We have transitioned into a digital world where cloud computing acts as the driving force behind innovation, and Microsoft Azure stands as a frontrunner in this domain. The platform helps businesses to scale and succeed in the dynamic digital terrain.
With more organizations migrating their operations to the cloud, the Microsoft Azure Administrator role has gained paramount significance.
Imagine a healthcare startup revolutionizing patient care through AI-driven diagnostics. An Azure administrator skillfully deploys and manages a spectrum of services, from virtual machines to cognitive APIs, while liberating the startup to prioritize its core mission over IT complexities.
But the question is- what does it take to be a proficient Azure Administrator, staging these responsibilities? You might also be thinking about AZ 104 exam cost. In this blog, we will delve into the tangible Azure 104 certification costs and invaluable benefits of acquiring this certification.
Overview of Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) Certification
Microsoft Azure is a platform that facilitates the enduring digital transformation of various businesses and sectors by shifting their operations to the cloud. It has gained popularity among several companies seeking appropriate cloud infrastructure. Furthermore, the platform renders a broad range of simple-to-use services.
Most organizations today are taking their functions to cloud infrastructures. Hence, they require specialists to help them transport their operations seamlessly to the cloud.
Moreover, the instant shifting process has caused chaos, resulting in a substantial skill gap.
Professional credentials such as Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification are an impeccable way to obtain the expertise crucial for proving proficiency in multiple employment settings.
Besides mere technical skills, the Azure Administrator Certification can act as a gateway to enhanced industry recognition, career prospects, and the ability to sculpt the digital future.
Therefore, securing Azure credentials is crucial if you wish to work as an Azure administrator. Later in this blog, we will find the AZ 104 cost for obtaining the credential.
Why Should You Get Azure Administrator Certification?
The Azure Administrator Certification lets you capitalize on the increasing demand for skilled professionals and access better career opportunities as recruiters look favorably to Azure-certified professionals.
As we know, cloud computing has become one of the crucial tasks for every organization because of its exceptional benefits. Companies are seeking professionals who can carry out cloud computing jobs with ease and expertise.
Therefore, if you secure an Azure certification, you can gain access to various professional advantages, such as
- Working with big MNCs or high-profile organizations,
- Improved benefits,
- Handsome salaries,
- Varieties of companies’ offer to choose from,
- The freedom to pick your location.
These are just a few of the numerous benefits you can bag with an Azure Administrator certification.
E-commerce, finance, and healthcare are sectors with a high demand for Azure-certified professionals. Businesses in such industries believe that employing professionals with an Azure administrator certification to oversee their cloud environments will decipher more efficient usage of computing, networking, and storage.
In turn, this will save them money while accelerating the overall process and quality of service offered.
Still, wondering about the Azure 104 certification fees? Let’s find out!
How Much Does Azure Administrator (AZ-104) Exam Cost?
Given below are Azure administrator certification fees and exam details to help you arrange and prepare for the certification in advance.
1. Exam Cost
The AZ 104 exam cost varies from one country/region to another and can range from USD 165 to USD 330.
If you take the exam in India, the AZ 104 exam fees will cost you ₹4800 INR. However, if you appear for the Azure certification in the United States, you must pay $165.
2. Exam Details
Now that you have figured out the Azure administrator certification cost, let’s dig into the exam details and determine what is expected of you.
As an Azure certification candidate, you must be a subject matter expert in implementing, monitoring and managing an organization’s Microsoft Azure environment. These include virtual networks, identity, governance, security, computing, and storage.
While appearing for the certification, you must be well-acquainted with the following:
- Operating systems
- Servers
- Networking
- Virtualization
Furthermore, you must have experience in the following:
- Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI)
- PowerShell
- The Azure portal
- Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), part of Microsoft Entra
- Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates
Guide to Azure Administrator Certification
Before paying for the Azure 104 exam fees and appearing for the certification, you must be well-prepared and have technical expertise.
Although the Azure 104 certification exam is for entry-level professionals, it doesn’t mean that you can sit for the exam without preparation and wish to qualify. So, here are some practical study tips if you are determined to take this exam and succeed:
1. Comprehend AZ-104 Exam Objectives
The first step to certification is to download the complete outline of exam goals from Microsoft’s official portal. It will help you evaluate the scope of work, obtain suitable study materials, and allocate your study time.
