Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional | Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft |
| Level | Professional | Expert |
| Exam Cost | $300 | $165 |
| Avg Salary | $140,000 | $135,000 |
| Pass Rate | 48% | 52% |
| Study Hours | 180h | 150h |
| Difficulty | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Job Listings | 28.0K | 24.0K |
Our Verdict
Both certifications are advanced-level and validate strong DevOps skills. AWS DevOps Engineer Professional edges ahead in salary ($140K vs $135K) and job listings, but costs nearly double the Azure exam. Azure AZ-400 is slightly more accessible with a higher pass rate and shorter study time. Your choice should align with the cloud platform your organization uses — the skills are largely transferable, but the tooling differs significantly.
Choose AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional if you...
- Want higher earning potential ($140K vs $135K avg)
- Want broader job market demand (28.0K listings)
- Focus on Amazon Web Services ecosystem and professional-level roles
Choose Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) if you...
- Prefer a more accessible exam (52% pass rate)
- Want a lower exam cost ($165 vs $300)
- Prefer a less challenging exam path (7/10 difficulty)
- Have limited study time (~150h vs ~180h)
Deep Dive Into Each Certification
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional
Amazon Web Services · Professional · $140K avg
Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400)
Microsoft · Expert · $135K avg
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior certifications before attempting these?
AWS DevOps Professional requires either the AWS Developer Associate or SysOps Administrator Associate. Azure AZ-400 requires an Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) or Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) as a prerequisite.
Which DevOps certification is harder?
AWS DevOps Engineer Professional is generally considered harder, with a lower pass rate (48% vs 52%) and more extensive exam coverage. It also requires deeper hands-on experience with AWS-specific services like CodePipeline, CloudFormation, and OpsWorks.
Can I work multi-cloud with just one of these?
DevOps principles (CI/CD, IaC, monitoring, automation) transfer across platforms. However, each cert focuses heavily on platform-specific tooling. For true multi-cloud roles, consider pairing one of these with a vendor-neutral cert like the CKA or Terraform Associate.
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