Over 2 million jobs were lost in 2008. Early indications show that more than double will be lost in 2009. Fortunately the IT industry hasn't been hit as hard...yet. The downside is that, according to the Forrester group, employers are leaning heavily on certifications to make their staffing decisions. Uncertified and undercertified applicants are being employed at a much lower rate. 74% of IT managers say certification is an important factor in considering an employee for a position or promotion.
Experts say that getting properly certified now is the safest way to keep your current job or gain a new position. And, for the fourth year in a row, salaries have risen for certified IT professionals.
Microsoft Certifications
MCAD, VS .NET $91,144
MCDBA, SQL Server 2000 $87,807
MCDBA, SQL Server 7 $90,040
MCITP Consumer Support Tech $97,608
MCITP Database Administrator $92,752
MCITP Database Developer $84,714
MCITP Enterprise Administrator $86,825
MCITP Enterprise Messaging Admin $79,727
MCITP Enterprise Supprt Tech $72,649
MCITP Server Administrator $83,506
MCP + Internet $82,589
MCP, Other $70,247
MCPD .Net Web $85,417
MCPD Enterprise App Developer $94,333
MCPD: .Net Enterprise $94,333
MCPD: .Net Windows $91,438
MCSA, Windows 2000 $77,384
MCSA, Windows 2003 $79,464
MCSA: Messaging, Windows 2000 $82,923
MCSA: Messaging, Windows 2003 $84,678
MCSA: Security, Windows 2000 $87,630
MCSA: Security, Windows 2003 $82,129
MCSD, VS .NET $95,269
MCSD, VS 6.0 $91,013
MCSE + Internet $86,278
MCSE, NT 4.0 $81,708
MCSE, Windows 2000 $84,445
MCSE, Windows 2003 $83,319
MCSE: Messaging, Windows 2000 $90,360
MCSE: Messaging, Windows 2003 $85,288
MCSE: Security, Windows 2000 $85,536
MCSE: Security, Windows 2003 $80,543
MCT $88,675
MCTS .Net Web $88,846
MCTS: Vista Config $77,071
MCTS: BizTalk 2006 $87,467
MCTS: Sharepoint (any version) $92,585
MCTS: Sharepoint Services 3.0 Config $92,071
MCTS: Win 2008 App. Intra-Config $87,949
MCTS: .NET Distributed Apps $84,567
MCTS: .Net Windows $91,438
MCTS: Exchange 2007 Config $84,157
MCTS: MOSS 2007 $78,033
MCTS: SQL Server $88,110
MCTS: Vista/Office Desktops $82,420
MCTS: Win2008 AD-Config $88,274
MCTS: Win2008 Network Infra-Config $89,143
Salary, Non-Microsoft Certifications
Apple (any) $75,892
Certified Wireless Network Profossional (any) $68,901
Check Point CCSA $86,223
Check Point CCSE $94,167
Cisco CCDA $98,142
Cisco CCDP $90,556
Cisco CCNA $85,251
Cisco CCNP $98,610
Citrix CCA $85,955
Citrix CCEA $88,640
CompTIA A+ $66,353
CompTIA CTT+ $81,127
CompTIA Linux+ $73,500
CompTIA Network+ $66,404
CompTIA Project+ $74,954
CompTIA Security+ $81,363
CompTIA Server+ $67,048
Dell (any) $84,308
EC-Council (any) $94,265
Hewlett Packard ASE $84,120
Hewlett-Packard (other) $70,780
IBM (other than Lotus) $78,997
(ISC)2 CISSP $106,969
Novell CNA $78,002
Novell CNE $88,155
Oracle OCA $105,125
PMI Project Management Professional $98,344
Red Hat RHCE $85,225
Sun SCJP $101,063
Sun-Solaris (any) $100,550
Average Annual Base Salary by Certification
Source: "13th Annual Salary Survey, "2008", Redmond Magazine, Copyright 1996-2008, 1105 Media Inc.
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