IT Certifications Can Boost Your Salary

Recent studies have come to different conclusions on the value IT certifications bring to your paycheck, career and bottom line. A recent study by Network World and SolarWinds, for example, found that the majority of federal and private sector IT professionals who earned certifications saw a salary increase or bonus. Another study by IT consulting firm Foote Partners found that global instability and a lack of confidence in the U.S. economy has led to a flattening of salaries between workers who have IT certifications and those who do not. So which is true?

This month's issue of the Dice Report indicates that tech professionals are finding value in certifications, particularly when it comes to landing a new position. Forty percent of tech professionals said obtaining a certification helped them land a new job, which is about 10 percentage points higher than their colleagues working in traditional roles, Dice found.

The survey of more than 18,000 IT professionals also found that Project Management Professional certifications were among the most highly valued. The PMP certification is the most frequently desired certification in job posts on Dice, with nearly 2,200 requests in job postings on any given day, up 9 percent over last year. "Project management is a lucrative role, with an average salary of about $104,000," the report states. "Add PMP and average salaries jump to nearly $120,000."

Security certifications like the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Network+ are other career-boosting credentials among IT professionals. The high demand for such certifications in government is one factor driving the high level of tech professionals (53 percent) who have at least one certification and are based in Washington, D.C., Dice found.

Demand for the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) credential also is increasing, with those obtaining the certification expanding their job options and commanding salaries of nearly $110,000.

Other valued certifications among IT professionals were: A+, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Security+, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), according to the survey.

"It's important to remember that not all certifications create the opportunity for a new job or a fatter paycheck, so tech professionals have to be certain that the investment is worth it," the report states.

Source: http://wiredworkplace.nextgov.com/2012/02/are_it_certifications_worth_it.php?oref=latest_posts