Top 10 in-demand IT Certifications in Texas
IT Jobs Outlook 2020 and beyond
Certifications play a major role in today’s fast-moving world of technology to separate individuals who have the desired skills and expertise from those who don’t. As we witness methodologies of education and training evolving across the globe, degree programs are no longer enough to be competitive. Specifically, in the field of information technology where the pace of change in advancements is on a continuous rise, continuing education programs have taken the lead. Anyone planning a career in IT or already in the game know the significance of IT certifications. Alongside, top IT vendors like Microsoft, AWS, CompTIA, Cisco, and many other names have been releasing their own vendor-specific and neutral certifications to provide specialized training in various areas of IT. The digital transformation of businesses has a huge contribution to the surge of technology adoption, and as a result, deeper knowledge and expertise is required in multiple dimensions of information technology.
If we talk about some of the fields where certifications have become a must-have, cybersecurity and information security, cloud computing, networking, and project management stay atop. In this whitepaper, we will share with you the top 10 IT certifications that are in demand in the state of Texas. Before heading to the certifications and relative information for each, let’s talk about how Texas has been in the pandemic and what can we expect from 2021.
Post-Pandemic IT Job Outlook in Texas
The pandemic hasn’t been good news for any industry. Repercussions have been extreme, and Texas, like every other state, has been badly hit. The industries expected to witness the highest number of jobs lost include accommodation, food services, manufacturing, retail, mining, primary oil, and natural gas in Texas. Since the pandemic began, more than 2 million Texans have filed unemployment claims. As of June, real gross product losses for the year reach $206 billion with around 1 million fewer jobs compared to the projected numbers of mid-2020. However, technology has been the torchbearer, becoming a helping hand for organizations to survive, and playing a major role in cultivating a work from home culture. A prime reason for digital businesses and logistics (to some extent) to serve the customers in different ways is the early adoption of technology.
On the brighter side, a notable improvement is projected for 2021. A 9.50% gain in the real gross product is forecast, around $154.4 billion, and jobs are projected to rise by 5.51%, around 685,000. Since technology never left the game, it is better off for the unemployed and even for those struggling with their current work progress to go for a career switch, and join the never-ending game of IT.
We have researched recent IT job postings on two of the biggest platforms, Indeed.com and Glassdoor, to see which certifications are in high demand in Texas. Let’s see what certifications are in demand and where should your focus be to prepare for 2021.
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Top 10 in-demand IT Certifications in Texas
Project Management Professional (PMP)®
Project management is one of the most sought-after skills in the US. According to research around 2 million new job roles in project management are expected to bud out every year, through 2027. The PMP® certification by the Project Management Institute is recognized globally, validating a candidate’s knowledge of the key areas in project management. CIO reported this certification to be the top project management certification, and certified candidates are reported to take home at least a 25% higher salary than those who aren’t.
Job Postings
For the last 30 days only, you can find 3003 new job postings on Indeed.com and over 3,300 new job postings on Glassdoor for project management roles in the state of Texas.
Prerequisites and Salaries
A PMP certification is a valuable addition to your professional track record. A prime reason for that is the level of commitment earning this certification requires from candidates. Before applying for this certification, you need to have:
- A four-year degree
- 36 months of leading projects
- 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® Certification
OR
- A high school diploma or an associate degree (or global equivalent)
- 60 months of leading projects
- 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® Certification
Project management professionals earn an average salary of $66,137 with an earning potential as high as $107,000 annually.
AWS Solutions Architect Associate
AWS solutions architect is responsible to deploy AWS cloud infrastructure for organizations adopting AWS cloud. With Amazon Web Services being the leading cloud vendor across the US, and Texas is the second most favorable state for tech jobs, demand for AWS solutions architect is understandably high. AWS Solutions Architect Associate is the first certification on the road to becoming a valuable, highly paid solutions architect. These professionals know how to fit the pieces inside the AWS platform together and make it a cost-friendly, secure solution for organizations to operate.
Job Postings
For the last 30 days only, you can find 865 new job postings on Indeed.com and over 930 new job postings on Glassdoor for AWS solutions architect roles, requiring AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification, in Texas.
Prerequisites and Salaries
It will highly benefit candidates if they have higher studies from an IT background, have practical experience as a Linux administrator, or have a fundamental knowledge of database management. According to Glassdoor, the average annual pay for a Solutions Architect Associate is around $80,000.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
CISSP is a certification developed and controlled by a globally recognized firm, Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2. Professionals who want to achieve this certification are experienced information security professionals, who want to advance their careers in the field. They are responsible for preparing the organizations to defend attacks by cybercriminals. Cloud security, application security, mobile security, and risk management are also key areas they are responsible for.
Job Postings
For the last 30 days only, you can find around 700 new job postings on Indeed.com and over 900 new job postings on Glassdoor for positions with CISSP as a preference.
Prerequisites and Salaries
Before appearing in the exam, candidates are expected to have five years of working experience in one of the eight domains of ISC2 Common Book of Knowledge. However, with a four-year bachelor’s degree, the work experience required is only four years.
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
A well-recognized, highly valuable certification in networking, CCNA is a Cisco powered credential that proves your ability to play with routed and switched networks. Candidates with this certification can install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot these networks, possessing fundamental networking skills to even control the security risks of networks. CCNA is widely popular for its demand among students who are about to start their careers in IT, and networking specifically.
