8 AWS jobs you can get with an AWS certification

Amazon Web Services (AWS) certifications can open the door to many top-paying careers in IT. But once you’ve passed your AWS certification exam, which AWS jobs are you qualified for? In this post, we'll explore a few jobs you may be able to land with an AWS certification.

A quick disclaimer before we get started: There's real value in AWS certifications. But it's important to be realistic about what certs can and can’t do.

• Certifications don't guarantee you'll get a cloud job. They're proof of knowledge, not experience. (If you're new to cloud and need to build experience, you can start by getting hands-on with some fun AWS projects.)

• That said, certifications can open doors and help you jump-start your cloud career. The Pluralsight 2025 Tech Skills Report found that certifications are the #1 way IT professionals earn raises or promotions.

There are 13 different types of AWS cloud certifications. There's also a wide range of job opportunities and career paths available to people with AWS expertise. Let’s take a look at some of them, along with U.S. salary estimates courtesy of ZipRecruiter and Glassdoor.

Average yearly salary: $156,000 – $257,000 USD

What is a cloud architect? Just one of the hottest jobs in tech.

AWS Architects, AWS Cloud Architects, and AWS solutions architects spend their time architecting, building, and maintaining highly available, cost-efficient, and scalable AWS cloud environments. They also make recommendations regarding AWS toolsets and keep up with the latest in cloud computing.

Professional AWS cloud architects deliver technical architectures and lead implementation efforts, ensuring new technologies are successfully integrated into customer environments. This role works directly with customers and engineers, providing both technical leadership and an interface with client-side stakeholders.

Learn the skills you need to thrive as a cloud architect.

Average yearly salary: $104,000  – $160,000 USD

An AWS developer builds software services and enterprise-level applications. Generally, previous experience working as a software developer and a working knowledge of the most common cloud orchestration tools is required to succeed at an AWS cloud developer job.

Uncover the tools and tech you need to become a cloud developer.

Average yearly salary: $123,000 – $185,000 USD

An AWS cloud operations engineer, or CloudOps engineer, designs, creates, and implements cloud-based solutions. They’re responsible for monitoring and maintaining AWS workloads, plus implementing security controls, networking concepts, business continuity procedures, and cost and performance optimizations.

You may be familiar with roles like AWS System Operations Administrator or AWS SysOps Administrator. CloudOps engineers go one level deeper, focusing more on design and optimization than maintenance and administration.

Learn more about the AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associate certification exam.

Average yearly salary: $128,000 – $187,000

AWS DevOps engineers design AWS cloud solutions that impact and improve the business. They perform server maintenance and implement any debugging or patching that may be necessary, among other DevOps things. They also partner with developers and other IT professionals to streamline the software development process and deliver secure systems that are highly available.

Average yearly salary: $131,000 – $211,000 USD 

Cloud security engineers provide security for AWS systems, protect sensitive and confidential data, and ensure regulatory compliance by designing and implementing security controls according to the latest security best practices.

Think you want to be a security engineer? Here’s what you need to know.

Average yearly salary: $119,000 – $182,000

Cloud network specialists, engineers, and architects help organizations successfully design, build, and maintain cloud-native and hybrid networking infrastructures, including integrating existing networks with AWS cloud resources.

Learn what it takes to be a cloud networking professional.

Average yearly salary: $148,000 – $228,000 USD

Cloud data architects and data engineers may be cloud database administrators or data analytics professionals who know how to leverage AWS database resources, technologies, and services to unlock the value of enterprise data.

Discover your options for working with data and AI in the cloud.

Average yearly salary: $141,000 – $245,000 USD

Cloud consultants provide organizations with technical expertise and strategy when it comes to designing and deploying AWS cloud solutions. They may also consult on specific issues such as performance, security, or data migration.

The field of cloud computing will only continue to grow, and even more types of cloud jobs will surface in the future.

With studying and practice, any of the jobs here could become available to you if you pass your AWS certification exams. Educating yourself on AWS concepts plays a key role in advancing your career, receiving a higher salary, and a more engaging position.

Ready to begin your cloud career? Find which AWS certification is right for you and develop your cloud skills.

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