AWS vs Azure: Which Cloud Certification is Right for Your Global Career?

September 3, 2025 Cloud Career Experts 8 min read

AWS Certifications

33% global market share
$120K average salary (US)
Wide startup adoption

Azure Certifications

22% market share
$110K average salary (US)
Enterprise preference

As cloud computing becomes the backbone of global IT infrastructure, certifications from AWS and Microsoft Azure have emerged as valuable credentials for professionals worldwide. This comprehensive guide compares both certification paths to help you make an informed decision for your career growth.

Global Cloud Certification Landscape

The cloud certification market has grown exponentially, with AWS and Azure dominating over 60% of the global market share combined. According to recent surveys, certified cloud professionals earn 25-40% more than their non-certified peers across most regions.

Factor	AWS	Azure
Market Share	33%	22%
Entry-Level Cert Cost	$100 USD	$99 USD
Average Salary (US)	$120,000	$110,000
Exam Format	Multiple choice, case studies	Multiple choice, labs
Global Availability	Available in 150+ countries	Available in 140+ countries

Global Certification Paths Compared

Cloud Certification Paths

Foundational

AWS Cloud Practitioner

6 months fundamental AWS knowledge

$100 USD | 90 min

Associate

Solutions Architect

Design distributed systems

$150 USD | 130 min

Developer

Develop cloud applications

$150 USD | 130 min

SysOps Admin

Deploy/manage systems

$150 USD | 130 min

Professional

Solutions Architect Pro

Advanced architectural principles

$300 USD | 180 min

Fundamental

Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

Cloud concepts & Azure services

$99 USD | 85 min

Associate

Administrator (AZ-104)

Implement/manage Azure resources

$165 USD | 120 min

Developer (AZ-204)

Build cloud applications

$165 USD | 120 min

Solutions Architect (AZ-305)

Design cloud solutions

$165 USD | 150 min

Expert

DevOps Expert (AZ-400)

Combine people/processes/technologies

$165 USD | 150 min

Detailed Exam Comparison

Exam Code: SAA-C03

Duration: 130 minutes

Cost: $150 USD (prices vary by country)

Topics: Design resilient architectures, define performance architecture, specify secure applications, design cost-optimized architectures.

Recommended Experience: 1 year of hands-on AWS experience

Available Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese

Exam Code: AZ-104

Duration: 120 minutes

Cost: $165 USD (prices vary by country)

Topics: Manage Azure identities, implement storage solutions, configure virtual networking, monitor/maintain resources.

Recommended Experience: 6 months of hands-on Azure administration

Available Languages: English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese

Key Decision Factors for Global Professionals

Global Employer Demand

AWS leads in overall market adoption (33% share), while Azure is growing rapidly in enterprise sectors with 22% market share. AWS dominates in North America, while Azure has strong adoption in Europe.

Top Industries: AWS: Tech, Startups | Azure: Enterprise, Government

Salary Potential

US salaries average $120K for AWS and $110K for Azure certified professionals. European salaries range €60-80K. Specializations can increase earnings by 20-40% in most markets.

Highest Paying: AWS Solutions Architect Pro | Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Learning Curve

Azure may be easier for those with Windows/Active Directory experience. AWS has more comprehensive documentation and a steeper initial learning curve. Both offer localized training in major languages.

Exam Pass Rates: AWS: 65-70% | Azure: 70-75%

Technology Stack

AWS offers more services (200+) while Azure integrates better with Microsoft products. AWS leads in IaaS, Azure in PaaS solutions. Both support hybrid cloud deployments globally.

Key Services: AWS: EC2, S3 | Azure: VMs, Blob Storage

Regional Availability

AWS has more global regions (25+) while Azure is expanding rapidly with 60+ regions. Both have strong presence in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific with multiple availability zones.

Major Regions: AWS: US, Ireland, Singapore | Azure: US, Netherlands, Japan

Career Growth

AWS certifications open doors to cloud architect roles worldwide, while Azure certs are valuable for enterprise cloud administrators and Microsoft-focused roles. Multi-cloud skills are increasingly valued.

Next Steps: Multi-cloud or specialty certifications

Global Recommendation

Assess your current skills and experience

Microsoft stack → Azure

Linux/open-source → AWS

Research your target job market

Enterprise/government → Azure

Tech startups/scale-ups → AWS

Consider regional preferences

North America/APAC → AWS

Europe → Azure

Consider long-term goals

Multi-cloud expertise is the future

For global professionals, we recommend starting with the platform that aligns with your current experience (AWS for Linux/open-source backgrounds, Azure for Microsoft stack experience), then expanding to multi-cloud certifications after gaining experience. Consider regional market demands when specializing.

Ready to Boost Your Global Cloud Career?

Whichever path you choose, a professional resume is your first step to landing cloud opportunities. Need to create an ATS-compliant resume for global opportunities?

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