How Much Do IT Certifications Increase Your Salary in 2026?

One certification can move your paycheck faster than a year of waiting for a standard raise

If you are working in IT in 2026, certifications are no longer just resume decorations. In many roles, they act like salary accelerators. A well-chosen cert can help an entry-level analyst land a first security job, push a systems administrator into cloud work, or give a network engineer the leverage to negotiate a higher offer. But there is a catch: not all certifications increase salary equally, and some barely pay for themselves while others produce outsized returns in less than a year.

This article breaks down what IT certifications really do for compensation, where the biggest pay bumps come from, and how to think about ROI using concrete examples. We will also look closely at widely searched credentials like CompTIA Security+, security plus certification, and AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, because these are often the first certs people pursue when trying to increase earnings.

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

• IT certifications can increase salary by 5% to 20%+, but the actual impact depends on role alignment, experience, region, and whether the cert qualifies you for a higher-paying job category.
• Foundational certifications such as CompTIA Security+ and AWS Cloud Practitioner often deliver their best ROI by helping candidates enter security or cloud rather than by boosting pay in place.
• Mid-level and specialty certifications usually create bigger salary jumps than entry-level certs because they are tied to harder-to-fill roles.
• CompTIA Security+ remains one of the most practical certs in 2026 for cybersecurity job access, especially for SOC, help desk-to-security, junior admin, and DoD 8570/8140-aligned pathways.
• AWS Cloud Practitioner is valuable for proving cloud literacy, but by itself it generally produces a smaller direct pay bump than role-based AWS associate or specialty certifications.
• ROI matters more than sticker price. Even a relatively modest salary increase can make a certification worthwhile if your exam prep costs are low and the cert opens better job options.
• Practice exams improve pass probability, which directly improves ROI. Failing once can double your effective exam cost.

Do IT certifications really increase salary?

Yes, but the effect is often misunderstood.

Certifications rarely function as a universal “add $10,000 instantly” button. Instead, they influence salary in three main ways:

1. They qualify you for roles you could not previously access. This is the biggest salary lever.
2. They strengthen your negotiating position when you are already in role and can demonstrate relevant skills.
3. They reduce employer risk during hiring, making you easier to justify over similarly experienced candidates.

In salary surveys across cybersecurity, cloud, networking, and systems administration, certified professionals often out-earn non-certified peers. However, the gap varies widely because many certified workers also have stronger experience, better job mobility, and more intentional career planning.

That means the right question is not “Do certifications increase salary?” but “Which certification helps me move into a higher-value job fastest?”

What the salary data shows in 2026

Across the IT market in 2025 and 2026, compensation remains strongest in cloud, cybersecurity, platform engineering, data infrastructure, and networking roles with security or automation responsibilities. Foundational certifications still matter, but their value comes more from access than from prestige.

Here is the pattern employers continue to show in 2026:

• Entry-level certifications can help candidates move from sub-$50,000 support roles into the $60,000-$85,000 range, depending on market and role.
• Career-transition certifications often deliver the highest percentage gain because they enable movement into a new specialization.
• Advanced certifications can support six-figure salaries, but usually only when paired with hands-on experience.

For example, a candidate with no security credential working in general IT support might move into a junior security analyst role after earning a comptia security+ certification. That transition can result in a far larger increase than any annual raise. By contrast, a candidate already in a cybersecurity role may see only a modest direct bump from the same credential if their employer already considers them fully qualified.

Bottom line: certifications produce the biggest salary increases when they change your job family, not just your badge count.

How much salary increase can you expect by certification type?

1. Foundational cybersecurity certifications: CompTIA Security+

CompTIA Security+ remains one of the most searched and most practical credentials in IT. Whether people search for comptia security+, comptia security, comptia security plus, security plus certification, or security+ certification, they are usually looking for the same thing: a credential that helps them break into cybersecurity without needing years of prior security-specific experience.

