Yes, for most IT professionals — here's why:
Skip it if: You have zero IT experience (start with AZ-900), you're not interested in cloud/Azure roles, or your employer doesn't use Azure infrastructure.
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) is a role-based certification that validates your ability to implement, manage, and monitor Azure environments. Unlike the foundational AZ-900, this is a practical, hands-on certification designed for professionals who actually administer cloud infrastructure.
Let's cut through the marketing hype. Here's what Azure Administrators with AZ-104 certification actually earn in 2026, based on data from Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, and industry salary surveys:
| Experience Level | Salary Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level (0-2 years) | $70,000 - $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Mid-Level (2-5 years) | $90,000 - $130,000 | $110,000 |
| Senior (5+ years) | $130,000 - $160,000+ | $145,000 |
| Top 10% Earners | $160,000 - $253,000+ | $200,000+ |
$110,000
Per year (2026 data)
10-15%
Salary increase expected in 2026
| City | Average Salary | vs. National Avg. |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $145,000 | +32% |
| New York, NY | $138,000 | +25% |
| Seattle, WA | $135,000 | +23% |
| Boston, MA | $128,000 | +16% |
| Austin, TX | $122,000 | +11% |
| Denver, CO | $118,000 | +7% |
| Chicago, IL | $115,000 | +5% |
| Atlanta, GA | $108,000 | -2% |
| Dallas, TX | $105,000 | -5% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $98,000 | -11% |
💡 Pro Tip: Remote Azure Administrator roles often pay closer to high-cost-of-living salaries regardless of your location. Companies hiring remote Azure talent typically budget $100K-$130K to remain competitive.
The demand for Azure Administrators is not just strong — it's accelerating. Here's the current landscape:
78,000+
Active job openings
+17%
Year-over-year growth
15%
Projected growth 2026-2030
Manage Azure infrastructure, implement security, monitor resources, and maintain hybrid environments.
Administer multi-cloud environments (Azure + AWS/GCP), automate deployments, manage identity systems.
Build CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code (ARM/Bicep), container orchestration with AKS.
Provide technical support for Azure services, troubleshoot issues, optimize cloud costs.
Design Azure architectures, guide migrations, provide technical leadership for enterprise clients.
Cloud-native companies, SaaS providers, MSPs
25,000+ openings
Banks, insurance, fintech, payment processors
18,000+ openings
Hospitals, medical devices, health tech platforms
12,000+ openings
Online retailers, omnichannel platforms, logistics
10,000+ openings
Practice with 100 realistic AZ-104 questions. Start with 40 free questions, no credit card required.
Join 50,000+ students who passed with our practice tests
The AZ-104 certification delivers value that extends well beyond the paycheck. Here's what certified professionals actually experience:
AZ-104 acts as a force multiplier for career progression. Professionals report:
Azure skills are recession-resistant. Cloud infrastructure is mission-critical:
AZ-104 builds transferable cloud competencies:
The certification signals verified competence:
Total salary growth: $45K → $180K (300% increase) in 5 years
Let's do the math. Here's the actual cost of getting AZ-104 certified and the return you can expect:
| Cost Category | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Fee | $165 | $165 |
| Study Materials (books, courses) | $0 (free resources) | $200 |
| Practice Tests | $0 (free options) | $50 |
| Azure Lab Subscription | $0 (free tier) | $50 |
| Retake (if needed, 30% fail first attempt) | $0 | $165 |
| TOTAL COST | $165 | $630 |
Before: Non-IT role at $50K/year
After: Junior Azure Admin at $75K/year
+$25,000/year
ROI Calculation:
Investment: $400 (avg)
Return Year 1: $25,000
ROI: 6,150%
Pays for itself in 0.6 months
Before: Sys Admin at $85K/year
After: Azure Admin at $110K/year
+$25,000/year
ROI Calculation:
Investment: $400 (avg)
Return Year 1: $25,000
ROI: 6,150%
Pays for itself in 0.6 months
Before: $90K/year (current role)
After: $95K/year (5% raise)
+$5,000/year
ROI Calculation:
Investment: $400 (avg)
Return Year 1: $5,000
ROI: 1,150%
Pays for itself in 1 month
Before: Mid-level cloud role $105K/year
After: Senior Azure role $140K/year
+$35,000/year
ROI Calculation:
Investment: $400 (avg)
Return Year 1: $35,000
ROI: 8,650%
Pays for itself in 0.4 months
Even in the most conservative scenario (no job change, minimal raise), AZ-104 delivers 1,150%+ ROI in the first year. For career switchers and promotions, expect 6,000-9,000% ROI.
