AWS

AWS Jobs

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What is AWS?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon, offering cloud computing and web hosting… and they now control over a third of the market!

With AWS technology, companies no longer need on-site data centers. Instead, they use Amazon’s infrastructure through the cloud. Paying-as-you-go saves money without compromising performance.
Even huge sites like Netflix, Reddit and Instagram are hosted on AWS!
It’s no surprise that AWS jobs are on the rise… Or that AWS provides three of the 10 highest-paying certifications in the US!

Fascinating Facts on AWS Careers

Eyeing AWS as a possible career choice? It’s a pretty good idea:

AWS is over 10 times the size of its nearest competitor.
Amazon takes pride in its high-value product. Since its’ inception, AWS has lowered its prices 75 times!
Most recently, AWS reduced Amazon Elastic File System (Amazon EFS) prices by 44%.
Businesses using AWS are in good company – even NASA and the CIA take advantage of Amazon’s services!
The average salary of an AWS-certified IT professional in 2019 was $129,868.
Amazon offers both associate and professional-level certifications.
Professional AWS-certified solutions architects made an average of $148,456 in 2019!
AWS skills can get you a variety of positions – from software engineer to Development Operations (DevOps) and Cloud Solutions Architect.
AWS professionals report high job satisfaction along with their six-figure salaries.

Ready to dive in? Here is everything you need to know about careers in AWS – from education & certifications to salary & benefits.

AWS Jobs in a Nutshell

Amazon offers over 165 different web services.
Knowing how to work them can help in a variety of positions. Here are the main AWS career options and a quick summary of what they are and how much they pay.

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Title	Responsibilities	Requirements	Salary (average base)
AWS Cloud Architect	Plans cloud platform implementation Envisions and models AWS-native applications Oversees the development and deployments of AWS-based solutions Ensures that the systems are aligned with business goals and objectives	AWS Certified Solutions Architect certificate (preferably professional-level) Software development (Java, Python, C++, and JavaScript) Application design Cloud development best practices Linux OS Data security and compliance Networking principles Complex project management Business acumen	$122,908
Cloud Developer	Design and implementation of cloud applications Scaling of infrastructure components Ensuring code-level safety and resolving security issues Ongoing performance monitoring optimization	AWS Certified Developer – Associate or AWS Certified Solutions Architect Native in programming languages like Java, Python, C++, and JavaScript Using the AWS service APIs, AWS CLI, and SDKs to write cloud-native applications Coding with AWS security best practices Database skills – SQL, MySQL, or MongoDB Linux OS Networking principles	$127,037
DevOps Engineer	Overseeing AWS-based solution releases and deployment Managing the IT infrastructure on a project or enterprise level Monitoring performance following the release Maintaining and automating in the live environment Collaborating with software development, testing, QA, and operations professionals Setting up a DevOps culture in the company	AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional and/or a specialty certification depending on your exact field Automation and configuration management tools (Puppet, Chef) Circle CO, Git, Docker, Kubernetes or similar tools Linux or Windows OS administration Coding with programming languages like Java, Python, C++, and JavaScript Collaborative management skills to provide a holistic approach to software development	$93,359

AWS for Beginners

AWS is the leading provider of cloud-based software services.
If you know how to design, write, or deploy solutions in the cloud, you are in luck. AWS professionals are in high demand and enjoy lucrative salaries.

But where do you even get started?

Start by choosing your path. Architects design the infrastructure with the big picture in mind. Developers write the code. Development Operations and System Operations design, deploy, and manage systems. DevOps can involve various levels of automation and you need extra skills (and certifications) for that.

Post-secondary education is not a requirement for most firms.
That said, expertise, experience, and AWS certifications can put you in a much better position. Amazon itself is the leading provider of certifications for developers – AWS certificates are directly linked to higher income!

A degree in computer science or a related field can give you the core programming and system administration skills you will need.
But what if you have no experience and you aren’t a CS major?
Start with the foundational certification by Amazon. The Cloud Practitioner badge shows you know your way around different products and services, offered by AWS. It’s also useful if you’re in a sales or management role where you interact with AWS on a daily basis.

Preparing for the AWS certs can take a few days or a few months, depending on your baseline knowledge.

These certifications are not for newcomers. They prove you already have experience and skills. So, while you prepare for them (the AWS site itself, Code Academy, and Linux Academy are some good resources for that), consider applying for an internship. As AWS grows, Amazon itself has new openings – both for interns and full-time employees.

Model your CV based on the job description.

While all companies have slightly different requirements, the basic job descriptions don’t change that much. Prepare a general CV, modeled after your desired role’s responsibilities. Then, tweak your resumé when you send it to companies.

