Cisco CCNA (200-301) vs AWS Advanced Networking Specialty

Updated: 2025-04-10 Methodology

CCNA and AWS Advanced Networking Specialty represent two sides of modern networking — traditional infrastructure vs cloud-native. Choosing between them depends on where you are in your career and where the industry is heading. We break down salary, difficulty, job demand, and career trajectory to help you decide which to pursue first.

$85K
Cisco CCNA (200-301)
$145K
AWS Advanced Networking Specialty

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Cisco CCNA (200-301)AWS Advanced Networking Specialty
Provider CiscoAmazon Web Services
Level AssociateProfessional
Exam Cost $330$300
Avg Salary $85,000$145,000
Pass Rate 60%55%
Study Hours 200h180h
Difficulty 7/108/10
Job Listings 35.0K8.0K

Our Verdict

These certifications aren't competitors — they're complementary stages in a networking career. CCNA is the foundation: 35K job listings, $85K average salary, and the essential networking knowledge every engineer needs. AWS Networking Specialty is the accelerator: $145K average salary and $110K-$185K range, but only 8K listings and a 55% pass rate reflecting its advanced, specialized nature. The optimal path is CCNA first to build strong networking fundamentals (routing, switching, protocols), then AWS Networking Specialty once you have 3-5 years of experience and want to move into cloud networking or hybrid architecture roles. Skipping CCNA and going straight to AWS Networking is possible but risky — the AWS exam assumes deep networking knowledge that CCNA training provides. Together, the two certifications position you for $150K+ hybrid network architect roles.

Choose Cisco CCNA (200-301) if you...

  • Prefer a more accessible exam (60% pass rate)
  • Want broader job market demand (35.0K listings)
  • Prefer a less challenging exam path (7/10 difficulty)
  • Focus on Cisco ecosystem and associate-level roles

Choose AWS Advanced Networking Specialty if you...

  • Want higher earning potential ($145K vs $85K avg)
  • Want a lower exam cost ($300 vs $330)
  • Have limited study time (~180h vs ~200h)
  • Focus on Amazon Web Services ecosystem and professional-level roles

Deep Dive Into Each Certification

Cisco CCNA (200-301)

Cisco · Associate · $85K avg

AWS Advanced Networking Specialty

Amazon Web Services · Professional · $145K avg

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need CCNA before AWS Networking Specialty?
It's not a formal prerequisite, but it's strongly recommended. CCNA teaches the networking fundamentals (BGP, OSPF, subnetting, VLANs) that the AWS exam assumes you already know. Candidates who attempt AWS Networking Specialty without solid traditional networking knowledge typically struggle with the hybrid connectivity and routing scenarios.
Which pays more: CCNA or AWS Networking Specialty?
AWS Networking Specialty pays significantly more — $145K average vs $85K for CCNA. However, this reflects the difference in experience level: CCNA is associate-level (1-3 years experience), while AWS Networking targets senior engineers (5+ years). A fair comparison would be CCNA holder with 5 years experience ($100K-$120K) vs AWS Networking holder ($145K) — still a meaningful premium for cloud specialization.
Is cloud networking replacing traditional networking?
Not replacing, but evolving. Traditional networking knowledge (TCP/IP, routing, switching) remains essential — it's the foundation cloud networking is built on. What's changing is where and how networks are managed. Enterprises increasingly need engineers who understand both physical and cloud infrastructure. The highest-paid networking professionals in 2025 are hybrid experts who hold both types of certifications.

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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