Five-year value: Assuming conservative $15K annual salary premium × 5 years = $75,000 in additional earnings, minus $400 investment = $74,600 net gain.
ATS systems prioritize AZ-104 keyword; 3-5x more recruiter contacts
Certified candidates skip initial technical screens, advance directly to team interviews
Certified professionals 40% less likely to be laid off during downsizing
Structured study builds discipline, proves you can master complex technical topics
This is the #1 question beginners ask. The answer depends on your current experience level:
| Comparison | AZ-900 (Fundamentals) | AZ-104 (Administrator) |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Beginner-friendly | Intermediate (hands-on required) |
| Target Audience | Non-technical, career switchers, students | IT professionals, sys admins, cloud engineers |
| Prerequisites | None | None (but 6+ months Azure experience recommended) |
| Study Time | 1-3 weeks (20-40 hours) | 4-8 weeks (60-120 hours) |
| Exam Cost | $99 | $165 |
| Job Demand | Rarely required; "nice to have" | 78K+ jobs; frequently required |
| Avg Salary Impact | Minimal ($0-$3K increase) | Significant ($15K-$25K increase) |
| Skills Gained | Cloud concepts, Azure services overview | Hands-on admin, automation, troubleshooting |
| Best For | Complete cloud beginners | IT pros seeking career advancement |
Recommended path: AZ-900 → (2-4 weeks hands-on practice) → AZ-104
Recommended path: Jump directly to AZ-104 (use free Azure docs for fundamentals review as needed)
⚡ Pro Tip: If you're unsure, spend 2-3 days with Microsoft Learn's free AZ-900 content. If it feels too basic, skip to AZ-104. If it's challenging, complete AZ-900 first for a solid foundation.
AZ-104 is a high-value investment for these scenarios:
If you currently manage on-premises servers, Active Directory, or hybrid environments, AZ-104 is your natural next step. It translates your existing skills into cloud-relevant expertise and opens doors to higher-paying cloud admin roles.
If your employer has Azure subscriptions or is migrating to Azure, getting certified makes you the go-to person for cloud projects. This often leads to internal promotions, raises, and strategic project assignments.
Azure administrator positions are among the most remote-friendly in IT. 73% of job postings offer remote/hybrid options, with salaries comparable to in-office roles.
AZ-104 is the foundation for advanced Azure certifications (AZ-305 Solutions Architect, AZ-400 DevOps). It's the first step in a structured progression toward $150K+ architect and engineering roles.
While there are no official prerequisites, candidates with foundational IT knowledge (networking, operating systems, basic scripting) pass at much higher rates and retain the knowledge better.
Many DevOps positions require or prefer Azure administration skills. AZ-104 proves you understand infrastructure, automation, and cloud-native architectures — core DevOps competencies.
Not everyone needs AZ-104. Here's when to skip it or wait:
If you've never worked with computers beyond basic office tasks, AZ-104 will be overwhelming. Start with AZ-900, take a foundational IT course (CompTIA A+, Network+), or get 6-12 months of help desk/support experience first.
If you work in a field that exclusively uses AWS, Google Cloud, or on-premises infrastructure with no cloud migration plans, AZ-104 won't add value. Focus on certifications relevant to your environment instead (AWS SAA, GCP Associate, etc.).
AZ-104 is for infrastructure and operations. If you're purely focused on software development, consider AZ-204 (Azure Developer) or language-specific certifications instead.
AZ-104 requires genuine study and hands-on practice (60-120 hours typical). If you're looking for a quick certification with minimal effort, this isn't it. The exam rigorously tests practical knowledge.
If your career goal is AWS Solutions Architect, Kubernetes expert, or Google Cloud engineer, invest time in platform-specific certifications. Multi-cloud knowledge is valuable, but focus on your primary platform first.
Cramming for AZ-104 in a week rarely works (first-attempt pass rate drops to ~30%). If you can't dedicate 10-15 hours/week for 4-8 weeks, wait until your schedule allows proper preparation.
Here's the proven study plan that gets students certified in 4-8 weeks:
| Resource | Type | Cost | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Learn (Official) | Interactive Modules | Free | ★★★★★ Essential |
| Azure Free Tier | Hands-On Labs | Free (12 months) | ★★★★★ Essential |
| MSCertQuiz AZ-104 | Practice Tests | $9.99 | ★★★★★ Highly Recommended |
| John Savill YouTube | Video Course | Free | ★★★★★ Excellent |
| Scott Duffy Udemy | Video Course | $15-$20 (on sale) | ★★★★ Good |
| Azure Documentation | Reference Docs | Free | ★★★★ Good for deep dives |
Join 50,000+ students who used our practice tests to ace their Azure certifications. Start with 40 free questions today.
Yes, absolutely. With 78,000+ job openings, average salaries of $110,000, 17% job growth, and 6,000%+ ROI, AZ-104 is one of the most valuable IT certifications in 2026. It's particularly worth it for IT professionals with 1-3 years of experience.
Azure Administrators with AZ-104 certification earn $88K-$161K annually, with a national average of $110,000. Entry-level roles start at $80K, mid-level at $110K-$130K, and senior positions reach $145K+. Top earners exceed $200K.
No, AZ-900 is not a prerequisite. However, if you're completely new to cloud computing, taking AZ-900 first (1-3 weeks) helps build foundational knowledge. IT professionals with existing experience can go directly to AZ-104.
Most candidates prepare in 4-8 weeks with 10-15 hours of weekly study. Those with Azure experience may need 3-4 weeks (60-80 hours), while beginners might require 8-12 weeks (100-120 hours) including hands-on lab practice.
AZ-104 opens doors to Azure Administrator ($88K-$130K), Cloud Administrator ($92K-$140K), DevOps Engineer ($105K-$155K), Cloud Support Specialist ($75K-$110K), and Azure Solutions Consultant ($110K-$165K) roles.
Yes, significantly. AZ-900 is beginner-friendly and conceptual (1-3 weeks study). AZ-104 is intermediate, hands-on focused, and requires practical Azure experience (4-8 weeks study). About 70% of AZ-104 questions are scenario-based vs. 30% for AZ-900.
With exam costs of $165-$630 (including study materials) and average salary increases of $15,000-$25,000, the ROI is typically 2,400-15,000% in the first year. Most professionals report the investment pays for itself within 1-2 months.
AZ-104 is moderately difficult with a ~65% first-time pass rate. It requires hands-on Azure experience, not just memorization. The exam includes 40-60 questions (multiple choice, case studies, drag-and-drop) with 100 minutes to complete. Passing score is 700/1000.
Technically yes, but it's much harder. Microsoft recommends 6+ months of hands-on Azure experience. Without it, expect 8-12 weeks of intensive study including extensive lab practice. Consider starting with AZ-900 if you're completely new to Azure.
Yes, Microsoft certifications renew annually. You must pass a free online renewal assessment within 6 months of your certification anniversary. The renewal exam is shorter (25-30 questions) and focuses on updates to Azure services.
The passing score for AZ-104 is 700 out of 1000 points (70%). Microsoft uses scaled scoring, so the number of correct answers needed varies by exam version. Typically, you need to answer 60-65% of questions correctly to pass, accounting for weighted questions and case studies.
AZ-900 alone rarely gets you a job, as it's a fundamentals certification that validates basic cloud knowledge, not practical skills. However, it can help with entry-level roles (help desk, technical support) and demonstrates initiative. For actual cloud administration jobs, you need AZ-104 or higher.
AZ-305 (Azure Solutions Architect Expert) and AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer Expert) are the highest-paid Azure certifications, with average salaries of $130K-$180K. However, AZ-104 is the foundational certification needed before pursuing these expert-level credentials.
For IT professionals with 1+ years of experience, AZ-104 is one of the highest-ROI certifications you can get in 2026. The combination of strong demand (78K+ jobs), excellent salaries ($88K-$161K), reasonable study time (4-8 weeks), and low cost ($165-$630) creates an exceptional value proposition.
Get it if: You work in IT, your company uses Azure, you want remote opportunities, or you're building a cloud career.
Skip it if: You have zero IT background (start with AZ-900), your industry doesn't use Azure, or you're focused purely on development (not infrastructure).
Compare AZ-900 vs AZ-104: salary data, career impact, and which certification to pursue first.
Read Article →Complete study guide with proven strategies, free resources, and week-by-week study plans.
Read Article →Ranking of best Microsoft certifications by salary, demand, and career impact in 2026.
Read Article →Practice with 100 realistic AZ-104 questions, detailed explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practice →