It may be an employer’s market right now in the face of the Triangle’s sluggish technology sector. But a national survey suggests more education may still mean bigger paycheck.
But tech training leading to certification is still not a promise for job security.
A survey conducted by Cary-based Global Knowledge and Certification Magazine finds there’s a significant correlation between technical certification and salary. To what degree depends on the number and type of certifications coupled with years of experience in the field.
“We wanted to provide our clients with the facts about what certification does and doesn’t do,” says Peter Von Schlag, director of business strategy at Global Knowledge. Global Knowledge provides more than 700 courses in IT education and certification such as Red Hat’s RHCE and Novell’s CNE. “Companies and individuals want to know what the return on investment is for them, and this survey allowed us to be able to quantify those facts.”
The survey showed that employees who continually seek certifications received promotions and salary increases as a direct result of the completing certification. Fifty-three percent of technology professionals report having received a raise within the first year of being certified, while 37 percent received promotions.
The current technical-certification market is both large and active. Even with the technology sector’s tremendous slow down over the past year, techies still showed up in the classroom. Survey results found a 30 percent increase in the number of certifications at year-end 2001 versus 2000.
Von Schlag says this is attributed to the fact that it’s one of the few areas provides results for companies and individuals in a tangible, immediate way. Professionals are most likely able to quickly start implementing what they’ve learned in the classroom.
To get an idea of who is taking part in IT certification, an independent research firm collected the survey data from a random sample of 10,000 Certification magazine subscribers nationwide. The average respondent who is looking to add technical certifications to his or her resume is 33 years of age and has approximately eight years in the field, and holds college or advanced degrees.
Value of certification can be big raises
The survey also revealed, the average professional received a raise of 10.2 percent, which equated to a $4,477 increase in yearly salary directly related to the certification. Given the average certification cost was $1,934, the average return on investment was 2.3 to 1.
And when it comes to paying for the certification, both companies and individuals are sharing the bill. The survey revealed of all the certifications courses, roughly half of the companies pay the entire cost, the individual pays 34 percent, and 17 percent share the cost.
Von Schlag says the real issue is marketability, not just dollars. As one could expect, experience is a key factor contributing to salary. Results found that those holding certificates with 10 years of experience make 57 percent more than those with less than three years in the field. Logically, the longer someone has been in IT, the longer he or she has had to pursue multiple certifications.
Growth trends
The most apparent fact is that when it comes to certifications, more is better. According to survey results, the average technical professional holds nearly four different certifications, which results in a higher salary. Those holding six certificates make up to 30 percent more each year versus those with only one.
So what IT certifications are driving the best solutions with the highest rate of return? Microsoft certifications are driving the most salary increases in the market within the first year. The largest increase was 24 percent driven from Microsoft’s MCT certification.
In addition to Microsoft Windows 2000 certifications, Von Schlag says, Cisco certification programs, including those for CCNA, CCNP, CCIE remain the most popular at Global Knowledge.
So what’s hottest? In the post-9/11 world, that’s not a surprise.
“The fastest area of growth is in the pursuit of security certifications,” Van Schlag says.
