AWS Certified Data Engineer — Associate

data-analytics Associate Updated: 2025-04-10 Methodology

The AWS Certified Data Engineer — Associate (DEA-C01) validates expertise in designing, building, securing, and maintaining data pipelines on AWS. It covers data ingestion, transformation, orchestration, and governance using services like AWS Glue, Redshift, Kinesis, Lake Formation, and Athena. This certification targets professionals building scalable, cost-effective data solutions in the AWS cloud.

$130K
Avg Salary
62%
Pass Rate
22.0K
Job Listings
150h
Study Time
$150
Exam Cost

Exam Details

Exam CodeDEA-C01
Exam Cost$150 USD
Duration170 minutes
Questions65
Passing Score720/1000
ProviderAmazon Web Services
Difficulty7/10

Salary Data

Professionals holding the AWS Certified Data Engineer — Associate certification earn between $95,000 and $165,000 annually, with an average of $130,000.

Job market demand trend: High Growth (+22% YoY)

Prerequisites

  • 2-3 years of experience with data engineering on AWS recommended
  • Familiarity with data pipeline design and ETL processes
  • AWS Cloud Practitioner or Solutions Architect Associate recommended but not required

Skills Covered

Data IngestionData TransformationData PipelineAWS GlueRedshiftKinesisLake FormationAthena

Best Study Resources

Official

AWS Skill Builder — Data Engineer Associate Exam Prep

 Course

Stephane Maarek — AWS Data Engineer Associate on Udemy

 Course

Tutorials Dojo — AWS DEA-C01 Practice Exams

Comparisons Featuring AWS Certified Data Engineer — Associate

AWS Data Engineer Associate vs GCP Professional Data Engineer

AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate vs Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer: two cloud-native data engineering ce...

Career Paths With AWS Certified Data Engineer — Associate

Data Engineer

Data engineers design, build, and maintain the infrastructure and pipelines that move and transform ...

$80K - $165K +36% (2022-2032)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the AWS Data Engineer Associate certification worth it in 2025?
Absolutely. Data engineering is one of the fastest-growing specializations in cloud, and AWS dominates market share. With an average salary of $130,000 and 22,000+ job listings, this certification provides a strong competitive advantage for professionals building data pipelines and analytics platforms on AWS.
How hard is the DEA-C01 exam?
The exam is rated 7/10 in difficulty. It requires deep knowledge of AWS data services, pipeline orchestration, and data governance. The 170-minute exam with 65 questions leaves little room for guesswork. Candidates with real-world AWS data pipeline experience and 150 hours of preparation typically pass.
AWS Data Engineer vs AWS Solutions Architect — which is better for data roles?
The Data Engineer Associate is specifically designed for data-focused roles and covers Glue, Redshift, Kinesis, and Lake Formation in depth. The Solutions Architect is broader and covers general infrastructure. For data analytics and engineering careers, the DEA-C01 is the more relevant and targeted certification.

Data Sources

  • Salary data — Aggregated from job postings and salary surveys (US median)
  • Job listings — Active postings across major job boards
  • Pass rates — Community-reported estimates (not official vendor data)
  • Exam details — Amazon Web Services official documentation