The question of whether IT certifications are worth the investment generates heated debate in tech forums. Some argue that experience trumps credentials. Others insist certifications opened doors that would have remained closed. The data tells a more nuanced story—one that strongly favors strategic certification pursuit for most IT professionals.

According to Pearson VUE’s 2025 Value of IT Certification Report, which surveyed nearly 24,000 IT professionals, 32% received a salary increase after certification, with 31% of those reporting raises exceeding 20%. Meanwhile, 63% received or anticipated a job promotion. These aren’t abstract benefits—they represent tangible career advancement.

But certifications aren’t universally valuable. Their impact depends on your current career stage, target role, and how strategically you select them. This guide examines the concrete reasons IT certifications matter in 2026, backed by current industry data, and helps you determine whether pursuing one makes sense for your situation.

The Financial Case for IT Certifications

Let’s start with what matters most to many professionals: compensation. The numbers consistently demonstrate that certifications correlate with higher pay.

Salary Premium Data

The Skillsoft 2024 IT Skills and Salary Report found that certified professionals earn an average of $12,000-$20,000 more annually than their non-certified peers. This premium compounds over time—a difference that can exceed $200,000 across a 15-year career.

Specific certification holders command impressive salaries:

CertificationAverage Annual Salary
AWS Certified Security – Specialty$203,597
Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect$190,204
CompTIA Data+$154,719
CompTIA CASP+$127,451
CompTIA Security+$91,350
CompTIA A+$83,798

Source: CIO - The Rising Value of IT Certifications

Speed of Returns

The financial benefits often materialize quickly. According to Pearson VUE’s research, 56% of professionals who received post-certification raises got them within three months. By the six-month mark, 83% had seen their salary increase. This rapid return on investment makes certifications one of the more efficient career investments available.

Consider the math: A CompTIA Security+ certification costs approximately $400-$600 for the exam plus study materials. If you’re currently earning $70,000 and see even a 10% increase—which falls below the median reported increase—you’ve recouped your investment in the first month and gained $7,000+ annually thereafter.

Employer Willingness to Pay

The premium exists because employers value certifications. According to Skillsoft’s research, 97% of IT decision-makers say certified staff adds organizational value, with 22% estimating that value at $30,000 or more per certified professional annually.

This employer perception translates directly to hiring and compensation decisions. When companies believe certified employees deliver $30,000+ in additional value, they’re willing to pay a premium to acquire that talent.

Getting Past the Hiring Gate

Salary increases matter, but you need the job first. Certifications significantly improve your odds of getting interviews and offers.

The Interview Multiplier Effect

Research from Jobscan indicates that strategically including professional certifications on a resume can multiply a candidate’s chances of getting an interview by 2.9 times. In a competitive job market, nearly tripling your interview rate can be the difference between a prolonged job search and quick placement.

Additional hiring statistics reinforce this advantage:

  • 72% of hiring managers say certified candidates are more job-ready
  • 60% of 2025 job listings mention at least one IT certification
  • 80% of certified professionals report higher job interview success

Hiring Manager Preferences

The ISC2 2025 Cybersecurity Hiring Trends Report surveyed 929 hiring managers across six countries and found that when prioritizing candidate attributes, 47% ranked IT/cybersecurity certifications as “critical”—slightly higher than IT experience (44%) and relevant education (43%).

Particularly notable: 89% of hiring managers would consider candidates with only entry-level cybersecurity certifications, compared to 81% who would consider candidates with only education in IT or computer science but lacking professional experience. Certifications can partially substitute for experience in ways that education alone cannot.

For more on how certifications and experience interact in hiring decisions, see our detailed analysis in IT Certifications vs Experience: What Gets You Hired in 2026.

Confidence and Career Mobility

Beyond the external benefits—salary and hiring—certifications deliver internal benefits that affect how you approach your career.

Professional Confidence

The Pearson VUE research found that 82% of certified professionals gained confidence to pursue new job opportunities. This isn’t just feel-good data. Confidence affects which opportunities you pursue, how you negotiate, and whether you advocate for yourself in promotion discussions.

When you’ve proven your knowledge through a rigorous exam, you carry that validation into interviews, performance reviews, and salary negotiations. You’re not just claiming competence—you’ve demonstrated it.

Skill Validation in a Noisy Market

The IT job market is crowded with candidates making similar claims about their abilities. Certifications provide third-party validation that cuts through the noise.

Andrea Schulze, VP and CIO at Toshiba Americas, notes that IT certifications act as a kind of proof point, demonstrating that someone has gone beyond surface-level familiarity. When hiring managers review dozens of resumes with similar experience descriptions, certifications help differentiate candidates who have invested in verified expertise.

