Azure Administrator vs Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer
Which certification is right for your career? Here's the full breakdown.
Microsoft
Azure Administrator
AZ-104
Validates skills in managing Azure identities, storage, compute, virtual networks, and monitoring in enterprise environments.
Full guide →Google Cloud
Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer
Professional ML Engineer
Advanced Google Cloud certification for designing and building ML models that scale — covers MLOps, Vertex AI, and responsible AI.
Full guide →Side-by-side comparison
| Category | Azure Administrator | Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | ✓$165 USD | $200 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | +$15,000/yr | ✓+$22,000/yr |
| Exam duration | 100 min | 120 min |
| Renewal period | Every 1 years | Every 2 years |
| Issued by | Microsoft | Google Cloud |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Advanced |
Azure Administrator — Prerequisites
AZ-900 recommended, 6 months Azure administration experience
Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer — Prerequisites
3+ years industry experience + 1 year Google Cloud experience + ML background
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
Get Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer if…
- •You're aiming for senior or management roles in security
- •You want a +$22,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from Google Cloud
Best Azure Administrator courses
Best Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer courses
Frequently asked questions
Is Azure Administrator harder than Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer?
Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer is harder — rated advanced vs intermediate.
Which pays more — Azure Administrator or Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer?
Azure Administrator has an average salary uplift of +$15,000/yr, while Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer has +$22,000/yr. Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — Azure Administrator or Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer?
Azure Administrator is the better starting point — it's rated intermediate and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer.