AWS ML Engineer Associate vs Azure Administrator
Which certification is right for your career? Here's the full breakdown.
Amazon Web Services
AWS ML Engineer Associate
MLA-C01
Validates ability to build, train, tune, and deploy ML models on AWS using SageMaker and other AWS AI services.
Full guide →Microsoft
Azure Administrator
AZ-104
Validates skills in managing Azure identities, storage, compute, virtual networks, and monitoring in enterprise environments.
Full guide →Side-by-side comparison
| Category | AWS ML Engineer Associate | Azure Administrator |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | ✓$150 USD | $165 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | ✓+$18,000/yr | +$15,000/yr |
| Exam duration | 130 min | 100 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 1 years |
| Issued by | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
AWS ML Engineer Associate — Prerequisites
AWS Cloud Practitioner or equivalent + basic ML knowledge recommended
Azure Administrator — Prerequisites
AZ-900 recommended, 6 months Azure administration experience
Get AWS ML Engineer Associate if…
- •You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
- •You want a +$18,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from Amazon Web Services
Get Azure Administrator if…
- •You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
- •You want a +$15,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from Microsoft
Best AWS ML Engineer Associate courses
Best Azure Administrator courses
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS ML Engineer Associate harder than Azure Administrator?
Both AWS ML Engineer Associate and Azure Administrator are rated intermediate difficulty.
Which pays more — AWS ML Engineer Associate or Azure Administrator?
AWS ML Engineer Associate has an average salary uplift of +$18,000/yr, while Azure Administrator has +$15,000/yr. AWS ML Engineer Associate has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — AWS ML Engineer Associate or Azure Administrator?
AWS ML Engineer Associate is the better starting point — it's rated intermediate and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward Azure Administrator.