In 2026, Security+ is especially valuable in these scenarios:

• Moving from help desk to SOC analyst
• Transitioning from desktop support to junior security operations
• Qualifying for government and contractor roles that require baseline security credentials
• Adding credibility to systems, network, and cloud administrators who handle security controls

Typical salary effect:

• Direct raise in same role: often 0% to 8%
• Salary increase when used to change roles: commonly 10% to 25%+
• Biggest benefit: access to cybersecurity job postings that screen for Security+

In practical terms, someone earning $52,000 in support might move into a junior security role paying $65,000 to $78,000. That is not unusual. A current sysadmin making $72,000 may use Security+ to qualify for more security-heavy infrastructure work in the $80,000-$90,000 band, especially if they can pair the cert with SIEM, IAM, endpoint, or cloud security experience.

If Security+ is your target, start with the official path and resources for CompTIA Security+.

CompTIA Security+ exam cost and ROI

One reason Security+ remains attractive is that the investment is modest relative to the possible upside. The comptia security+ exam cost in 2026 is still low compared with the salary delta it can help unlock. Exam pricing can vary by geography and voucher source, but candidates typically spend on:

• Exam voucher
• Study guide or video course
• Labs or simulations
• Security+ practice test materials

Depending on your prep style, total out-of-pocket cost may range from a few hundred dollars to around $1,000+. That means even a relatively small $3,000 annual salary increase creates a positive first-year ROI.

And because candidates often search specifically for a security+ practice test, comptia security+ practice test, security plus practice test, or comptia security practice test, it is worth emphasizing this: practice exams are not optional if you care about ROI. The fastest way to damage certification ROI is to fail and pay again.

2. Foundational cloud certifications: AWS Cloud Practitioner

AWS Cloud Practitioner and AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner are among the most popular cloud entry certifications because they validate baseline cloud knowledge without requiring deep engineering experience. If your current role touches infrastructure, SaaS, billing, operations, support, or technical sales, this can be a smart first step.

The value of the aws cloud practitioner certification is real, but it is different from Security+.

Typical salary effect:

• Direct raise in same role: often 0% to 5%
• Salary increase when used to enter cloud-adjacent work: commonly 5% to 15%
• Biggest benefit: credibility and cloud fluency, especially for non-engineers and early-career professionals

Why is the pay bump usually smaller? Because AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is intentionally broad. It proves familiarity with AWS services, pricing, security basics, and architecture concepts, but it does not signal the hands-on technical depth of an associate-level architect, developer, or sysops credential.

Still, this certification has strong ROI for the right person. If you are trying to move from a general IT support or business-technical hybrid role toward cloud operations, customer success, or technical account work, AWS Cloud Practitioner can help you become “cloud credible” faster. Learn more through the AWS Cloud Practitioner path.

3. Networking certifications: Cisco CCNA

Networking remains foundational to nearly every IT function, and CCNA is still one of the most recognized certifications for proving practical network knowledge. In 2026, networking roles increasingly overlap with security, automation, wireless, and cloud connectivity, which can amplify the value of a networking credential.

Typical salary effect:

• Direct raise in same role: often 3% to 8%
• Salary increase when used to move into network administration or engineering: 10% to 20%+

CCNA is especially effective for people moving out of help desk or general support. If your path involves infrastructure, NOC, network operations, or security engineering, explore Cisco CCNA.

Which certifications deliver the best salary ROI?

ROI is not just about highest salary. It is about salary increase relative to cost, time, and probability of success.

Here is a practical framework for ranking ROI:

1. Total cost: exam, study materials, labs, retakes, and time investment
2. Market demand: number of roles asking for the cert or related skills
3. Role leverage: whether the cert qualifies you for a better-paying job family
4. Stackability: whether it leads naturally to a more advanced certification path

High-ROI certification patterns in 2026

• Security+ for IT support professionals moving into cybersecurity
• CCNA for help desk staff moving into networking
• AWS Cloud Practitioner for non-cloud technical professionals building toward AWS associate certifications
• Intermediate cloud or security certs for professionals with 2-5 years of experience

Notice the pattern: the best ROI often comes from a certification that serves as a bridge to a better-paying lane.