For instance, some DevOps jobs involve more automation than others. If you’re applying for an automation-heavy position, highlight your skills and experience in the field.
Negotiate a fair salary.

AWS jobs are well-paid. Even entry-level salaries can approach 100k per year (before bonuses and profit-sharing). Get informed about the industry-standard pay to be able to negotiate a good remuneration package.

Ready to go? Let’s dive deeper into AWS jobs:

AWS Jobs: Comprehensive Description

Disclaimer: This is a general job description for this position. Every employer will have different criteria for hiring.

There are four main AWS-related fields to choose from:

Architect – designs effective and highly available solutions
Developer – creates AWS-native applications
Developer Operations (DevOps) Engineer – designs, deploys and manages systems in the cloud
Cloud Practitioner – non-technical roles in management or sales, works with AWS-based solutions and is familiar with the platform, pricing, and tools available

Aside from cloud practitioners, the other positions are in the IT team (though they might require collaborating with several other colleagues).

What Does an AWS Solution Architect Do?

Architects breach the gap between technology and strategy. They create cloud-based solutions to solve real-life company problems.

An AWS Solutions Architect’s job description includes things like:

Meeting with clients and/or sales to discuss problems and needs.
Evaluating the customer’s AWS adoption.
Advising on AWS tools relevant to the specific problem.
Formulate AWS solution plans, employing best practices of working in the cloud.

As an architect, you will be involved in the project from start to finish. That said, your role is not so much writing the actual solution (this is what developers do). Instead, AWS solutions architects are responsible for designing scalable, highly efficient, and fault-tolerant systems.

AWS Developer Job Description

An AWS developer creates cloud-native infrastructure for internal operations and/or client projects. As a developer, you need in-depth understanding of both software development and the specifics of working in the cloud.

On a day-to-day basis, your responsibilities will include:

Advising on the best AWS tools for the task.
Optimizing the cloud services through custom code and scripts.
Programming applications with the AWS APIs.
Monitoring cloud-native application performance.
Troubleshooting and providing support if issues come up.

The developer role is a hands-on programming job. You will be collaborating with other colleagues but compared to other positions, you have much less interaction with non-IT employees.

DevOps Engineer Description

A DevOps engineer’s main responsibility is to manage the release of new code. She works with externals, as well as different company teams, overseeing the deployment process.

As DevOps, you would be responsible for:

Implementing solutions and integrations requested by clients and/or internal departments.
Building tools to automate deployments.
Creating protocols for system maintenance.
Overseeing software development and design procedures to avoid production errors.
Performing root cause analysis of issues with cloud-native software.
Troubleshooting and preventing future problems.

As a DevOps engineer, you will play a crucial part in software deployments coming together. This requires a collaborative mindset, as well as an in-depth understanding of the tech aspect of the job.

Cloud Practitioner

Unlike the previous positions, this is not tech-heavy at all. You don’t need to understand how to create software in the cloud. Instead, cloud practitioners are familiar with the options AWS offers, the billing system, and the best way to adopt AWS-based solutions.
Cloud practitioner is not a profession in itself. Instead, it’s a relevant skill and specialization for people from various backgrounds. This includes sales, account management, finance, etc.

AWS Jobs: Salary Range

Your pay depends on your experience, responsibilities, and even your location. Here is a more granular breakdown of the pay AWS professionals receive.

AWS Cloud Architect

The average base salary for an architect is $122,908 per year or $59 per hour. The total pay (including bonus, profit sharing and commission) ranges between $74,000 and $175,675.

Some skills that will positively impact your pay include:

Development Operations (DevOps) by 14%
Enterprise Solutions by 12%
Big Data Analytics by 8%
System Architecture by 4%
Cloud Computing by 1%

AWS Developer

The average developer of native cloud-based applications makes $127,037 per year or $61 per hour. Software developers that are fluent in Python and Java make more. Linux OS skills will also statistically increase your salary.

DevOps Engineer

The average base pay for DevOps specialists is $93,359 per year or $44.88 per hour. The total pay for the position ranges between $64k and $144k. Some of the skills that can increase your pay include the Puppet tool for automation, expertise in cloud computing, and Python coding.

Amazon Inc. is the top-paying company for this position with an average salary of $119,301.

Freelance Opportunities

Much like any IT job, AWS-related roles can be outsourced to freelancers. There is, however, a limited number of AWS jobs that are completely remote.

Freelance job site Upwork, for instance, had under 50 postings (as of January 2020)! Developers are more likely to get a freelance gig, while architects and DevOps are almost always 9-to-5 office jobs.

