AWS Solutions Architect Associate vs Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) vs Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer
| Factor | ✅ AWS Solutions Architect Associate | Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) | Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer | Microsoft Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) | AWS Developer Associate (DVA-C02) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft | Google Cloud | Microsoft | Amazon Web Services |
| Level | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Exam Cost | $150 | $165 | $200 | $165 | $150 |
| Pass Rate | 65% | 72% | 60% | 68% | 65% |
| Avg Salary | $130K–$165K | $110K–$140K | $115K–$150K | $110K–$145K | $120K–$155K |
| Difficulty |
Moderate
★★★☆☆
|
Moderate
★★★☆☆
|
Hard
★★★★☆
|
Moderate
★★★☆☆
|
Moderate
★★★☆☆
|
| Best For | Cloud engineers, solutions architects, and developers building on AWS with 1+ years experience. | IT administrators and cloud engineers managing Azure infrastructure.… | Cloud engineers and developers with 1+ years on GCP wanting to formalize their s… | Software developers building cloud-native applications on Microsoft Azure.… | Software developers with 1+ year experience building cloud-native applications o… |
| Expiry | Typically 3 years — renewal at aws.amazon.com | Check microsoft.com | Check cloud.google.com | Check microsoft.com | Check aws.amazon.com |
| Full Guide | View guide → | View guide → | View guide → | View guide → | View guide → |
Which Should You Choose?
The right certification depends on your current role, target employer, geography, and the specific skills gap you're trying to close. Here's a practical breakdown:
✅ Choose AWS Solutions Architect Associate if…
You're targeting roles at organisations that specifically require Amazon Web Services credentials, or you're already working within the Amazon Web Services ecosystem. The AWS Solutions Architect Associate carries the strongest recognition among Amazon Web Services customers and partners, and its salary premium of $130K–$165K is well-documented in the job market.
Full Guide →Consider Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) if…
You're targeting organisations in the Microsoft ecosystem, or the Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) is more commonly required in your target industry or geography. Salary data: $110K–$140K. Core Azure admin cert. Covers identity, governance, storage, compute, and networking. Fastest ROI on…
Full Guide →Consider Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer if…
You're targeting organisations in the Google Cloud ecosystem, or the Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer is more commonly required in your target industry or geography. Salary data: $115K–$150K. Validate your ability to deploy, manage, and monitor Google Cloud infrastructure. Growing demand as …
Full Guide →Detailed Analysis — AWS Solutions Architect Associate
Strengths
- ✓Issued by Amazon Web Services — one of the most trusted credential authorities in Cloud Computing
- ✓Salary premium of $130K–$165K documented across multiple independent sources
- ✓Exam fee of $150 — strong ROI relative to salary gain
- ✓Global recognition at enterprise employers, government agencies, and consulting firms
- ✓Covers 8 core domains including: EC2, S3, VPC, IAM & Security, RDS, DynamoDB, Aurora
Considerations
- ◆Pass rate is approximately 65% — structured preparation is essential, not optional
- ◆Mid-level — assumes foundational domain knowledge
- ◆Renewal required — check current requirements at aws.amazon.com
Made your decision? Start your preparation today.
AWS Solutions Architect Associate Full Guide → Study Roadmap → Salary Data →