As more companies move to the cloud, Microsoft Azure continues to dominate as one of the leading enterprise cloud platforms. Professionals looking to advance in cloud computing often find themselves asking a common question — should I start with the AZ-104 or AZ-305 certification?
Both are valuable, but they serve different career stages and skill levels. Understanding their focus areas, prerequisites, and career impact can help you make the right choice.
Understanding the Certifications
AZ-104: Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
The AZ-104 certification is designed for professionals who manage and maintain Azure environments. It focuses on the hands-on, operational side of cloud administration — perfect for those who want to understand how Azure actually works day-to-day.
Key Skills Covered:
- Managing Azure identities and governance
- Implementing storage solutions
- Deploying and managing virtual machines
- Configuring virtual networking
- Monitoring resources and managing subscriptions
Ideal For:
IT professionals, system administrators, and cloud beginners who want to gain a technical foundation in Azure.
AZ-305: Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
The AZ-305 certification builds on administrative knowledge and moves into designing and architecting advanced cloud solutions. It’s intended for professionals who want to plan, design, and implement Azure solutions that align with business goals.
Key Skills Covered:
- Designing identity, governance, and data solutions
- Building security and compliance frameworks
- Optimizing workloads for cost, performance, and scalability
- Designing infrastructure, business continuity, and disaster recovery plans
Ideal For:
Cloud professionals with prior experience (often AZ-104 certified) who are ready to take on architectural and leadership-level cloud roles.
Which One Should You Take First?
If you’re new to Azure, start with AZ-104.
It provides the hands-on foundation that helps you understand how Azure services interact, how to deploy workloads, and how to manage resources efficiently. This practical experience becomes critical when you move to the more design-oriented AZ-305 certification later.
However, if you already have significant experience managing or deploying Azure environments, you may be ready to skip straight to AZ-305 — especially if your goal is to move into cloud architecture or consulting.
Career Path and Salary Outlook
- AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate): Opens doors to roles like Cloud Administrator, Azure Support Engineer, or Systems Engineer, with average salaries ranging from $80,000–$110,000/year in the U.S.
- AZ-305 (Azure Solutions Architect Expert): Prepares you for Cloud Solutions Architect or Cloud Consultant roles, often earning $120,000–$160,000/year depending on experience.
Both certifications complement each other — AZ-104 gives you operational depth, while AZ-305 provides strategic design expertise. Many professionals pursue both as part of a structured Azure career roadmap.
How Techcomi Helps You Prepare
At Techcomi, we help students and professionals navigate the complete Azure learning journey — from foundational certifications like AZ-900 and AZ-104 to advanced levels like AZ-305 and AI-102.
Our Azure Guru Program offers:
- Instructor-led weekend classes for working professionals
- Hands-on cloud labs using real Azure environments
- Internship-based learning to gain real-world experience
- Career guidance and job placement support to help you launch your cloud career confidently
Whether you’re starting your Azure path or aiming for expert-level certification, Techcomi provides the structure, mentorship, and support you need to succeed.