWS experience but payoff is unmatched.
AWS Solutions Architect – Professional
Amazon Web Services
COST $300 TIME 4–6 mo SALARY $165K
Top-paying IT cert on most salary surveys. Senior cloud design roles.
PAST THE LIBRARY
When you're ready to execute.
The library points you at the right cert. The field guides help you actually run the play. Translate your background, rewrite your LinkedIn, prep for the interview, negotiate the offer.