AWS Cloud Practitioner Salary: Your 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

AWS cloud practitioners can earn high salaries in the US due to increased demand for computer and information technology (IT) professionals.

• The average annual pay for an entry-level AWS cloud practitioner in the US is $96,260 [1].

• Factors such as education level, location, and additional years of experience can impact your salary as an AWS cloud practitioner.

• You can earn higher salaries by getting an associate or professional-level AWS certification.

Learn more about the average AWS cloud practitioner's salary and the factors that can affect it. If you’re ready to start preparing for an AWS role, enroll in the AWS Fundamentals Specialization. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about fundamental AWS services and cloud computing concepts in as little as four weeks. Upon completion, you’ll have earned a career certificate for your resume.

What is an AWS cloud practitioner? 

An Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud practitioner is a professional in the information technology (IT) space who specializes in cloud computing. What separates an AWS cloud practitioner from other cloud computing specialists is that they have specialized knowledge in AWS to support cloud operations for various organizations. 

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is a certification offered by Amazon Web Services that validates the recipient has a foundational yet high-level competence in using the AWS cloud, as well as its services and terminology. This certification is generally the starting point for all other AWS certifications, which include professional, associate, and specialty role-based certifications.

Read more: What's the Difference Between AWS vs. Azure vs. Google Cloud?

AWS certified cloud practitioner salary

The average salary for an entry-level AWS cloud practitioner is $96,260, according to ZipRecruiter [1]. Keep in mind that a certified AWS cloud practitioner can work in various positions within the AWS cloud ecosystem. Let’s review some of these potential jobs and their median total US salaries:

• AWS cloud engineer: $144,000 [2]

• AWS DevOps engineer: $145,000 [3]

• AWS cloud architect: $170,000 [4]

• AWS developer: $135,000 [5]

Keep in mind that salaries vary based on factors such as experience, location, education, and other certifications.

AWS cloud practitioner salary by location

Let’s review the average entry-level AWS cloud practitioner salary in some of the top paying cities in the US, according to ZipRecruiter [1]. 

• San Mateo, California: $110,948

• San Francisco, California: $110,753

• Sunnyvale, California: $109,790

• Santa Clara, California: $109,295

• Fremont, California: $108,972

• Berkeley, California: $107,522

• San Jose, California: $107,435 

• Livermore, California: $106,964 

• Oakland, California: $106,791 

• Barnstable Town, Massachusetts: $106,782

Average salary for AWS cloud practitioners by education level

It is possible to become an AWS cloud practitioner with an associate degree; however, most employers will typically require a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field. 

The average salary for AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification holders varies by education. Below are the US salaries for various roles held by AWS cloud practitioners by education level, according to Zippia [6, 7, 8, 9, 10]. 

AWS cloud practitioner salary based on certification type

AWS provides certifications at four levels for IT professionals who want to work in the cloud: foundational, associate, professional, and specialty.

Foundational

Entry-level AWS cloud practitioner salary (US): $96,260 [1]

At the foundational level is the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, which is an overview and introduction to AWS. It focuses on the overall AWS system and structure, instead of going too in-depth on any one subject. Amazon recommends the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification for people who are new to the cloud and may lack an IT background. 

Associate

Average base salary for AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate holders: $131,000 [11]

You can advance your career by earning associate AWS certifications. For example, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certification is for people with experience in AWS technology, strong on-premises IT experience, or experience with other cloud technology. 

Average base salary for AWS Certified Developer – Associate holders: $121,000 [12] 

Other AWS associate certifications to consider are the AWS Certified Developer Associate and AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate. On top of the recommended experience for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate exam, AWS recommends the AWS Certified Developer – Associate for those with developer or IT experience. 

Average base salary for AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate holders: $124,000 [13]

If you have experience as a systems administrator, AWS recommends pursuing an AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate certification. 

Professional

After gaining a few years of experience as an AWS cloud practitioner, you can pursue one of AWS’s professional certifications. Two core professional certifications to consider include:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional 

• AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

AWS recommends both exams for professionals with at least two years of experience operating and managing AWS environments and architecture. The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional pushes the average base salary to $153,000, and the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional average base salary is $144,000 annually [14, 15]. 

AWS cloud practitioner entry-level salary to senior-level salary

The average AWS cloud practitioner salary also varies by experience. The median total salaries based on years of experience, according to Glassdoor, are as follows [2, 3, 4, 5]:

Are AWS cloud practitioners in demand?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects employment for computer and IT professionals to grow much faster than average between 2024 and 2034, expecting approximately 317,700 new openings annually through 2034 [16]. These openings will mostly come from workers transferring to new jobs or leaving the workforce and from growth in the IT field.

Industries that hire AWS cloud practitioners 

An AWS cloud practitioner can work in any industry using the AWS cloud. Some of the top-paying industries for AWS cloud practitioners include:

• Information technology

• Management and consulting

• Financial services

• Health care

• Insurance

• Personal consumer services

• Legal

Some industries pay higher by role than others. Below, we outline the highest-paying industries by role.

AWS cloud engineer [2]:

• Information Technology: $142,501

• Management & Consulting: $137,092

AWS DevOps engineer [3]:

• Human Resources & Staffing: $138,470

• Information Technology: $135,562

Skills

To develop your career as an AWS cloud practitioner, you’ll need a collection of specific skills. These skills include: 

• Understanding the AWS cloud and its value proposition

• Identifying the aspects of AWS cloud economics

• Knowing AWS cloud security and compliance concepts

• Understanding AWS access management capabilities

• Deploying and operating in the AWS cloud

• Knowing the core AWS services

• Being familiar with AWS cloud billing and pricing models

Discover resources to help you at every step

Eager to grow your expertise? Keep up with the latest industry trends and in-demand skills by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat! Or if you want to keep learning more about AWS and cloud computing skills, concepts, and courses, check out these free resources:

• Take the quiz: Which AWS Course Should You Take? Find Out in 1 Minute

• Watch on YouTube: 5 Essential Cloud Computing Skills 

• Bookmark for later: Information Technology (IT) Terms: A to Z Glossary

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