That being said, most companies offer flexible working hours and home office options (usually for a set amount of hours per month). Doing your job from the beach sounds great in theory, but in practice, you are much more productive in the office.

AWS Education & Certifications

Amazon’s AWS certifications are both desirable and profitable.
AWS-certified IT professionals make 27.5% more than their non-certified peers!

Here is your comprehensive guide to choosing the right one – and getting it on the first try, too.

The AWS certification system is divided into three tiers:

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is the foundational exam for all tracks (Architect, Developer, and Operations).
Associate-level exams include AWS Certified Developer – Associate, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate, and AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate. They all cost $150. Amazon recommends 1+ years of experience in the respective field before you sit for them.
Professional-tier exams include AWS Certified DevOps Engineer and AWS Certified Solutions Architect (for the Operations and Developer tracks). They cost $300. Amazon recommends holding an associate-level certificate, as well as 2+ years of experience.
Speciality exams demonstrate your ability to use AWS-based solutions for particular problems. They include AWS Certified Big Data, AWS Certified Advanced Networking, AWS Certified Security, AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder and AWS Certified Machine Learning. They cost $300.

The Alexa Skill Builder and Machine Learning certifications are the “beta” certificates. While they provide you with proficiency in these cutting-edge technologies, they can prove extra hard to take. The lack of practice exams and the smaller number of people who sit for them are just some of the challenges.

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Tests: AWS services and features, safety, pricing, billing and support
Fee: $100.
Recommended experience (according to Amazon): 6+ months working with AWS solutions (regardless of whether it was a technical or non-IT position).

This foundational certificate is perfect for candidates in non-technical positions, such as sales and management. It will give you the skills for positions like Cloud Sales & Purchase Manager or Key Account Manager (Cloud).

Essentially, the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner tells employers that you have a solid understanding of the AWS platform, even as a non-IT employee. AWS cloud practitioner entry-level jobs include IT sales and Junior Cloud Account Manager.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

Tests: building and deploying scalable systems in the AWS cloud. It covers the principles of cloud-based solutions, including best practices in architecture, as well as security and compliance policies.
Recommended experience (according to Amazon): 1+ years of experience in building, deploying, configuring, and managing services in AWS.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate

Tests: using AWS SDK to develop applications, native to the AWS cloud.
Recommended experience (according to Amazon): 1+ years of building and managing AWS applications.

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate

Tests: resource deployment, system operation and management of AWS-native applications.
Recommended experience (according to Amazon): 1+ years of deploying, managing, and optimizing system resources in the AWS cloud.

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

Tests: managing applications in the AWS cloud (continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) methodologies, automation best practices, monitoring and logging practices).
Recommended experience (according to Amazon): associate-level certification, as well as 2+ years of experience developing AWS-native applications or managing AWS deployments.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

Tests: building and deploying systems (including enterprise-scale systems and multi-tier applications) in the AWS cloud, ensuring the solutions are scalable with fault tolerance and high availability.
Recommended experience (according to Amazon): associate’s certificate, as well as 2+ years of deploying scalable AWS-based solutions.

AWS Certified Big Data

Tests: using AWS tools for data analysis.
Recommended experience (according to Amazon): 5+ years of experience in data analytics, especially using AWS Big Data.

AWS Certified Advanced Networking

Tests: managing and automating network architectures on the AWS cloud.
Recommended experience (according to Amazon): a fundamentals or associate’s AWS certification, as well as 5+ years in network management.

AWS Certified Security

Tests: data protection and encryption for AWS environments, as well as using AWS tools to ensure safety.
Recommended experience (according to Amazon): N/A.

AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder

Tests: creating, testing, and validating Amazon Alexa Skills, in compliance with best practices and security principles.
Recommended experience (according to Amazon): 6+ months of building voice-based solutions for Alexa.

AWS Certified Machine Learning

Tests: delivering machine-learning solutions to business problems, using the relevant AWS services.
Recommended experience (according to Amazon): 1-2 years in development and data science.

How Do I Prepare for the AWS Certs?

The AWS certifications started out as an easy way to certify a professional’s skill and expertise. This is why they come with an experience recommendation.

But what if you have zero experience?

You can 100% still pass the AWS certifications.

Granted, it’s best to follow a learning path, starting with the foundational exam (Cloud Practitioner). If you already have some system administration experience, go for associate-level exams. Even without AWS-specific skills, you have the foundation to succeed.

Start by checking out the AWS website. For each of the exams, they have resources like exam guides, white papers, free exam readiness training, and practice exam papers. The site is also where you schedule your exam date.

Other than the digital preparation, AWS has links to classroom training options. There are over 100 of these. The preparation courses review sample questions from each exam topic and teach you the concepts being tested.