Internal Mobility

Certifications don’t just help you get hired externally—they support promotions within your current organization. The data shows 63% of certified professionals received or anticipated promotions after earning their credentials.

If you’re seeking advancement within your company, a relevant certification demonstrates initiative and commitment to professional growth. It gives your manager concrete evidence to support your promotion case when competing against other internal candidates.

Addressing the Skills Gap Crisis

Organizations face a persistent challenge finding qualified IT talent. Certifications help both sides of this equation—employers find candidates who meet their needs, and professionals position themselves as solutions to this critical business problem.

The Scale of the Problem

According to Skillsoft’s research, two-thirds of IT decision-makers currently face skill gaps within their teams, with similar numbers anticipating future shortages. This deficit creates downstream problems: increased team stress, diminished ability to meet business objectives, and competitive disadvantages.

The numbers are even more stark in cybersecurity, where 4.8 million positions remain unfilled globally—a 19% increase year-over-year.

How Certifications Close Gaps

Organizations actively use certifications to address skills shortages. According to Skillsoft’s C-Suite Perspectives report, 56% of executives said they closed skills gaps after employees earned certifications. Additionally:

  • 79% of executives plan to train existing employees to fill skills gaps
  • 48% plan to hire additional staff with necessary skills or certifications
  • Organizations report 36% productivity boosts and 35% reduction in troubleshooting time after certification investments

By earning relevant certifications, you position yourself as a direct solution to problems that keep executives awake at night. You’re not just another candidate—you’re filling a documented organizational need.

Certifications vs. Degrees: The Shifting Landscape

A significant shift is underway in how employers evaluate credentials. While degrees remain valuable, certifications are gaining ground—and in some cases, surpassing traditional education in hiring weight.

The Decline of Degree Requirements

Research from TestGorilla found that more than half (53%) of employers have removed degree requirements in 2025—a 30% increase from 2024. This skills-first hiring movement favors candidates who can demonstrate specific, relevant capabilities.

Certifications align perfectly with this trend. They verify particular skills that employers need, often more precisely than a four-year degree can.

Time and Cost Efficiency

One compelling advantage of certifications over degrees is accessibility:

FactorIT CertificationTraditional Degree
Time to CompleteWeeks to months2-4+ years
Cost$500-$5,000$40,000-$160,000+
FocusSpecific, current skillsBroad foundation
CurrencyUpdated regularlyStatic curriculum

For career changers or professionals seeking to add new skills, certifications offer a much faster path to qualification. You can earn a relevant certification while working full-time, something significantly harder with traditional degree programs.

For a detailed comparison of bootcamps versus degrees, see our IT Bootcamp vs Computer Science Degree: ROI Analysis.

When Degrees Still Matter

Despite the certification advantage, degrees retain value in certain contexts:

  • Leadership positions often require or prefer advanced degrees
  • Certain organizations (government, academia, some enterprises) maintain degree requirements
  • Immigration and visa processes may weight degrees more heavily
  • Research and specialized roles may require the deep foundational knowledge degrees provide

The optimal approach for many professionals combines both: a degree for foundational credibility plus certifications for specific skill validation.

Staying Current in a Rapidly Evolving Field

Technology changes faster than any other industry. What’s cutting-edge today becomes legacy tomorrow. Certifications provide a structured framework for continuous learning.

The Currency Problem

A 2015 computer science degree covered technologies and practices that may now be obsolete. Certifications, by contrast, are regularly updated to reflect current industry practices. When you pursue certification, you’re learning what’s relevant now, not what was relevant when a curriculum was designed years ago.

Forcing Function for Learning

Many IT professionals intend to stay current but struggle to prioritize learning amid daily responsibilities. Certifications create accountability:

  • Exam dates provide concrete deadlines
  • Study requirements ensure comprehensive coverage
  • The investment of time and money motivates completion
  • Renewal requirements enforce ongoing learning

According to Pearson VUE’s research, 84% of certified professionals plan to earn another certification within 12 months. Certification creates momentum for continuous professional development.

AI and Emerging Technology Skills

The AI transformation makes continuous learning even more critical. While pay boosts for general IT skills have declined, AI-related certifications are rising nearly 12% year-over-year. Professionals who can demonstrate verified AI skills command premium compensation.

For more on AI’s impact on IT careers, see our guide on AI Skills for IT Professionals in 2026.

