Cisco and Microsoft playing catch-up to CompTIA

Some 35 per cent of certified IT pros hold a CompTIA badge, compared with 33 per cent for Cisco and 30 per cent for Microsoft, report finds

CompTIA's certifications are more widely adopted by IT professionals than those from Cisco or Microsoft, according to a skills and salaries report by Global Knowledge.

Published in May and flagged up by CompTIA last week, the researched quizzed 14,000 IT professionals globally but focused on North America, which provided 70 per cent of respondents.

CompTIA was the most popular certification provider among the certified IT professionals questioned – ahead even of Cisco and Microsoft – with 35 per cent holding at least one of the non-profit association's badges.

One in four certified respondents held Comptia's A+ certification, with one in five and 17 per cent holding Network+ and Security+ certifications with the body, respectively.

CompTIA vendor-neutral certifications are frequently foundational, meaning IT pros holding its badges are not always the most highly paid and commanded a mean salary of $77,000 (£59,400), the report said. However, two of CompTIA's certifications – namely Cloud Essentials and CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP) – topped the average IT salary, at $103,000 and $91,000.

Thirty-three per cent of certified respondents reported holding at least one certification with Cisco, making it the most popular vendor certification provider. Salaries ranged from $71,000 for Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician to $122,000 for Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center.

Meanwhile, 30 per cent reported having at least one Microsoft badge, with 41 per cent of that sub-group holding a Microsoft Certified Professional certification.

Average salaries started at $67,000 for Microsoft Technology Associate but those with advanced Microsoft badges, including MSCE and its variants, could easily earn over $100,000, Global Knowledge said.

Across the board, Cisco certifications came in at an average salary of $83,000, compared with $84,000 for Microsoft. IBM ($96,000), EMC ($96,000) VMware ($95,000), Juniper ($95,000), Citrix ($91,000) and Red Hat ($91,000) all commanded higher average salaries.

The average IT pro salary inched up from $76,000 to $77,000 year on year, the report found, with the average IT decision maker's salary rising from $109,000 to $111,000. Non-IT salaries fell from $109,000 to $95,000 over the same period, Global Knowledge added.

IT security is the most in-demand skill, with cloud computing, IT architecture, network and systems engineering and operations also a high priority, the report found.

With more than two million certifications awarded, CompTIA claims to be the leading provider of vendor-neutral IT certifications.

Dr James Stanger, senior director, products at CompTIA, said: "The Global Knowledge study affirms what we are seeing in the marketplace.

"Security, the cloud, the advent of mobile devices and the Internet of Things are all major drivers of change."