Cloud Academy is the leading enterprise training platform on all things cloud-related. Use their courses to prepare for the AWS certificate and to consolidate skills that you know need improvement. They also have practice tests, which can help you track your progress and pinpoint your weak points.

Linux Academy is another leading platform for learning-by-doing cloud training. Their resources include courses, labs, and learning paths and they come with a free trial on the full access version, as well as a free community edition with basic access.

Technical Skills

The technical skills required for AWS architects include:

Software development – fluency in Java, Python, C++, or JavaScript.
Application design principles.
Data security and compliance.
Networking.
Linux OS.
Specifics of architecting software for the cloud.

AWS developers, on the other hand, should know:

At least one high-level programming language, along with coding and scripting in popular languages like Python, Ruby, and Pearl.
Using the AWS service APIs, AWS CLI, and SDKs.
Code-level security best practices.
Database management – SQL, MySQL, or MongoDB.
Networking.
Linux OS.

DevOps Engineers need skills like:

Coding and scripting languages.
Linux OS.
Networking.
Automation and configuration management tools (Puppet, Chef).
Circle CO, Git, Docker, Kubernetes or similar tools.

Soft Skills

AWS is a great option for businesses of all sizes. Since your skills are useful in so many roles and so many different companies, the scope of your job will vary between different positions. This is why flexibility and lateral thinking are two of the most important soft skills for success in AWS positions.

Whether you’re designing new AWS systems or optimizing code for data safety, you will be doing it as a part of a team. Communication and collaboration are essential for all AWS professionals. DevOps Engineers in particular work with different teams to provide a holistic approach to software development and deployment. Having strong leadership skills and interpersonal capabilities is a must.

Finally, no matter how much you know about AWS services, it’s useless if you don’t have the problem-solving skills and the creativity to apply them to real-life situations. AWS architects, especially, have a role that requires a lot of inventive problem-solving. Your work won’t be evaluated by the hours you put in or the amount of code that your team writes. It is purely about creating highly available and efficient systems.

AWS Jobs: Conclusion

Cloud computing platforms offer the best balance between price and quality for enterprises of all sizes. AWS is the market leader by a large margin and specialists that know how to work it are very sought after.
AWS architects, as well as cloud developers and DevOps Engineers, enjoy high pay, great job satisfaction, and the opportunity to be at the forefront of the cloud computing revolution.

Convinced already?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AWS Certification Enough to Get a Job?

The AWS certifications prove you can work a job managing AWS-backed systems in any company that uses them. They are not (contrary to popular belief) entry-level certifications. If you’ve acquired any of them, chances are you have experience in IT.
With an AWS certificate and experience, you can land a great job.

How Long Does It Take to Become AWS Certified?

Amazon recommends between 6 months and several years of experience for the different certifications. Note that this is not studying time, it’s your experience working in the field.

Preparation for the exams is a half-day to a one-day course. It doesn’t cover the material, but focuses on exam questions and revision instead.
If you have less experience, but you possess a college degree in computer science or some relevant IT skills – take some Cloud Academy or Linux Academy training courses. Those can can prepare you better for the task at hand. If you put in the time and effort, a few months will be enough.

Can a Fresher Learn AWS?

Yes, but how long it takes will depend on your background. Learning about the services, tools, and billing (the main study topics for the foundational AWS certificate) wouldn’t take longer than a month. The Certified Cloud Practitioner is aimed at non-technical employees, whose company works with AWS. Even without previous IT knowledge, you can study for it.

Associate and professional-level AWS certificates are not for beginners. They were created to prove the skills of working professionals (skills gained through expertise). You can prepare for them as a fresher, taking it step by step, and supplement your knowledge with experience.
Is it realistic to do all of this in your fresher year? Probably not, unless you have ninja time management skills or you’re taking classes that won’t take up your time.

How Much Does AWS Training Cost?

Amazon offers online AWS training for free. Their classroom courses are available all over the world, but the price depends on the company that provides it (as well as the location). It’s a good idea to review the individual courses from the AWS site. (It also has useful prep resources and the link to register for an exam.)

Can I Get a Job With AWS Certification Without Experience?

The AWS certification proves your expertise. Most people who get them have already worked in IT, whether they have AWS-specific experience or not. In other words, chances are that if you have the AWS certification, you also have experience.

If you’ve worked your way up to an associate or professional-level certification and have limited experience, consider applying for an internship. The same goes for beginners and IT enthusiasts that want to work with AWS.

Thanks to Amazon, AWS jobs are on the rise right now. Provided that you have the skills, you shouldn’t have a problem landing one, even if your experience is limited.