Strategic Certification Selection

Not all certifications deliver equal value. Choosing wisely requires understanding your career goals and market dynamics.

Entry-Level Foundations

If you’re beginning an IT career, focus on broadly recognized credentials:

  • CompTIA A+ remains the benchmark entry-level certification, appearing in 65% of help desk and IT support job listings
  • CompTIA Network+ validates networking fundamentals
  • CompTIA Security+ provides security foundations and meets government baseline requirements

For detailed guidance on starting your certification journey, see our CompTIA A+ Certification Complete Guide and What IT Certification Should I Get.

Specialization Paths

As you advance, focus on certifications aligned with your target specialization:

Cloud Computing:

  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect
  • Microsoft Azure Administrator
  • Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect

Cybersecurity:

  • CompTIA CySA+ (analyst path)
  • CompTIA PenTest+ (offensive security)
  • CISSP (senior/management roles)

Networking:

  • Cisco CCNA/CCNP
  • Juniper certifications
  • Software-defined networking credentials

For comprehensive guidance on cybersecurity paths, see our Best Cybersecurity Certifications for Beginners and CompTIA Security+ Career Path Guide.

ROI Calculation Framework

Before pursuing any certification, calculate the expected return:

  1. Research target role salaries in your geographic area
  2. Estimate your post-certification salary range based on job listings
  3. Calculate total certification cost (exam fees, study materials, practice tests, time investment)
  4. Determine payback period by dividing cost by expected monthly salary increase

A solid certification typically pays for itself within the first year. If your calculation shows a multi-year payback period, reconsider whether that particular certification is the right choice.

Common Objections Addressed

Despite the data, skeptics raise legitimate concerns about certification value. Let’s address the most common objections.

”Certifications Just Mean You Can Pass Tests”

This criticism has some validity—some professionals do earn certifications without developing practical skills. However, modern certifications increasingly emphasize hands-on competence:

  • Performance-based questions require practical problem-solving
  • Labs and simulations test real-world application
  • Scenario-based questions evaluate decision-making

The best certifications (AWS, Azure, Cisco’s higher tiers) are genuinely difficult to pass without understanding the material. And even imperfect certifications provide structure for learning that self-study often lacks.

”Experience Matters More Than Certifications”

This is true—but it presents a false choice. You can have both experience and certifications. For candidates with similar experience levels, certifications become the differentiator.

Moreover, certifications can compensate for experience gaps. The ISC2 research showing 89% of hiring managers would consider candidates with only entry-level certifications demonstrates that certifications can open doors that lack of experience would otherwise close.

”My Employer Doesn’t Value Certifications”

Some organizations indeed place less emphasis on credentials. But even if your current employer doesn’t require certifications, they provide insurance against job loss and expand your future options.

The job market rewards certifications broadly. If your current employer doesn’t value your credentials, your next employer likely will.

”Certifications Are Too Expensive”

Quality certifications do require investment—typically $300-$750 for exams plus study materials. But consider the return:

  • An $11,000 average raise (conservative estimate) versus $1,000 total investment
  • ROI exceeding 1,000% in the first year
  • Compound benefits over your remaining career

Many employers also offer certification reimbursement. According to industry surveys, the majority of organizations provide some level of professional development funding. Ask your HR department about available benefits.

Making the Decision

IT certifications aren’t universally necessary, but they’re valuable for most professionals in most situations. Consider certifications especially when:

  • You’re entering the field and need to establish credibility
  • You’re changing specializations and need to demonstrate new skills
  • You’re seeking advancement and need to differentiate yourself
  • Your current skills are becoming obsolete and you need to update
  • You want structured learning with accountability and deadlines
  • You’re targeting roles where certifications are explicitly required or preferred

Certifications may be less critical when:

  • You have extensive, demonstrable experience that speaks for itself
  • Your target roles explicitly de-emphasize credentials
  • You have limited financial resources and more pressing career investments
  • The certification is outdated or from a non-recognized organization

For most IT professionals, the data strongly supports strategic certification pursuit. The salary premiums, hiring advantages, and career mobility benefits consistently outweigh the costs of time and money invested.

Getting Started

If you’ve decided certifications make sense for your career, take these steps:

  1. Assess your current position and identify target roles
  2. Research which certifications those roles require or prefer
  3. Calculate the ROI for your top certification candidates
  4. Create a study plan with realistic timeline
  5. Invest in quality preparation materials
  6. Schedule your exam to create accountability

For guidance on exam preparation, see our CompTIA A+ Exam Strategy: The 90-Day Method and Best CompTIA A+ Study Guides.

Sources and Citations