AWS Machine Learning Specialty

C
By Certalyze Editorial Team Research & Analysis
Reviewed by Certalyze Review Board Updated 2026-04-15
data-analytics Specialty Updated: 2026-04-15 Methodology

The AWS Machine Learning Specialty (MLS-C01) validates advanced expertise in building, training, tuning, and deploying machine learning models on AWS. It covers the full ML lifecycle from data engineering and exploratory analysis through model optimization and production deployment, making it a strong differentiator for ML engineers and data scientists working within the AWS ecosystem.

$145K
Avg Salary
60%
Pass Rate
20.0K
Job Listings
100h
Study Time
$300
Exam Cost

Is the AWS Machine Learning Specialty Worth It?

Strengths

  • Strong earning potential with an average salary of $145,000
  • High employer demand with 20.0K active job listings

Considerations

  • Moderate exam investment at $300
  • Challenging exam (8/10 difficulty) — requires significant preparation
  • Has prerequisites — not suitable for complete beginners

Bottom line: At $300 exam cost with an average salary of $145,000, the AWS Machine Learning Specialty offers a strong return on investment for data-analytics professionals.

Who Should Get the AWS Machine Learning Specialty?

This certification is a good fit if you are:

  • Anyone targeting roles that list AWS Machine Learning Specialty as preferred or required

This certification is a key step on the Machine Learning Engineer career path.

Exam Details

Exam CodeMLS-C01
Exam Cost$300 USD
Duration180 minutes
Questions65
Passing Score750/1000
ProviderAmazon Web Services
Difficulty8/10

Salary Data

Professionals holding the AWS Machine Learning Specialty certification earn between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, with an average of $145,000. For context, the Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer averages $150,000.

Job market demand trend: Growing

Prerequisites

  • 2+ years experience with ML/deep learning on AWS
  • AWS data analytics experience recommended

Skills Covered

Amazon SageMakerData Engineering on AWSExploratory Data AnalysisML Model Training & TuningML Implementation & OperationsComputer VisionNLP

Best Study Resources

Official

AWS Skill Builder — Machine Learning Path (Official)

 Course

Udemy — AWS Machine Learning Specialty Course

 Practice Exams

Tutorials Dojo Practice Exams — MLS-C01

 Documentation

AWS Machine Learning Documentation

Career Paths With AWS Machine Learning Specialty

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine learning engineers design, build, and deploy ML models and pipelines that power intelligent ...

$95K – $200K +40% (2024-2034)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the AWS Machine Learning Specialty worth it in 2026?
Yes. With over 20,000 job listings mentioning this certification, it remains one of the most valued ML credentials in the market. Certified professionals report an average salary of $145,000, significantly above non-certified peers.
How hard is the AWS Machine Learning Specialty exam?
It's considered one of the more challenging AWS exams with an estimated pass rate of 60%. The exam requires deep understanding of ML algorithms, data engineering pipelines, and AWS-specific ML services like SageMaker.
What prerequisites do I need for MLS-C01?
AWS recommends at least 2 years of hands-on experience with ML and deep learning workloads on AWS. Prior experience with data analytics services and a foundational AWS certification are helpful but not strictly required.
How long should I study for the AWS ML Specialty?
Most candidates report needing around 100 hours of dedicated study over 2-3 months. Those with strong ML fundamentals but less AWS experience should focus extra time on SageMaker and AWS-specific services.
How much does the AWS Machine Learning Specialty exam cost?
The AWS Machine Learning Specialty exam costs $300 USD. Additional costs may include study materials and practice exams, typically $50-$300. Some employers offer certification reimbursement programs that can offset this cost.

Explore other options in data-analytics: Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer, Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer, and more in our Data & Analytics Certifications hub.

Data Sources & Transparency

  • Salary data — Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor, and job posting aggregates (US median)
  • Job listings — LinkedIn, Indeed, and Dice active postings (sampled quarterly)
  • Pass rates — Community-reported estimates from Reddit, TechExams, and certification forums
  • Exam details — Amazon Web Services official certification documentation
Last reviewed: 2026-04-15 Our Methodology Editorial Standards