IT Career Advice >> Browse Articles >> Certifications
IT Career Advice >> Browse Articles >> Industry and Salary Trends
The 20 Most Sought-After IT Skills
InsideTech
Top-Paying Security and Networking Certss
Which IT certifications will make you the most money? That’s a complicated question, but the data provides the beginning of an answer: Security, Networking, and Architecture/Project Management certifications continue to command the highest pay premiums.
At the high end, Foote Partners release reveals some interesting data about Architecture and Project Management certifications, where The Open Group’s master level IT Certified Architect accounts for much of the category’s 3.3% increase over the past six months. According to Foote Partners data, the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification still commands the group’s highest pay premium despite losing 6.7% of its value over the past year.
Among IT Security Certifications, Foote Partners found the following to command top dollar:
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) <Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP)
- InfoSys Security Architecture Professional (ISSAP/CISSP)
- InfoSys Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP/CISSP)
- InfoSys Security Management Professional (ISSMP/CISSP)
- SANS/GIAC .NET (GNET)
- SANS/GIAC Auditing Wireless Networks (GAWN)
- SANS/GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA)
- SANS/GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA)
- SANS/GIAC Security Expert (GSE)
- SANS/GIAC Systems and Network Auditor (GSNA)
Shift to the Networking category and you’ll find the following list of top-paying certifications:
- Cisco Certified Inernetwork Expert (CCIE)
- EMC Proven Professional Technology Architect – Expert
- Brocade Certified SAN Manager (BCSM)
- Cisco Certified Systems Instructor (CCSI)
- Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP)
- SNIA Certified Storage Networking Expert
- Cisco IP Telephony Operations Specialist
- EMC Proven Professional Implementation Engineer – Expert
- SNIA Certified Architect
- Avaya Certified Expert
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP)
Next: More on IT Certifications and Foote Partners
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
11 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!