Project management certification tops IT salary list
The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI) has topped the list of salaries for employees in the IT sector, according to a survey conducted by IT and business skills training company Global Knowledge.
Its annual IT Skills and Salary report shows that the average salary of a PMP-certified project manager is US$111,209 per annum.
“When the conversation amongst IT professionals turns to IT certifications, one of their first thoughts is of high salaries—dollar signs dancing in their heads. While some certifications do command a six-figure salary, this is not true for all,” remarked Randy Muller, an instructor at Global Knowledge.
He added that the PMP credential “is recognised as the most important certification for project managers and is globally recognised and in heavy demand,” because it demonstrates that the project manager has the requisite, real-world experience, as well as the education to successfully lead and direct projects.
“The PMP credential should only be attempted by experienced project managers as the qualifications and testing for this certification are very rigorous. In addition, the PMI requires continued validation through required continuing education requirements. All of these factors ensure that the PMP credential is widely respected,” said Muller.
Other IT certifications in the top five were not directly project management related and included Certified Information Systems Security Professional (US$110,342), Cisco Certified Design Associate (US$101,915, ITIL v3 Foundation (US$97,691), and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (US$91,650).
Attaining a certification does not automatically equate to a high paying role, however, stated Muller, “it is certification and experience that will count”.
He noted that credentials were now almost mandatory to secure a role. “There was a time when, if you had a certification, you were reasonably assured of getting a job. Now it is more of a disqualifier: not having a certification means you may not even get an interview.”
See the 15 Top Paying IT Certifications for 2012 on Global Knowledge.
