Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer vs AWS Solutions Architect Associate vs Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
| Factor | ✅ Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer | AWS Solutions Architect Associate | Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) | Microsoft Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) | AWS Developer Associate (DVA-C02) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Google Cloud | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft | Microsoft | Amazon Web Services |
| Level | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Exam Cost | $200 | $150 | $165 | $165 | $150 |
| Pass Rate | 60% | 65% | 72% | 68% | 65% |
| Avg Salary | $115K–$150K | $130K–$165K | $110K–$140K | $110K–$145K | $120K–$155K |
| Difficulty |
Hard
★★★★☆
|
Moderate
★★★☆☆
|
Moderate
★★★☆☆
|
Moderate
★★★☆☆
|
Moderate
★★★☆☆
|
| Best For | Cloud engineers and developers with 1+ years on GCP wanting to formalize their skills. | Cloud engineers, solutions architects, and developers building on AWS with 1+ ye… | IT administrators and cloud engineers managing Azure infrastructure.… | 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 cloud.google.com | Check aws.amazon.com | Check microsoft.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 Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer if…
You're targeting roles at organisations that specifically require Google Cloud credentials, or you're already working within the Google Cloud ecosystem. The Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer carries the strongest recognition among Google Cloud customers and partners, and its salary premium of $115K–$150K is well-documented in the job market.
Full Guide →Consider AWS Solutions Architect Associate if…
You're targeting organisations in the Amazon Web Services ecosystem, or the AWS Solutions Architect Associate is more commonly required in your target industry or geography. Salary data: $130K–$165K. Most in-demand cloud certification. Validates ability to design resilient, high-performance AWS arch…
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 →Detailed Analysis — Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer
Strengths
- ✓Issued by Google Cloud — one of the most trusted credential authorities in Cloud Computing
- ✓Salary premium of $115K–$150K documented across multiple independent sources
- ✓Exam fee of $200 — strong ROI relative to salary gain
- ✓Global recognition at enterprise employers, government agencies, and consulting firms
- ✓Covers 6 core domains including: GCE & GKE, IAM & billing, Cloud Storage & databases
Considerations
- ◆Pass rate is approximately 60% — structured preparation is essential, not optional
- ◆Mid-level — assumes foundational domain knowledge
- ◆Renewal required — check current requirements at cloud.google.com
Made your decision? Start your preparation today.
Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer Full Guide → Study Roadmap → Salary Data →