What was "the big cert" that got you a huge bump in salary?

olaHalo

Just wondering what specific certification that you high level guys earned that helped you get out of the mid level range and get a nice bump in pay.
Obviously I realize there are many other factors, but just from a certification standpoint I'm wondering what made the difference?

People that I know personally always tell me the same two certs helped them greatly; CCNP or CISSP.

JoJoCal19

CISSP is the one that gets me the phone calls. I had no luck until obtaining it and all of a sudden the floodgates opened. Made two job changes within a year afterwards and increased my salary 44.5% over where it was prior to obtaining it. To be clear, they cert was the key to the HR gates, and not a magic bullet for getting the jobs.

gespenstern

GSE is probably the biggest cert I can think of. But it's pricey and many exams leading to it are open book, so I won't bother, unless employer pays.

phantasm

The CCNP has gotten me some calls from some big tech companies... but no huge bump in salary anywhere.

The_Expert

CCENT... probably, because folks see that I have started down the Cisco track.

Of course, that is probably not the only factor in my recent bump (70% increase).

kohr-ah

CCNP/CCDP combo

TLeTourneau

At the time I got it the MCITP:EA probably generated the most contacts and definitely had an impact in receiving interviews. The CCNA didn't hurt either but I work mostly in systems not networks.

Dakinggamer87

Mostly experience in combination with some virtualization certs: VCP, VCP-Cloud helped double my salary!!

emerald_octane

cissp.
The best part about it is that there are so many people hoping to become CISSPs but want to hit that keyword so they're like "CISSP course taken" or "CISSP Books purchased" right on the resume. I'm certain this is the case for any job req that asks for CISSP (1%-5% actual attainment). Because the CISSPs at other organizations are usually payed well enough at their current employer so they have no need to leave (from what I can tell).
So when one a legitimate one is found it gets people's attention.

olaHalo

Thanks.
Good motivation to hurry up and get this CCNP

OfWolfAndMan

The HCSN (Human certified salary negotiator) was the cert that got me a bump in my pay

E Double U

No huge pay bump yet, but recruiters contact me daily since adding CISSP to my online profile.

Blackout

I don't have one, but I believe CCIE is one of those that would generate a pretty darn big jump

rjon17469

I got my CCNA, CCNP, and CCDA, all of which netted me about a 5% bump in salary. Then got my CCIE, at which point I got much, much more.

Just passed the CISSP exam but haven't completed the endorsement process yet, so I can't comment on that one yet.

bpenn

In the government world, most of my buddies got big salary increases when they completed their degree(s). When I finish mine, I will get a nice bump.

beads

Experience over certifications have been far more consistent in the pay department than any certification has been. I can walk the walk but have meet most cert owners only to talk the talk - and not much else.

- b/eads

goatama

My degree. I realize this is not what most people want to hear, but I have lots of certs, however for the most part I wasn't getting anywhere with my career until I finished my degree. Don't get me wrong, I was getting good experience, but it wasn't what I wanted to be doing. It wasn't until I got my Bachelor's that I got several hits almost immediately, all of them offering substantially more than I was making, and in security which is where I wanted to be.

Of course this is just my $0.02 and YMMV, et cetera.

GoodBishop

CISSP/CRISC/CGEIT combo.

100% increase in salary. But of course I had the experience as well.

kohr-ah

goatama wrote: »

My degree.

No argument there. That is why I want to get my bachelors but need to wait until next year. I am fortunate enough that the associates has helped me get this far.

techfiend

I hope a BS degree is what does it for me too. Having the CCNA only for a few business days I've been pursued for some interesting sys admin positions. MCP\MCSA before I graduate might help too. I'm a SMB sys admin currently, almost every recruiter pursuing me for the past few months has been for tier 1 help desk.

Essendon

70% bump with the VCAP5-DCD and I also switched jobs.

chanakyajupudi

50% bump after passing the two AWS Associate Level Certifications.

jdancer

CCNA Security for the network security bits but I mostly do VMware/Red Hat administration. I deal a lot securing network protocols and PKI.

pevangel

CCNP helped me get into my first networking role and has served me well. My salary has gone up 200+% since then.

zxbane

As many others have said the CISSP was the real game changer for me. I'm assuming finishing up my MBA has helped some as well.

olaHalo

Essendon wrote: »

70% bump with the VCAP5-DCD and I also switched jobs.

All my buddies who have this make a lot more than I do.

DoubleNNs

chanakyajupudi wrote: »

50% bump after passing the two AWS Associate Level Certifications.

Glad to see AWS on this list, as it's a technology I'm currently interested in learning.
I'm hoping someone had a good experience w/ one of the Red Hat certs giving a big pay bump as well...

ccie14023

CCIE, but that was back before everyone and their grandmother had one...

jibbajabba

None. Never got a raise. Always had to change jobs to earn more. I find it amazing how many companies think it is taken for granted to ask for my credentials in order to earn competencies, whether they supported me in getting those certs or not.

Xavor

Finished my BS and VCP within 6 months which allowed me to apply internally for a "cloud" related position which netted a 35% pay increase in the same area.

I rarely touch VMware now, but deal with Linux. If I job hopped I could get another 10% easy, but location is decent for me atm.

Essendon

olaHalo wrote: »

All my buddies who have this make a lot more than I do.

Good thread, but generally, and I'm sure you know it, it's not just the cert, it's the knowledge gained and experience earned during the process that nets the cash.