Why AWS Certifications Are the Best Starting Point for High-Paying Cloud Careers
Cloud computing remains one of the highest-paying tech fields globally, especially in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, UAE, and Singapore. With Amazon Web Services (AWS) leading the market, beginners are increasingly searching for the best AWS certifications, top online courses, and affordable programs that launch them into cloud careers with $90,000–$140,000+ salaries.
If you’re a student, career changer, or aspiring cloud engineer, choosing the right beginner-friendly AWS Certification is key. This guide covers:
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Best AWS certifications for beginners
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Certification cost & prep time
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Top AWS online courses & programs
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Best software tools for students and teachers
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Scholarship and student loan information
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Comparison charts (high CPC attractor!)
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FAQs + Schema-friendly answers
Let’s dive in.
⭐ Top 5 Best AWS Certifications for Beginners (2025)
| Rank | Certification | Difficulty | Cost | Ideal For | Average Salary (USA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) | ★☆☆ (Beginner) | $100 | Students & Non-Tech Beginners | $96,000 |
| 2 | AWS Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) | ★★☆ | $150 | Beginners with some IT experience | $125,000 |
| 3 | AWS Developer – Associate | ★★☆ | $150 | Coding beginners & software students | $118,000 |
| 4 | AWS SysOps Administrator – Associate | ★★★ | $150 | IT support & system administrators | $126,000 |
| 5 | AWS Data Engineer – Associate | ★★☆ | $150 | Data beginners & analytics students | $130,000 |
🥇 1. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (Best for Absolute Beginners)
Why It’s the Best AWS Certification for Beginners
The Cloud Practitioner certification is the most recommended starting point. It covers:
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Cloud basics
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Billing, pricing, and student-friendly tools
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Core AWS services
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Security fundamentals
AWS Certification Cost
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Exam fee: $100
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Retake fee: same as above
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Training cost: $0–$200 (depends on program)
Best Courses & Programs
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AWS Educate (Free for students)
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Coursera AWS Fundamentals Program
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Udemy: Cloud Practitioner Exam Prep (Top seller for beginners)
Who Should Take It?
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USA/UK/Canada/Australia students
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Non-technical beginners
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Career changers
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Teachers looking for cloud tools and programs
🥈 2. AWS Solutions Architect – Associate
This is one of the highest-paying tech certifications globally.
Why It’s Popular
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Strong demand in cloud architecture roles
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Required for many six-figure jobs
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Builds technical depth
AWS Certification Cost
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Exam fee: $150
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Online course cost: $50–$400
Best Online Courses
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A Cloud Guru’s Solutions Architect Program
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Coursera AWS Architect Professional Certificate
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Udemy Stephane Maarek SA Associate Course
Estimated Salary
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$120,000–$140,000 (USA)
🥉 3. AWS Developer – Associate
Perfect for those interested in software development and DevOps tools.
Why It's Good for Coding Beginners
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Focus on Lambda, API Gateway, IAM
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Helps land Developer, DevOps, and Cloud Engineer roles
Cost
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Exam: $150
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Course: $40–$200
Best Programs
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Udacity Cloud Developer Nanodegree
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AWS Skill Builder Subscription
4. AWS SysOps Administrator – Associate
The most technical associate exam.
Ideal For
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System administrators
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Helpdesk technicians
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IT support professionals transitioning to cloud
Cost
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Exam: $150
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Training: $50–$500
Job Roles
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SysOps Engineer
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Cloud Support Analyst
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DevOps Support Engineer
5. AWS Data Engineer – Associate (New & High Demand)
Data has become one of the most profitable tech niches.
Who Should Take It?
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Students interested in data engineering
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Analytics professionals
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Python/SQL beginners
AWS Certification Cost
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Exam: $150
Salary Range
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$120,000–$150,000 in the USA
🔥 Comparison: Best AWS Certification for Different Goals
| Career Goal | Recommended Certification | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Start cloud career from zero | Cloud Practitioner | Beginner-friendly |
| Become Cloud Architect | Solutions Architect–Associate | High-paying role |
| Learn coding + cloud | Developer–Associate | Best dev career starter |
| Land a support/operations job | SysOps Administrator | In-demand for IT roles |
| Enter analytics/data field | Data Engineer–Associate | High salary + demand |
🎓 Best Online Courses, Degrees & Scholarship Programs for AWS Learners
1. Best Online Degree Programs (USA, UK, Canada, Australia)
High CPC attractors → “online degree,” “cybersecurity degree,” “tech programs.”
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Online Cybersecurity Degree (USA) – Western Governors University
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Online Computer Science Degree (UK) – University of London
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Cloud Computing Diploma (Canada) – Athabasca University
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IT & Cloud Bachelor’s (Australia) – University of Southern Queensland
2. Scholarships for AWS Students
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AWS Machine Learning Scholarship Program
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Google Career Certificate Scholarship
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UK Commonwealth Scholarships
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Canada Student Aid Programs
3. Student Loan & Financial Aid Options
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FAFSA (USA)
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UK Student Finance England
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Canada OSAP Student Loan Program
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Australia HECS-HELP
🛠 Best Software Tools for AWS Beginners (High CPC Keywords)
| Category | Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Practice | AWS Free Tier | Hands-on labs |
| Notes & Study | Notion | Study planner |
| Coding | VS Code | Best for devs |
| Diagramming | Lucidchart | Architecture diagrams |
| Practice Labs | Cloud Academy Labs | Real AWS environments |
⚔️ Comparison: AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud for Beginners (High Ad Competition)
| Provider | Best For Beginners? | Market Share | Salary Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Yes | 31% | Highest |
| Azure | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 24% | High |
| Google Cloud | ⭐⭐⭐ | 11% | Good for ML roles |
Winner for beginners: AWS (most jobs + highest-paying certifications)
💼 Highest-Paying Jobs You Can Get After an AWS Certification
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Cloud Solutions Architect – $130,000+
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Cloud Engineer – $118,000
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DevOps Engineer – $140,000
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Data Engineer – $135,000
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Cloud Security Engineer – $150,000+ (especially USA & UAE)
📝 Resume Tips for AWS Beginners
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Add hands-on practice with AWS Free Tier
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Include architecture diagrams
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Mention tools: Docker, Linux, Terraform, Python
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Link to GitHub repos or projects
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List certifications + completion dates
❓ FAQs (SEO + Schema Optimized)
1. Which AWS certification is best for beginners?
The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is the easiest and best entry point.
2. How much does an AWS certification cost?
Costs range from $100 to $150 depending on the exam.
3. Can beginners get a job with only one AWS certification?
Yes. Many entry-level cloud support and junior engineer roles accept beginners with the Cloud Practitioner or Solutions Architect Associate certification.
4. Do I need coding skills to start AWS?
No. Cloud Practitioner requires zero coding.
5. What is the best AWS certification for a high-paying job?
Solutions Architect – Associate and AWS Security certifications offer some of the highest salaries.
📌 Which AWS Certification Should You Start With?
If you are starting from zero, choose:
➡️ AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
If you want a high-paying technical role:
➡️ Solutions Architect – Associate
If you want to combine coding + cloud:
➡️ Developer – Associate
