Are you looking to change careers or broaden your tech knowledge? Then you might want to know more about Salesforce and Salesforce certifications.
Given everything that Salesforce offers to businesses of all sizes, it comes as no surprise that IDC ranked Salesforce as the #1 CRM provider for the 10th consecutive year in 2023.
And with the latest Mason Frank Salesforce Career and Hiring Guide showing that Salesforce Developers in the US can earn up to $178,000 USD per year (depending on their experience and location), it’s also no surprise that so many people are cross-training into Salesforce to earn their first few certifications. Of course, if Developer roles don’t sound quite like your thing, Salesforce offers plenty of other career paths to explore.
The certifications themselves have become increasingly valuable within the Salesforce ecosystem. The aforementioned Mason Frank survey estimates that over 82% of professionals hold at least one, a number that has steadily crept up over the last few years. And little wonder, as Salesforce certifications can dictate what role you hold within the Salesforce ecosystem, with 86% of Salesforce professionals agreeing that certifications make you a more valuable candidate.
But what’s the quickest and most effective way into the industry? With so many Salesforce certification programs on offer, which one will lead you to the right career path? If you’re interested in learning Salesforce, understanding which Salesforce certifications are right for you is an important first step. So, let’s find out!
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Certification breakdown and salary
To help you choose the right Salesforce certification, here‘s a summary of top three specialist careers within Salesforce, complete with expected salaries for certified individuals, and the certifications you’ll need to get there.
What is Salesforce? At a glance
Over 150,000 organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, use Salesforce to streamline their operations. Spotify, Uber Eats, Santander, Heathrow, and Schneider Electric are just a few to mention.
Mercedes-Benz, for example, teamed up with Salesforce to deliver highly personalized customer experiences. The German automotive brand experienced a 160% increase in email click-through rates per year just by implementing Salesforce Customer 360.
The group ENGIE, on the other hand, used Salesforce to connect its teams around the world and grow customer relationships, while reducing its carbon footprint.
Salesforce has been a leading provider of customer relationship management (CRM) services for several years now, with a market share of 22.9% in 2022. For comparison, Microsoft, Salesforce’s closest competitor in the CRM space, had a market share of 5.8%. What makes Salesforce stand out is its wide range of CRM solutions aimed at small businesses and large companies alike.
First of all, the platform is easy to use and customize. Second, it relies on a secure cloud infrastructure that allows you to access and retrieve data from anywhere at any time. Third, it offers some of the most advanced reporting and automation tools on the market.
Companies of all shapes and sizes can use Salesforce to:
- Understand and predict consumer behavior
- Reach customers at every step of their journey
- Make data-driven decisions
- Leverage customer data to deliver highly personalized experiences
- Automate time-consuming tasks and workflows
- Identify and track sales opportunities
- Build apps or customize parts of an application
- Streamline collaboration across teams and departments
Salesforce also offers custom solutions for businesses in financial, manufacturing, retail, and healthcare industries. Plus, it can be used along with Slack, Zendesk, SAP Business Suite, and other apps, allowing companies to access and manage their data in one centralized location.
Why start a career in Salesforce?
In today’s digital market, most organizations are seeking ways to optimize their workflows and manage data more effectively, which is something that Salesforce is exceptionally good at.
As the world’s #1 CRM choice, Salesforce has plenty of customers. So if you have a good understanding of the platform, you can build a career in just about any industry, through Salesforce.
Put simply, the demand for Salesforce professionals currently outstrips the supply. So the Salesforce ecosystem is a candidate-driven market.
This is great news for job seekers, as those with a strong knowledge of the platform can earn amazing salaries, plus other perks!
On top of this, Salesforce professionals can develop the skills needed to transition to other roles, while on the job.
For example, if you are a digital marketer, you may pursue a Salesforce certification program that would allow you to work as a Salesforce Industries Consultant.
As you gain experience, you may pursue further certifications and specialize in other areas. This would not only increase your earning potential but also open doors to new career pathways.
If you’re self-employed, Salesforce certifications can allow you to expand your services and even charge higher rates.
Are Salesforce certifications worth it?
What is the average Salesforce certification cost and, more importantly – is the training actually worth the effort?
If you have a background in Salesforce applications, you may be wondering whether you need a certificate to prove your worth in the industry. Equally, if you’re new to Salesforce, you may be asking yourself if the time and effort invested in the training will actually pay off in the long run?
