TrainACE - IT and Cybersecurity Training Blog

Linux Certified Professionals are in High Demand

[fa icon="calendar"] Jul 24, 2015 9:50:47 AM / by Ariana Ciancio

When Linux first appeared on the market, it was barely understood. Now, it's one of the major players in networking, servers, smartphones, the web, and supercomputers, which means its grabbing demand from hiring managers.

How much attention is it grabbing? If the 2015 Linux Jobs Report is to be believed, nearly all of it.

According to the report:

  • -"97 percent of hiring managers report they will bring on Linux talent relative to other skills areas in the next six months."
  • -"42 percent of hiring managers say that experience in OpenStack and CloudStack will have a major impact on their hiring decisions."
  • -"23 percent report security is a sought-after area of expertise and 19 percent are looking for Linux talent with Software-Defined Networking (SDN) skills."
  • -"44 percent of hiring managers say they’re more likely to hire a candidate with Linux certification."
  • -"54 percent expect either certification or formal training of their SysAdmin candidates."

 

Those last two are especially important. Nearly half of all hiring managers want to hire candidates with Linux certifications. Linux has evolved to become a household name with a wide variety of uses and knowing exactly how to use it is crucial.

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How To Become Certified

The CompTIA Linux+ certification powered by LPI will set you apart from your competition and open up doors to a range of careers. By enrolling in TrainACE’s Linux+ Certification Training Course in MD, VA, or online, we will help you meet the certification requirements and prepare for the exam. This training can catapult an administration career into a better job with a better salary.

TrainACE’s Linux+ Certification Training Course provides the basic working knowledge of Linux in the IT world while preparing people for careers in administration and software development. Keep in mind, the CompTIA Linux+ certification is specifically designed for people who already have at least six months of working experience in Linux.

Some of the aspects the training covers includes, but aren't limited to:

  • Planning Installations
  • Linux Installations
  • How To Update Software
  • Using Linux for User Administration
  • Security and Filesystems Administration
  • Linux Networks Administration
  • Configuration of Files and Printing
  • Linux Maintenance
  • Troubleshooting
  • Linux Hardware Issues

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Careers with a Linux Certification 

Linux certification is especially important as careers requiring Linux are expected to grow at a faster than average pace for job creation. Average salaries for the profession are also increasing, with some of the top salaries in the country topping $80,000. The Washington, D.C. metro area is one of these places, as new and current threats continue to increase the amount of surveillance and security the U.S. needs. On top of that, many private businesses are busy upgrading their networks to keep up with the rising demand of digital privacy and commerce.

Take a look at the following positions to get an idea on the types of jobs Linux certification can help you land.

Systems Administrator

The BLS has recently pumped out some nice data on system administrators, and that's good news for those wanting a secure job with expected growth and a strong salary. According to the BLS, system administrators can expect to make $70,000 annually, with higher positions earning a lot more. Additionally, jobs in this area are expected to grow by about 27 percent through 2020, which is incredible growth compared to other jobs in this same time period.

Basically, there were around 350,000 IT professionals in this field in 2010, which puts the expected amount of jobs in this field in 2020 to around 447,000. That’s around 97,000 jobs per year, or about 265 per day.

Database Administrators

Database administrators are different from systems administrators in that they need to know everything that supports an operating system. In this case, that’s Linux.

Although this position employed around three times fewer people than systems administrators, those in this position could expect to make about $3,000 more per year, or $73,000.

Positions in this field are also expected to grow by a heavier percentage — 31 percent according to the BLS. That’s good for around 145,000 jobs by the time the calendar flips over into the third decade of the 2000s.

Software Developers

Software developers are the bread and butter of the IT world. They’re the ones that help run the world, including software that drive games, applications, traffic, and a host of other things that make life easier. Because of that, 913,000 were employed in 2010 and it’s expected to grow by 30 percent through 2020. That’s nearly 1.2 million software developers running the world.

What makes this job even sweeter is the median salary of $90,000 that most software developers pull in.

Topics: CompTIA, Linux+, Systems Administration, Network Administration, Operating Systems

Ariana Ciancio

Written by Ariana Ciancio

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