AWS vs Azure Certification: Which One Wins? (2025 Guide)

When it comes to cloud certifications in 2025, two names dominate the game: AWS and Azure. I’ve been working with both platforms for a few years now, and if you’re debating which certification to get first — here’s exactly what you need to know.

Why Cloud Certifications Matter in 2025

Companies are racing to the cloud. That means AWS and Azure certifications are not just nice-to-haves anymore — they’re career multipliers. With cloud computing roles growing 23%+ year-over-year, certified pros are getting hired faster and negotiating bigger salaries.

AWS vs Azure: Certification Paths Overview

Both offer structured certification paths, but they differ slightly:

• ☁️ AWS Certifications: Cloud Practitioner → Associate → Professional → Specialty
• ☁️ Azure Certifications: Fundamentals → Associate → Expert → Specialty

In general, AWS paths are slightly more flexible, while Azure certifications are more tightly tied to specific Microsoft job roles.

Explore AWS Certifications

Salary and Hiring Trends: AWS vs Azure

Let’s talk numbers. According to 2025 salary surveys:

• 💵 AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate — Avg $135,000/year
• 💵 Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert — Avg $130,000/year

Both are fantastic, but AWS edges out slightly higher average salaries, mainly due to larger global market share (still over 30%).

Which Certification Is Easier? Which Is Harder?

From my experience:

• 🧠 AWS certifications tend to have slightly more real-world scenarios and require practical cloud architecture thinking.
• 📚 Azure certifications often lean heavier into Microsoft product ecosystems and enterprise IT concepts.

Neither is "easy" — but AWS is often considered a bit more straightforward for pure cloud newcomers.

How to Choose Between AWS and Azure

Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

• 👉 If you want broader global job opportunities — go AWS.
• 👉 If you’re targeting enterprise or Microsoft-heavy companies — go Azure.
• 👉 If you’re new to tech — AWS Cloud Practitioner is a perfect starting point.
• 👉 If you already work with Microsoft tools — Azure Fundamentals makes sense.

Explore Azure Certifications

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Pursue?

If you’re looking purely at global demand and salary upside, AWS still slightly wins in 2025. But honestly? You can't go wrong with either if you focus on real skills, hands-on labs, and certifications that match your career goals.

Bottom line: pick one, go deep, and stay consistent — that's the real win.

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