Mason Frank surveyed professionals from across the Salesforce ecosystem for their latest Careers and Hiring Guide, covering 130,000 unique data points. Out of all respondents, 82% held at least one certification. A further 86% of respondents who held a certification also believed that certifications made them more marketable, and post-certification employees saw a 20% increase in their annual salary.
And while salary increase is important, certifications offer benefits beyond this, such as new skills, more industry knowledge, improved work performance and efficiency, higher productivity, and greater confidence.
Furthermore, 37% of those surveyed have cross-trained to work with Salesforce. And if you’re considering switching to Salesforce but don’t have a university degree in a related discipline, you’ll be pleased to know that over half of the survey’s respondents (58%) don’t think you need a degree to work with Salesforce.
While certifications are essential for making that switch, if you really wish to stand out in the job market and build an amazing career in Salesforce, then gaining hands-on experience is crucial. The huge demand for Salesforce professionals means that you don’t even have to pay to get certified or spend months applying for jobs in Salesforce that match your skills.
At Revolent, we specialize in finding and cross-training motivated professionals, all while securing a job placement. So, you get to earn while you learn, applying and developing your fresh skills on the job! We’ll give you full help and support to tackle your Salesforce certification exam with confidence.
And that’s not where the journey ends. With hubs located in the US, Canada, EMEA, and Australia, you’d be joining a growing global community of ‘Revols’ with ongoing opportunities for skills development and networking.
Salesforce Business Analyst
Certification breakdown and salary
What does the Salesforce Business Analyst role involve?
As the name suggests, Business Analysts are data-driven and organized. They’re excellent communicators with a creative spark who work with a range of stakeholders to analyze, discuss, present, and implement new solutions that make a business thrive. Their day-to-day tasks can range from having discovery meetings with clients to creating data flow diagrams to help teams better understand their proposed solutions, to training team members and documenting processes to help the business implement these changes.
What are the Salesforce Business Analyst salary expectations?
In the US, you can earn around $97,000 to $135,000 USD in a junior role, or up to $154,500 USD in a senior role.
In the UK, you could expect to earn between £73,750 and £85,750 in a senior role.
In Australia, salaried pay tends to fall in the region of $145,500 AUD to $168,750+ AUD for a senior Business Analyst role.
In Canada, a senior Business Analyst can expect to earn between $115,750 – $148,000 CAD.
Which Salesforce certification should I get?
If you’re thinking about becoming a Salesforce Business Analyst, then it’s crucial to get the Salesforce Admin certification that will give you a foundational knowledge of the Salesforce platform, including how to customize and configure it, how to manage users, and harness its full potential.
But to become a Business Analyst you need more than certifications. To get onto this lucrative career path, you also need practical experience and a range of crucial consultancy skills – all of which we provide as part of our fully-funded Revolent Business Analyst cross-training program.
Salesforce Developer
Certification breakdown and salary
What does the Salesforce Developer role involve?
The focus of this role is on building coded solutions. Generally speaking, the best Salesforce Developers love solving problems, can present multiple solutions to fix issues, and have some background in IT. Depending on the job, you may have to create and optimize workflows, analyze project outcomes, suggest software upgrades, test applications, and more.
As this is a more technical role, experience with Java, JavaScript, C#,
PHP, Python, C and C++ is highly desirable. However, you don’t need to be an expert to learn something new. If you have a background in IT and a passion for learning, then becoming a Salesforce Developer might be the right path for you.
What are the Salesforce Developer salary expectations?
In the US, a junior Salesforce Developer can expect to make between $100,000 and $129,000 USD per year. And senior Developers often earn up to $190,000 USD per year.
In the UK, a senior Salesforce Developer can expect to earn anywhere between £79,750 and £99,250 per year.
And in Australia, a senior Salesforce Developer could earn between $161,750 AUD and $185,750 AUD per year.
In Canada, a senior Salesforce Developer can expect to earn between $140,750 – $174,250 CAD.
Which Salesforce certification should I get?
There are 8 types of certifications on the Salesforce certifications list for aspiring Salesforce Developers:
- B2C Commerce Developer
- Industries CPQ Developer
- JavaScript Developer I
- Marketing Cloud Developer
- OmniStudio Developer
- Platform App Builder
- Platform Developer I
- Platform Developer II
Each certification has different requirements and will provide a different specialism. After you complete your training, you should have the skills and expertise to build Salesforce apps across various platforms. This will allow you to design custom solutions for different types of businesses. Ready to get started as a Salesforce Developer? Then check out our fully-funded cross-training program.
