IT Skills and Certifications Volatility: AI and Security Offer Stability and Rich Rewards
The last quarter has been marked by high volatility in cash pay premiums for IT skills and certifications, according to a report by Foote Partners. With almost one-third of the tracked non-certified IT skills and certifications experiencing changes in value, it has become increasingly challenging for IT workers to determine where to focus their career development efforts. However, there are some areas of stability in the market, particularly in AI skills and security certifications, which continue to offer rich rewards.
AI skills have proven to be more valuable than certifications in terms of pay premiums. Among the most valuable AI-related skills in the last quarter were AIops, MLops, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, prescriptive analytics, deep learning, Google TensorFlow, Keras API, machine learning, neural networks, the PyTorch machine learning framework, H2O.ai, Azure ML, DataRobot, and generative AI. Notably, the skill of prescriptive analytics has witnessed a 29% increase in its value over the last six months, with an average pay premium of 18% of base salary. While AI-related certifications did not make it to the highest payers’ list, the IBM Certified Specialist—AI Enterprise Workflow V1 certification has shown the highest growth rate, with a premium increase of over 10%.
Interestingly, Foote Partners’ statistics reveal that pay premiums for certifications have been performing worse compared to those for noncertified skills. The average value of IT certifications has decreased by more than 1% over the last two years, while the value of noncertified skills has risen by a similar percentage. Noncertified tech skills now attract a median pay premium of just above 9.5% of base salary, while IT certifications’ premium stands at 6.5%.
In the field of security, certifications maintain their high value. Around two-thirds of the top 25 premiums are for security-related certifications, including GIAC Security Leadership (GSLC), GIAC Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership (GSTRT), Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK), Offensive Security Exploitation Expert (OSEE), and Offensive Security Defense Analyst (OSDA). Security certifications such as AWS Certified Security—Specialty, CyberSecurity Forensic Analyst (CSFA), and GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT) are also among the high-paying certifications.
Additionally, non-certified security skills are in high demand, with skills such as DevSecOps, security architecture and models, security testing, and threat detection/modelling/management attracting significant pay premiums.
Beyond AI and security, blockchain-related skills have also gained value, with knowledge of Ethereum, smart contracts, and blockchain itself carrying bonuses of almost 20% of base salary. Certifications in project management, governance, and architecture, such as CGEIT and TOGAF 9 Certified, have also demonstrated their worth by attracting substantial pay premiums.
The market for IT skills and certifications has proven to be highly volatile, with over 28% of skills and certifications changing in value during the last quarter. This volatility is attributed to technology leaders’ pursuit of greater agility to meet rapidly changing business needs.
Overall, IT professionals looking to maximize their career growth should consider focusing on areas of stability, such as AI skills and security certifications, which continue to offer promising opportunities for higher pay premiums. Additionally, staying up-to-date with emerging technologies and industry trends can help professionals navigate the ever-changing IT landscape and remain competitive in the job market.
Sources:
– Foote Partners report (Last quarter was one of the most volatile for cash pay premiums for IT skills and certifications in the last three years, according to Foote Partners.)
– Foote Partners’ list of valuable AI-related skills and certifications
– Foote Partners’ statistics on pay premiums for certifications versus noncertified skills
– High-value security certifications mentioned in the report
– Increasing demand for non-certified security skills
– Rise in value of blockchain-related skills and certifications
– Volatility in IT skills and certifications market
