AWS-SA vs AWS CP
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate and AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner compared with live job-market data: demand, salary, difficulty, and cost — updated weekly.
The short answer
AWS CP leads on market demand (1,166 vs 1,113 US job postings), while AWS-SAleads on average salary ($135,000). AWS CP is the more accessible starting point at 1/5 difficulty versus 3/5 for AWS-SA.
Side-by-Side Data
| AWS-SA | AWS CP | |
|---|---|---|
| Job Postings | 1,113 | 1,166leads |
| Market Share | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Demand Trend | Stable | Stable |
| Avg Salary | $135,000leads | $90,000 |
| Difficulty (1-5) | 3 / 5 | 1 / 5 |
| Exam Cost | $150 | $100 |
| Study Time | 40-120 hours | 20-40 hours |
Job counts and market share from live US job postings, updated weekly. Want a different matchup? Use theinteractive comparison tool.
AWS-SA
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
Validates ability to design distributed systems on AWS, covering compute, networking, storage, and database services. The 65-question SAA-C03 exam tests real-world scenario skills for building cost-effective, fault-tolerant architectures. Recommended for those with 1+ year of hands-on AWS experience.
AWS CP
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Entry-level AWS certification validating foundational cloud concepts, AWS services, security, and pricing models. The 65-question CLF-C02 exam requires 700/1000 to pass and takes 90 minutes. Ideal for sales, marketing, and business roles seeking cloud literacy without deep technical requirements.
AWS-SA vs AWS CP: FAQ
Which pays more, AWS-SA or AWS CP?+
AWS-SA is associated with the higher average salary: about $135,000 vs $90,000 for AWS CP, based on current US job market data.
Which is more in demand, AWS-SA or AWS CP?+
AWS CP currently appears in 1,166 US job postings versus 1,113 for AWS-SA. Data updates weekly from live job listings.
Is AWS-SA harder than AWS CP?+
Generally yes: we rate AWS-SA 3/5 difficulty versus 1/5 for AWS CP, reflecting exam depth and experience requirements.
Should I get both AWS-SA and AWS CP?+
Many professionals eventually hold both, but sequencing matters. A common path is starting with AWS CP (1/5 difficulty) and progressing to AWS-SA. Compare requirements on each certification's detail page before committing.