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Q3 2026, The Index

CertBueno Top 100 Highest-Paying IT & AI Certifications

The flagship index: the hundred IT and AI certifications commanding the highest top-of-band pay, ranked by an editorial blend of pay, hiring demand and AI-disruption exposure — not a straight salary sort. Reranked every quarter from the CertBueno member contribution pool.

Permanent snapshot: Q3 2026, as of 2026-08-15. This URL never changes.

Cite this index
CertBueno Top 100 Highest-Paying IT & AI Certifications, Q3 2026. CertBueno. https://certbueno.com/index/top-100-it/2026q3/ (accessed 2026-10-19)
https://certbueno.com/index/top-100-it/2026q3/
Read the methodology →
Salaries above the curated public set are member-gated. Join free and add your own to unlock every top-of-band figure — one email, no password.
#CertificationTop of bandRatingDemand
02 Join to unlock INVEST
03 Join to unlock INVEST
04 $224,000 INVEST 91 ▲
05 $240,000 INVEST 92 ►
06 Join to unlock INVEST
07 Join to unlock INVEST
08 Join to unlock INVEST
09 $232,000 INVEST 87 ►
10 Join to unlock STABLE
12 Join to unlock STABLE
13 $208,000 INVEST 87 ▲
14 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
15 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
17 Join to unlock STABLE
18 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
19 Join to unlock INVEST
20 $202,000 INVEST 88 ▲
22 Join to unlock INVEST
23
CISSP
ISC2
$198,000 INVEST 90 ►
24 Join to unlock STABLE
25
CRISC
ISACA
Join to unlock INVEST
26 $195,000 INVEST 85 ►
27 $183,000 INVEST 92 ▲
28 Join to unlock STABLE
29 Join to unlock STABLE
31
CISM
ISACA
$185,000 INVEST 85 ►
32 Join to unlock INVEST
33 $184,000 INVEST 94 ▲
34
CISA
ISACA
$183,000 INVEST 83 ►
36 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
37 Join to unlock INVEST
38 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
39 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
40 $173,000 DIVERSIFY 76 ►
42 Join to unlock INVEST
43 Join to unlock INVEST
44 $174,000 INVEST 93 ▲
45 $176,000 STABLE 86 ►
46 Join to unlock INVEST
48 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
49 Join to unlock STABLE
50 Join to unlock STABLE
51 Join to unlock INVEST
53 Join to unlock STABLE
54 Join to unlock INVEST
55 Join to unlock INVEST
56 Join to unlock INVEST
57
Scrum Master (CSM/PSM)
Scrum Alliance / Scrum.org
$148,000 DIVERSIFY 88 ▼
58 Join to unlock INVEST
59 Join to unlock INVEST
60 Join to unlock INVEST
61 $142,000 INVEST 85 ▲
62 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
63 $144,000 STABLE 90 ►
64 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
66 $138,000 INVEST 87 ▲
67 Join to unlock INVEST
68 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
69 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
70 Join to unlock INVEST
71 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
72
TOGAF 9/10 Certified
The Open Group
$135,000 STABLE 80 ►
73 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
74 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
75 Join to unlock INVEST
77 Join to unlock STABLE
78 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
79 $120,000 STABLE 77 ►
80 Join to unlock INVEST
81 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
82 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
83 Join to unlock UPGRADE
84 $108,000 STABLE 85 ►
85 Join to unlock STABLE
86 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
87 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
88 Join to unlock STABLE
89 $100,000 STABLE 74 ▼
90 Join to unlock UPGRADE
91 $97,000 STABLE 82 ►
92 Join to unlock UPGRADE
93 Join to unlock STABLE
94 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
95 Join to unlock UPGRADE
96 $87,000 UPGRADE 77 ▼
97
CompTIA A+
CompTIA
$83,000 UPGRADE 80 ►
98 Join to unlock DIVERSIFY
99 Join to unlock UPGRADE
100 Join to unlock UPGRADE
CertBueno research, Q3 2026 index, published Aug 15, 2026. US market data. All figures USD.

Verdicts: INVEST / UPGRADE / DIVERSIFY / STABLE. Demand: relative 0–100 and direction (▲ rising, ► steady, ▼ cooling). US market data. All figures USD. Full methodology →