AWS Certification: Costs & Salaries (2026)

What AWS certifications cost, which one to start with, and the salary ranges certified professionals can expect.

Last reviewed: June 2026 · Reviewed by the Traincrest training team. Exam fees and salaries change — always confirm current figures on the official certification body's website before enrolling.

In short: AWS exam fees in 2026 are about $100 (Cloud Practitioner), $150 (Associate, e.g. Solutions Architect SAA-C03) and $300 (Professional / Specialty) in USD. Certified AWS professionals' salaries vary widely — roughly $110K–$176K in the US and a broad range in the UAE — these are third-party estimates, not guarantees. Confirm exam fees on aws.amazon.com.

AWS certification levels

AWS certifications come in four tiers: Foundational (Cloud Practitioner), Associate (e.g. Solutions Architect, Developer, SysOps), Professional, and Specialty.

Exam costs (2026)

Level	Example exam	Approx. fee (USD)
Foundational	Cloud Practitioner	~$100
Associate	Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03)	~$150
Professional / Specialty	Solutions Architect – Professional	~$300

Taxes/VAT may apply and pricing varies by country. Your first certification earns a 50% discount voucher toward your next exam. Confirm on aws.amazon.com.

Salary ranges (estimates)

These are third-party estimates and vary by employer, role and experience — treat them as ranges, not promises:

US / global: roughly $110K–$176K per year for certified AWS Solutions Architects.
UAE / Gulf: a wide range, broadly from around AED 150K up to AED 600K+ at large employers.

Which AWS certification should you start with?

Most people start with Cloud Practitioner (foundational) and then move to an Associate certification such as Solutions Architect – Associate, which is the most popular career-launching credential.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does an AWS certification cost in 2026?

Roughly $100 for Cloud Practitioner, $150 for Associate exams, and $300 for Professional/Specialty exams (USD). Confirm on aws.amazon.com.

Which AWS certification is best to start with?

Most beginners start with AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, then progress to Solutions Architect – Associate.

How much do AWS-certified professionals earn?

Estimates range from about $110K–$176K/year in the US and a wide range in the UAE. These are third-party estimates and depend heavily on role and experience.

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