2. Training Program by Microsoft
The official portal provides paid and free training resources to assist applicants in developing the required knowledge base for the test. The paid training course allows you to learn from an expert instructor, while the accessible learning routes are designed for self-study.
3. Experiment with AZ-104 Practice Tests
Candidates must prioritize practice exams above anything else. These are pretty helpful in assessing your present level of readiness and improving your time management abilities.
The following is a high-level overview of the exam skills:
- Implement and manage storage (15–20%)
- Manage Azure identities and governance (15–20%)
- Configure and manage virtual networking (20–25%)
- Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20–25%)
- Monitor and maintain Azure resources (10–15%)
If this seems a lot, fret not! KnowledgeHut has an ideal solution- the best Cloud Computing certification course to help you ace the exam.
What are the Job Titles to Land After Azure Administrator Certification?
Once you have acquired the Azure Administrator certification, you can apply for the following job titles:
1. Sr. Systems Engineer (Microsoft): Your job responsibilities may include performing various post-sales field deployable engineering activities, such as design analysis, troubleshooting, configuration, billable installation, and documentation. The roles can vary based on the company.
Plus, it pays very well. Sr. Systems Engineers in the United States earn an average salary of USD 156,263 per year.
2. Cloud Administrator: While this bigger role may entail managing cloud infrastructure across several platforms, your Azure experience might offer you an advantage. You can earn an average salary of USD 138,052 per year.
3. Azure Administrator: You may right away apply for Azure Administrator roles. The responsibilities of an Azure Administrator include administering and maintaining Azure resources, implementing security measures, and optimizing cloud solutions. As an Azure administrator, you can make an annual average salary of USD 112,500.
4. Cloud Operations Specialist: As a specialist, you will be responsible for ensuring the effective and dependable running of cloud-based systems, which includes monitoring, troubleshooting, and performance optimization. In the United States, a cloud operations specialist receives an average pay of USD 65,174 per year.
5. DevOps Engineer: Your knowledge of Azure's infrastructure and deployment capabilities might be helpful in the DevOps environment, where you can assist in bridging the development-operations gap. As a DevOps Engineer, you can earn an average annual salary of USD 123,597.
6. Systems Administrator: As a system Administrator, you must manage on-premises systems, hybrid environments, or other cloud platforms, making you a versatile systems administrator. Moreover, you can earn an average annual salary of USD 76,210.
7. Network Administrator: Azure's networking capabilities are wide, and your skills can lead to responsibilities including designing, implementing, and maintaining cloud network solutions. A network administrator earns an average pay of USD 70,001 per year.
8. IT Support Engineer: Businesses need people who can offer technical support for Azure-based solutions, ensuring that users and systems run correctly. As an IT support engineer, you can earn an annual average salary of USD 65,258.
9. Azure Consultant: As an Azure consultant, you may assist enterprises in navigating their cloud journey by advising them on the best Azure services to use and applying best practices. In this role, you can earn an average salary of USD 105,999 per year in the United States.
10. Solution Architect: With a thorough grasp of Azure services, you can contribute to designing and implementing scalable, dependable, and cost-effective cloud-based solutions. A solution architect earns an average annual salary of USD 137,482.
11. Cloud Security Analyst: Security is of the utmost importance in the cloud. Your understanding of Azure security features can position you to specialize in cloud environment security.
- With Azure certification, you can land jobs with better designations and salary, which totally elements any concern you might have about the AZ 104 exam cost.
- The average salary for a cloud security analyst in the USA is USD 85,855 per year.
Azure Admin Job Roles with Salary
Given below is the table that lists the average annual salary of various Azure admin roles based on Glassdoor data:
| Designation | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Sr Software Engineer | USD 156,263 |
| Cloud Administrator | USD 138,052 |
| Azure Administrator | USD 112,500 |
| Cloud Operations Specialist | USD 65,174 |
| DevOps Engineer | USD 123,597 |
| Systems Administrator | USD 76,210 |
| Network Administrator | USD 70,001 |
| IT Support Engineer | USD 65,258 |
| Azure Consultant | USD 105,999 |
| Solution Architect | USD 137,482 |
| Cloud Security Analyst | USD 85,855 |
Benefits of the Azure Administrator Certification
Azure is a cloud offering of Microsoft, which witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years. Companies benefit hybrid compatibility of Azure, which is why several IT professionals must secure a Microsoft Azure certification.
