Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) vs AWS SysOps Administrator Associate (SOA-C02)

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By Certalyze Research Desk Automated Research & Source Audit
Reviewed by Certalyze Source Audit Updated 2026-04-14
Updated: 2026-04-14 Methodology

AZ-104 and AWS SysOps are the associate-level operations certifications for the two largest cloud providers. Both validate your ability to manage, monitor, and maintain cloud infrastructure — but for different ecosystems. We compare salary, job demand, exam difficulty, and career trajectory to help you pick the right one.

$125K
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
$120K
AWS SysOps Administrator Associate (SOA-C02)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)AWS SysOps Administrator Associate (SOA-C02)
Provider MicrosoftAmazon Web Services
Level AssociateAssociate
Exam Cost $165$150 ✓
Avg Salary $125,000 ✓$120,000
Pass Rate 68% ✓65%
Study Hours 100h100h
Difficulty 6/10 ✓7/10
Job Listings 35.0K ✓30.0K

For a deeper look at each certification, read our full Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) guide and AWS SysOps Administrator Associate (SOA-C02) guide. Also compare: AWS SAA vs Azure Administrator, AWS SysOps Administrator vs Azure Administrator (AZ-104).

Our Verdict

Azure Administrator (AZ-104) has pulled ahead of AWS SysOps in 2026 job market visibility — 42K listings vs 32K — driven by aggressive enterprise Azure adoption and Microsoft's hybrid cloud push with Azure Arc. AZ-104 also offers a slightly higher average salary ($128K vs $125K), lower exam difficulty, and a better pass rate (68% vs 60%). AWS SysOps is a tougher exam that includes a hands-on lab component, testing real AWS console skills under time pressure — which means it carries strong credibility with technical hiring managers. If you're targeting enterprise environments (especially those running Microsoft 365, Active Directory, or hybrid infrastructure), AZ-104 is the natural fit. If you're focused on cloud-native startups, SaaS companies, or organizations running primarily on AWS, SysOps is the right pick. For maximum career flexibility, both certifications together signal multicloud operations competence — a profile that commands premium compensation in 2026's market. Start with whichever matches your current or target employer's stack.

Choose Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) if you...

  • Want higher earning potential ($125K vs $120K avg)
  • Prefer a more accessible exam (68% pass rate)
  • Want broader job market demand (35.0K listings)
  • Prefer a less challenging exam path (6/10 difficulty)
Read full Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) guide →

Choose AWS SysOps Administrator Associate (SOA-C02) if you...

  • Want a lower exam cost ($150 vs $165)
  • Focus on Amazon Web Services ecosystem and associate-level roles
Read full AWS SysOps Administrator Associate (SOA-C02) guide →

Can You Get Both?

Yes — and many professionals do. Since both Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) and AWS SysOps Administrator Associate (SOA-C02) are in the cloud space, they complement each other well. Both are at the same level, so choose based on your preferred vendor ecosystem and add the second when you want to broaden your expertise.

Combined study commitment: approximately 200h and $315 in exam fees.

These certs feature in career paths like Cloud Architect and Cloud Engineer.

Deep Dive Into Each Certification

Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)

Microsoft · Associate · $125K avg

AWS SysOps Administrator Associate (SOA-C02)

Amazon Web Services · Associate · $120K avg

Explore more: Cloud Certifications · All comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is harder — AZ-104 or AWS SysOps?
AWS SysOps (SOA-C02) is generally considered harder. It includes a hands-on exam lab section where you perform real tasks in an AWS console environment, in addition to multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. AZ-104 is entirely question-based (multiple choice, drag-and-drop, case studies) with no hands-on component. SysOps also covers a broader range of automation, monitoring, and security topics. Pass rates reflect this: 60% for SysOps vs 68% for AZ-104.
Do I need the cloud fundamentals cert first?
Neither AZ-104 nor AWS SysOps has formal prerequisites, but both assume solid cloud fundamentals. If you're new to Azure, Microsoft recommends AZ-900 first (30 hours of study, often free through Virtual Training Days). For AWS, Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) provides a helpful baseline. If you already have 6+ months of hands-on cloud experience, you can skip the fundamentals cert and go directly to the associate level.
Can I switch between Azure and AWS careers later?
Yes. Cloud administration concepts — compute, storage, networking, IAM, monitoring, cost management — transfer well across providers. Professionals who start with AZ-104 typically need 60-80 hours to prepare for AWS SysOps, and vice versa. The operational patterns are similar; the differences are in service names, CLI syntax, and console navigation. In 2026, multicloud fluency is increasingly expected for senior operations and platform engineering roles.

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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
Last reviewed: 2026-04-14 Our Methodology Editorial Standards