Job Postings
For the last 30 days only, you can find around 515 new job postings on Indeed.com and over 700 new job postings on Glassdoor for positions requiring CCNA certification as a must-have, all listed in the state of Texas.
Prerequisites and Salaries
Since it is a beginner level certification, there is no prerequisite to appear in the exam.
Candidates who are CCNA qualified may fall in the roles of a network administrator, network engineer, network support specialists, Cisco network associate, etc, and the average annual salary for CCNA certified professionals is close to $75,000, according to payscale.com
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Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Azure solutions architects are professionals who possess deep knowledge of deploying cloud solutions on Azure. Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification is acquired by passing two exams, AZ-300 and AZ-301. The AZ-300 is based on Azure technologies, and AZ-301 is based on the design aspects.
Job Postings
For the last 30 days only, you can find around 565 new job postings on Indeed.com and over 450 new job postings on Glassdoor for Azure Architect positions requiring Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification as a must-have, all listed in the state of Texas.
Prerequisites and Salaries
For this certification, it is necessary to have passed the two certification exams, AZ-300 and AZ-301. Please check the official Microsoft website when you decide to appear for these exams, and some of them are getting replaced on the 30th of September.
Azure Solutions Architects draw an average of above $115,000 annually, starting from as low as $76,000 and going as high as $155,000.
Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA)
A well-recognized certification by ISACA, CISA helps individuals start or advance their careers in the field of information security. A CISA certified professional audits, monitors, controls, assesses, and secures an organization’s business and information technology systems.
Job Postings
For the last 30 days only, you can find around 429 new job postings on Indeed.com and 433 new job postings on Glassdoor for positions asking for candidates who are CISA certified, all listed in the state of Texas.
Prerequisites and Salaries
Before appearing for the CISA exam, you need to have five-year work experience in information systems auditing, control, or security.
The average annual salary for CISA holders easily reaches $110,000 and above, depending on the cumulative work experience in the field.
CompTIA A+
Globally recognized as one of the best vendor-neutral certification giving candidates to become the all-rounder problem solvers. This credential focuses on building the fundamental base in IT, including core technologies like hardware, operating systems, software troubleshooting, networking, hardware, and network troubleshooting, security, mobile devices, virtualization, and cloud and operational procedures. Getting A+ certified may get you qualified for many entry-level jobs in IT.
Job Postings
For the last 30 days only, you can find around 361 new job postings on Indeed.com and 468 new job postings on Glassdoor for positions that required CompTIA A+ as a certification, all listed in the state of Texas.
Prerequisites and Salaries
Since CompTIA A+ is a fundamental level certification, there are no prerequisites to appear for the certification exams. However, it is recommended to have an experience and some practical knowledge of the areas covered in the certification exam preparation.
CompTIA A+ certified professionals have an average salary of around $61,000 per annum.
CompTIA Security+
If you want to pursue a career in IT security, CompTIA Security+ must be your first qualification and achievement. This is also a vendor-neutral certification, that allows candidates to strengthen their skills in cyber threats and attacks, security technology and tools, architecture and design, identity and access management, risk management, and cryptography.
Job Postings
For the last 30 days only, you can find around 270 new job postings on Indeed.com and 319 new job postings on Glassdoor for positions that required CompTIA Security+ as a certification, all listed in the state of Texas.
Prerequisites and Salaries
There are no prerequisites to appear for the certification exams. However, it is recommended to have some experience in the area of IT security.
CompTIA Security+ certified professionals have an average salary of around $75,000 per annum as per Payscale.
Cisco Certified Network Professional
This is an advanced certification for the CCNA version of Cisco networking certifications. The certification includes one core exam and one concentration exam. A core exam is a must for every candidate appearing, and a concentration exam is elective to specialize in one or more areas and become specialized networking professionals. Appropriate for professionals with 2-3 years of experience in independently handling Cisco networks.
Job Postings
For the last 30 days only, you can find around 236 new job postings on Indeed.com and 319 new job postings on Glassdoor for CCNP certified professionals, all listed in the state of Texas.
Prerequisites and Salaries
There are no formal prerequisites for the CCNP certification exam, but it is recommended to have around 2-5 years of networking experience to ace the exam.
According to payscale.com, the average salary for a CCNP is around $95,000 annually and can go higher with increasing experience in the field.
ITIL 4 Foundations
ITIL stands for the IT infrastructure library, and it is a highly valued IT service management (ITSM) certification that stays on top of the requirements list for professionals who are into ITSM. The framework ITIL proposes helps businesses build a stable business IT environment while saving costs and managing risks at the same time. ITIL 4 Foundation certification is the first of ITIL certifications that you can take.
Job Postings
For the last 30 days only, you can find around 261 new job postings on Indeed.com and 210 new job postings on Glassdoor for ITIL manager, all listed in the state of Texas.
Prerequisites and Salaries
For ITIL 4 Foundation, there is no prerequisite since it is a beginner level certification but it will be beneficial to have basic knowledge of IT and computing environments.
According to payscale.com, the annual salary for ITIL 4 Foundation starts from around $72,000 and can reach as high as $184,000, mostly at director and C-level roles.
So, if you are someone living in Texas, and planning a career in information technology, put some serious thought to the certifications mentioned above. You can also start networking with professionals already certified with one of the above and explore your options of stepping or advancing into IT.
You can also connect with our experts at QuickStart to guide you with the best suitable certification training that compliments your career level and your ambitions