Here are the top five benefits of getting an Azure Administrator Certification:
1. Handsome Salary Package
An Azure certification indicates that you have specific technical expertise rather than generic ones. Certified cloud professionals will likely get better recognition than those in other technological sectors.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of an Azure Developer is $ 116,641 per year. However, the salary packages differ from one region and organization to another. On the other hand, an Azure Architect gets an average pay of $140,519 per year.
2. Career Flexibility
Microsoft Azure credentials are essential for a lucrative cloud computing career since they provide several work prospects. These credentials grant access to positions such as cloud administrator, developer, security and AI engineer, data engineer, solutions architect, and DevOps engineer.
With nine position-based certificates, you may improve your competence not just in your current work but also across sectors.
You will manage, create, and execute cloud services in finance, healthcare, banking, government, and insurance industries with a Microsoft Azure certification. Certified Azure specialists are in high demand worldwide, from Europe (UK, France, and Germany) to the United States, Asia, and beyond, including remote roles.
3. Advanced Career Development
Microsoft Azure offers twelve industry-specific certifications. Obtaining these role-based qualifications guarantees your professional advancement and market recognition.
Azure-certified experts are in great demand as Azure services gain traction. The credentials cover many professions, including administrator, architect, developer, security engineer, AI engineer, data scientist, and data engineer, catapulting you to the forefront of cloud professionals.
Over 6 million government employees use Azure cloud services, making certified specialists attractive options in the public sector.
4. Improved DevOps Skills
Azure offers a DevOps certification designed for persons with essential Azure experience. There are two methods to obtain the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification.
Candidates must have an associate-level certification in Azure development or administration. Beginners should start with the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam. However, obtaining the certification does not automatically qualify one as a DevOps engineer; experience is required.
5. Learn How to Use Azure to Cut IT Costs
In contrast to on-premise alternatives, Azure has a considerable benefit in terms of lowering IT costs. Azure, for example, eliminates expenditures for electricity, space, and server rack cooling. Azure's pay-as-you-go concept also removes the cost of servers required just during peak demands.
An experienced Azure administrator, on the other hand, is required for optimal Azure cost-efficiency. Azure certification is the best way to demonstrate your expertise. Multiple Azure certifications are the key to cost-effective cloud management, benefiting finances and software engineering. Efficient Azure setup brings widespread satisfaction, including security and compliance teams.
Salary after Azure Administrator Certification
The AZ 104 Microsoft Azure Administrator cost is completely worth it as it lets you land a job with decent salary packages.
According to Glassdoor, the average pay of an Azure Administrator in the United States is $98,936 per year, whereas, in India, it is INR 5,83,866.
Below is a table listing the average salary as per Glassdoor of various Azure Administrator profiles in the United States, India, and the United Kingdom.
1. United States
| Job Roles | Average Salary/yr |
| Azure Administrator | $98,936 per year |
| Cloud Administrator | $94,422 per year |
| Azure Architect | $140,519 per year |
| DevOps Engineer | $103,765 per year |
2. India
| Job Roles | Average Salary/yr |
| Azure Administrator | USD 7,068 per year |
| Cloud Administrator | USD 9,365 per year |
| Azure Architect | USD 25,959 per year |
| DevOps Engineer | USD 8,474 per year |
3. United Kingdom
| Job Roles | Average Salary/yr |
| Azure Administrator | USD 32,602 per year |
| Cloud Administrator | USD 78,029 per year |
| Azure Architect | USD 109,683 per year |
| DevOps Engineer | USD 71,023 per year |
Conclusion
The Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification is crucial, in today's digital transformation and cloud computing era. Microsoft Azure's dominance in the cloud computing sector has made Azure Administrators' role essential for organizations seeking seamless cloud operations.
Obtaining this certification not only equips professionals with technical skills but also offers a gateway to enhanced industry recognition, better career prospects, and the ability to shape the digital future.
Despite the Azure 104 exam cost, which may seem a little pricey to many, the certification's benefits outweigh the expenses. Azure-certified professionals are in high demand, with the certification opening doors to roles such as Azure architects, cloud administrators, DevOps engineers, and more, along with attractive salary packages.
Therefore, if you plan to take the test and enter the world of cloud computing, you must first equip yourself with technical expertise. Learn with the KnowledgeHut Azure Administrator certification program, where you get 40 hours of live instructor-led training, 53 activity guides, 180 module end assignments, 18 hours of expert-led on-demand videos, and more.