Sample ROI calculations using realistic 2026 scenarios

Scenario 1: Help desk to cybersecurity with Security+

Starting salary: $49,000
Certification path cost: $850 total
New salary after earning Security+ and changing roles: $66,000

Annual salary increase: $17,000
First-year ROI: approximately 1,900%

This is why comptia security+ certification is so frequently recommended. The credential itself is not “advanced,” but it helps unlock a role category that pays significantly more than entry-level support.

Scenario 2: Sysadmin adds Security+ for broader responsibility

Starting salary: $76,000
Certification path cost: $700 total
Raise or external offer after cert: $82,000

Annual salary increase: $6,000
First-year ROI: about 757%

Here the salary bump is smaller in percentage terms, but still excellent from an ROI standpoint.

Scenario 3: Operations specialist earns AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Starting salary: $58,000
Certification path cost: $400 total
New cloud-support or cloud-ops-adjacent salary: $64,000

Annual salary increase: $6,000
First-year ROI: about 1,400%

Again, the credential works best as a mobility tool rather than a prestige signal.

Scenario 4: Existing cloud engineer earns Cloud Practitioner only

Starting salary: $105,000
Certification path cost: $350 total
Result: no raise

Annual salary increase: $0
First-year ROI: 0%

This is the cautionary example. If the cert is below your current practical level, the salary effect may be negligible. For experienced professionals, role-aligned advanced certifications tend to outperform foundational ones.

Why some certifications produce bigger salary increases than others

1. Employer pain and talent scarcity

The highest-value certifications usually map to roles employers struggle to fill. Cybersecurity and cloud continue to have persistent shortages in many markets, especially in roles involving detection engineering, identity security, cloud governance, and hybrid infrastructure.

2. Compliance and hiring filters

Some credentials matter because employers are required or incentivized to hire people who have them. That is one reason CompTIA Security+ remains relevant in government and defense-adjacent environments.

3. Clear skill signaling

Hiring managers reward certifications that reduce ambiguity. A cert tied closely to a role sends a stronger signal than a broad awareness credential.

4. Role transition potential

A certification that moves you from one job family into another usually outperforms one that merely confirms what you already do.

Where CompTIA Security+ fits in 2026

Security+ is still one of the safest certification bets for early-career professionals. It remains current, recognizable, and useful across private sector, government, MSP, and enterprise environments. In 2026, it continues to validate practical knowledge in:

• Threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations
• Security architecture
• Identity and access management
• Risk management and governance
• Incident response basics

Many candidates also ask about CompTIA SecurityX. CompTIA SecurityX sits at a more advanced level and is part of a broader conversation around higher-tier cybersecurity validation. For salary growth, SecurityX can be meaningful for professionals already beyond foundational security work, but it is not the typical first certification for maximizing early ROI. If you are still building baseline credibility, Security+ generally remains the better first step.

In other words:

• Choose Security+ if you need job access and broad cybersecurity validation.
• Consider CompTIA SecurityX later if your work already involves architecture, engineering, or advanced operational responsibilities.

Where AWS Cloud Practitioner fits in 2026

The aws cloud practitioner credential is best understood as a launchpad. It helps candidates build cloud vocabulary and demonstrate baseline AWS literacy. For many employers, that is enough to make a candidate more interviewable for cloud-adjacent roles.

But salary-wise, the real upside usually appears when Cloud Practitioner leads to more technical certifications or direct cloud experience. Its strongest uses include:

• Helping traditional IT professionals begin a cloud transition
• Supporting consultants, project managers, sales engineers, and support roles that need cloud fluency
• Building confidence before pursuing associate-level AWS certifications

If your primary goal is salary growth, think of aws certified cloud practitioner as a first rung rather than the top of the ladder.

How to estimate your own certification salary increase

To avoid guessing, use this simple 2026 framework.

Step 1: Identify the target role

Do not ask, “What does this certification pay?” Ask, “What role can this certification help me get?”

