Not sure which cloud certification to start with? This page compares the five most popular cloud certifications so you can pick the right one for your career goals, budget, and timeline.
Cloud Certification Comparison 2026 | Certification | Vendor | Level | Cost | Study Time | Best For | |
|
|
|
|
|
| | AWS Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 | AWS | Foundational | 100 USD | 2 to 4 weeks | Beginners, PMs, sales | | AWS Solutions Architect SAA-C03 | AWS | Associate | 165 USD | 6 to 8 weeks | Architects, engineers | | Azure AI Engineer AI-102 | Microsoft | Associate | 165 USD | 4 to 8 weeks | AI engineers, developers | | Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer | Google | Professional | 200 USD | 8 to 12 weeks | Data engineers | | Snowflake SnowPro Core COF-C03 | Snowflake | Core | 175 USD | 4 to 8 weeks | Data engineers, analysts | | Microsoft Fabric Data Engineer DP-700 | Microsoft | Associate | 165 USD | 4 to 8 weeks | Data engineers on Fabric | | Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect | Google | Professional | 200 USD | 8 to 12 weeks | Solution architects | | Scrum.org PSM I | Scrum.org | Foundational | 150 USD | 2 to 4 weeks | Scrum Masters, agile teams | | Databricks Data Engineer Associate | Databricks | Associate | 200 USD | 4 to 8 weeks | Data engineers on Databricks | ## Which Certification Pays the Most? Cloud architects and data engineers consistently earn the highest salaries. Here are US averages: | Role | Salary Range | |
|
| | Cloud Architect | 140,000 to 200,000 | | Data Engineer | 120,000 to 170,000 | | AI Engineer | 120,000 to 180,000 | | Cloud Practitioner | 70,000 to 100,000 | | Scrum Master | 90,000 to 140,000 | ## Fastest Certification to Get If you need a cert quickly for a job requirement, here are the fastest options: 1. AWS CLF-C02: 2 to 4 weeks 2. Scrum.org PSM I: 2 to 4 weeks 3. SnowPro Core: 4 to 6 weeks (if you already use Snowflake) 4. Azure AI-102: 4 to 6 weeks (if you know Azure) #