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The 20 Most Sought-After IT Skills
InsideTech
Top 10 Hottest IT Certifications
The news isn’t as rosy for IT certifications. While certified IT skills continue to deliver an average pay premium of 7.8%, that number is declining – as it has been steadily for more than two years.
Foote Partners CEO David Foote attributes much of his decline to increased emphasis on integrating IT with other parts of business.
“Generally speaking, says Foote, “employers have been searching for IT workers with more than just technical skills, which began substantially changing the landscape of IT jobs and careers over the last few years. They want specific industry, business, process, customer, and technical skills in different combinations to match new IT roles in the enterprise.”
That’s different in areas such as security where “the emphasis is still very much about the technology,” Foote claims. In IT segments where the focus remains highly technical, certifications command higher premiums. Plus, Foote says, "With so many employers seriously understaffed in [security], they are in many cases playing catch up and raising the compensation stakes to find the best talent in both security management and rank-and-file-staff.
That shows in the latest Foote Partners release, where fully half of the 18 certifications experiencing the most pay growth over the last six months are security related.
Here are the top 10:
| Fastest Rising Pay for Certified IT skills | % change last 6 months | % change last year |
| Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) | 27.3% | 33.0% |
| GIAC Security Expert (GSE) | 25.0% | 34.5% |
| Planet3 Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) | 20.0% | 20.0% |
| IT Certified Architect (ITCA/OpenGroup) | 20.0% | 20.0% |
| SAS Certified Advanced Programmer | 14.3% | 14.3% |
| Planet3 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional (CWAP) | 14.3% | 14.3% |
| Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) | 14.3% | 14.3% |
| Planet3 Certified Wireless Security Prefessional (CWSP) | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| Brocade Certified SAN Manager (BCSM) | 10.0% | 10.0% |
| Citrix Certified Integration Architect (CCIA) | 10.0% | 10.0% |
Next: Top Paying Security and Networking Certifications
GuyCox
5 months ago
2 comments
I would like to have a in depth discription of these IT skills?
bozcopcspecialist
8 months ago
6 comments
I am currently back in school working on my CCNA and will be finished soon. Looking back, it was the best thing I have done for my career for the past 10 years or so. I am a mid career professional and needed the skills to make more income or perhaps get more contract work.
Education and certifications are the silver bullet and one of the keys to making positive changes.
Account Removed
9 months ago
WGAS the most unknown !!
ncartledge
9 months ago
6 comments
Isn't it true that the CISSP is the most difficult and expensive?
subhro
12 months ago
6 comments
I am surprized to find that Foote Partner's research forgot to do any research on the most sought after IT certification on today's date - i.e. ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) certification. This certification is meant for the managers or to aspire as a manager for IT infrastructure support. - SG
Jay_610
about 1 year ago
6 comments
Anyone have any feedback on an ITIL certification? Is it worth getting as a first certificate?
mnaveedarshad
about 1 year ago
2 comments
Informative article indeed!
oraclemanconsulting
about 1 year ago
2 comments
Oracle certification is a hot topic. Some says its just book and memorization skills. Others say it is a good overview of the technology. Some employers think it is helpful. Others have found certified people who cant do day-to-day work or anything "not on the test". I think it is an overused requirements by managers who themselves are not Oracle experts.
TR3NDSETR
about 1 year ago
2 comments
Interesting article. In 2001 when we all lost our jobs, Unemployment services advised Techies to chnage their field and go into health. Someone of us, including myself, strengthened our skills, taking key classes that were originally part of our degrees over. Sure enough when the market picked up again, there was an abundance of tech jobs again. Technology jobs will always be there. At times like this, its a good opportunity to strenthen your skills, or deversify yourself with some hardware, software and business.
tech_girl
about 1 year ago
2 comments
This question is for rigracemo67: what area did you specialize in that employers are saying is now dead?
rigracemo67
about 1 year ago
2 comments
This is probably great information for students polishing off their degrees. But I'm sure there are many of us who are transitioning, from other disciplines, may not have full college degrees, but have years of experience. I've personally been out of work for several months now, & have been told that my area is dead & will be dead for a number of years.
houndbb
about 1 year ago
2 comments
Nice article as I try to sculpt my academics!
Ikenna
about 1 year ago
4 comments
This sure is a promising information. Thanks!
vicmontana
about 1 year ago
42 comments
Great information for all of us in these good ol day's.
imran_asghar
about 1 year ago
2 comments
Valuable information for changing/finding job, thanks!