Step 2: Research local and remote salary bands

Look at job boards, compensation reports, recruiter messages, and salary aggregators for your geography. Separate entry-level ranges from experienced ranges.

Step 3: Calculate transition delta

Subtract your current salary from the realistic target salary for your next role.

Step 4: Calculate all certification costs

• Exam fee
• Prep materials
• Labs
• Retake risk
• Time away from billable work or overtime

Step 5: Discount for experience gap

If you have the certification but not the practical experience, assume only part of the salary delta will materialize immediately.

Step 6: Reassess stackability

Some certifications are valuable because they position you for a stronger next certification or role. Include that in your thinking.

How to maximize salary impact after you pass

Passing is only half the job. The salary benefit appears when you turn the certification into market evidence.

Update your resume for outcomes, not just credentials

Do not simply list “Security+ certified.” Add bullet points that connect your work to the certified skill set:

• Improved endpoint hardening using baseline security controls
• Investigated phishing and malware alerts in SIEM workflows
• Supported IAM policy reviews and MFA deployment
• Documented AWS cost, security, or architecture decisions

Build one proof-of-skill project

If you have a foundational cert, create one portfolio item to show applied knowledge. For example:

• Security+: home lab with log analysis, vulnerability scanning, and hardening notes
• AWS Cloud Practitioner: simple AWS architecture diagram with IAM, billing, and shared responsibility explanations
• CCNA: network topology, VLAN, subnetting, and troubleshooting examples

Use the certification in negotiation language

When discussing compensation, tie the cert to business value:

“I pursued Security+ to strengthen my capability in incident response, access control, and risk reduction. I am now contributing to security workflows that were previously outside my scope, and I would like to discuss compensation aligned with that expanded responsibility.”

Apply externally if internal mobility is slow

One of the biggest truths in IT compensation is that certifications often pay better in the market than they do inside your current company. If your employer does not value the credential, another employer may.

Common mistakes that reduce certification ROI

• Picking a cert because it is popular, not because it matches your next role
• Expecting a raise without changing scope, output, or job title
• Skipping labs and practice exams
• Taking an entry-level cert when you are already operating at a mid-level
• Failing to market the certification on resume, LinkedIn, and interviews

This is particularly relevant for candidates searching generic terms like comptia security or security plus certification. The certification is useful, but only if you connect it to role-ready capability.

So which certifications offer the highest pay bumps?

If we focus on percentage salary increase relative to where candidates start, the highest pay bumps often come from certifications that enable specialization:

1. Security+ for early-career IT professionals entering cybersecurity
2. CCNA for support professionals entering networking or infrastructure
3. AWS Cloud Practitioner when used as the first move into cloud-adjacent work
4. More advanced cloud and security certifications once foundational experience is in place

If we focus on raw salary ceilings, advanced cloud, security, architecture, and DevOps-related credentials tend to lead. But for many people, the best first move is still a practical foundational certification with low cost and fast marketability.

That is why so many candidates begin with CompTIA Security+, AWS Cloud Practitioner, or Cisco CCNA. If you want to compare paths, you can also Browse All Certifications.

Final verdict: Are IT certifications worth it for salary in 2026?

Yes, if you choose strategically.

The best certification is not the one with the biggest name. It is the one that helps you cross into a better-paying role with the least wasted time and cost. In 2026, CompTIA Security+ remains one of the strongest ROI options for aspiring cybersecurity professionals, while AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner remains a smart first move for people building cloud credibility. Networking professionals still benefit from CCNA, especially when it supports a transition into infrastructure and security-heavy environments.

Here is the simple rule: pick the certification that matches your next job, not your current comfort zone.

And once you pick it, prepare seriously. The fastest way to protect your ROI is to pass on the first attempt.

If you are ready to study smarter, HydraNode offers free practice exams to help you test readiness, close knowledge gaps, and improve your odds of passing certifications like Security+, AWS Cloud Practitioner, and CCNA. Start with realistic exam prep, build confidence, and turn your next certification into a real salary move.