Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | GCP Professional Data Engineer | AWS Certified Database – Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Google Cloud | Amazon Web Services |
| Level | Professional | Specialty |
| Exam Cost | $200 ✓ | $300 |
| Avg Salary | $142,000 ✓ | $138,000 |
| Pass Rate | 50% | 50% |
| Study Hours | 140h | 140h |
| Difficulty | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Job Listings | 8.5K ✓ | 6.8K |
For a deeper look at each certification, read our full GCP Professional Data Engineer guide and AWS Certified Database – Specialty guide. Also compare: AWS Data Engineer Associate vs GCP Professional Data Engineer.
Our Verdict
GCP Professional Data Engineer covers a broader scope — data pipelines, ML integration, BigQuery, Dataflow, and Pub/Sub — making it ideal for data engineers working across the full data lifecycle. AWS Database Specialty is narrower, focusing on database technologies (RDS, DynamoDB, Aurora, Redshift, Neptune) and is better suited for dedicated database administrators. GCP Data Engineer commands a slightly higher salary ($140K vs $132K) and reflects Google Cloud's strength in data and analytics workloads.
Choose GCP Professional Data Engineer if you...
- Want higher earning potential ($142K vs $138K avg)
- Want a lower exam cost ($200 vs $300)
- Want broader job market demand (8.5K listings)
- Focus on Google Cloud ecosystem and professional-level roles
Choose AWS Certified Database – Specialty if you...
- Focus on Amazon Web Services ecosystem and specialty-level roles
Can You Get Both?
Yes — and many professionals do. Since both GCP Professional Data Engineer and AWS Certified Database – Specialty are in the data space, they complement each other well. Start with the AWS Certified Database – Specialty (lower barrier to entry) and add the other after 1-2 years of hands-on experience.
Combined study commitment: approximately 280h and $500 in exam fees.
These certs feature in career paths like Data Engineer and Data Scientist.
Deep Dive Into Each Certification
GCP Professional Data Engineer
Google Cloud · Professional · $142K avg
AWS Certified Database – Specialty
Amazon Web Services · Specialty · $138K avg
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has more practical value for data engineers?
Does GCP's smaller market share matter?
Can I use both certifications together?
Related Career Paths
Data Engineer
Data engineers design, build, and maintain the infrastructure and pipelines that move and transform ...
Data Scientist
Data scientists extract insights from complex datasets using statistical analysis, machine learning,...
Database Administrator
Database administrators design, deploy, secure, and optimize the databases that power business appli...
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