Salesforce Industries Consultant
Certification breakdown and salary
What does the Salesforce Industries Consultant role involve?
Salesforce Consultants are in high demand too. Their role is to find technical solutions to complex business challenges. Salesforce Consultants can specialize further, as Salesforce Industries Consultants, Field Service Consultants, or Marketing Cloud Consultants. Let’s take a closer look at the Salesforce Industries Consultant role.
What are the Salesforce Industries Consultant salary expectations?
In the US, a junior Salesforce Consultant can earn anywhere between $117,000 and $143,750 USD per year. And those in senior positions can make up to $166,000 USD per year. Independent contractors, on the other hand, can charge anywhere between $100 and $150 USD per hour, depending on their expertise.
In the UK, a senior Salesforce Consultant can make anywhere between £59,500 and £82,250 per year.
In Australia, the salary expectation for a senior Salesforce Consultant can be anywhere between $145,000 AUD and $168,500 AUD, or more!
And in Canada, a senior Salesforce Consultant can fetch anywhere between $118,250 – $141,500+ CAD.
Which Salesforce certification should I get?
There are currently 11 options on the Salesforce certifications list for aspiring Salesforce Consultants:
- Consultant
- Nonprofit Cloud Consultant
- OmniStudio Consultant
- Pardot Consultant
- Sales Cloud Consultant
- Tableau CRM & Einstein Discovery
- Experience Cloud Consultant
- Education Cloud Consultant
- Field Service Consultant
- Marketing Cloud Consultant
- Service Cloud Consultant
Most of these certification programs require previous work experience in a customer-facing role or a broad knowledge of Salesforce applications. If you’re looking to get started as a Salesforce Industries Consultant, why not take a look at our fully-funded cross-training program?
Which Salesforce certification should I get first?
With so many Salesforce certification programs on offer, it’s only right to ask which Salesforce certification is best for you. The answer to that question depends on what type of Salesforce career you wish to enter and grow.
Having said that, the Salesforce Administrator certification will form the basis of more advanced training courses. Your professional background matters too. For example, it’s much easier to become a Marketing Cloud Consultant if you already have some knowledge of Salesforce apps.
But no matter your experience, you have the freedom to design your own career path and work your way to the top. If you’re not sure, consider your salary expectations and your strengths, as well as what you enjoy doing day-to-day. To help you choose, we’ve put together this handy Salesforce careers guide.
How long do Salesforce certifications last?
All Salesforce certified professionals are required to undertake one maintenance module per year to keep their certification valid and current.
So, if you currently hold a certification, it’s important to check your Salesforce certification expiration date. But don’t worry; Salesforce will contact you to let you know when it’s time to complete your maintenance module, and you’ll get plenty of notice.
If you fail to complete your maintenance module by your assigned date, your certification will expire. It’s also worth noting that the expiry of one certification can affect the status of another.
For example, the Salesforce Administrator certification often serves as a pre-requisite for many other, more advanced certifications.
If your Salesforce Administrator certificate expires, then any certifications supported by this module, such as Advanced Administrator or Sales Cloud Consultant, will automatically expire too. Head over to the Salesforce Trailhead website to find out more.
How to earn your first Salesforce certification
The Salesforce certification path can serve as a roadmap for career development. If you’re interesting in earning your first certification, we fully recommend that you assess your skills to determine where you are at right now, and plan your next steps.
In our opinion, the best Salesforce certification for beginners is the Salesforce Administrator credential.
Once you have completed this certification, you’ll be on a good path. For example, you could complete further training to become either an Advanced Administrator, Marketing Cloud Administrator, or CPQ Specialist, which can lead to a career as a Salesforce Platform App Builder.
Most organizations using Salesforce need an Administrator to maintain the platform and keep things running smoothly. So, being a Salesforce Admin is a great job in its own right!
However, nothing would be stopping you from taking your learning further and working towards a new role in Salesforce. As a certified Administrator, you’ll have the foundation skills needed to work towards whatever role most suits you.
If, say, you have a background in app development, you can take the steps needed to become a B2C Commerce Developer.
The certification program requires a broad knowledge of customizing Salesforce—and that’s something every Administrator is familiar with.
The courses can be completed online, which allows you to study at your own pace. Except for the Salesforce Architect certification, all programs have a registration fee of $200 (US dollars) and include everything you need to prepare for the exam. If you don’t pass the test, you can try again.
The Salesforce Administrator certification program, for example, features user guides, self-study materials, tip sheets, and other helpful resources. You can also join the Trailblazer Community and find a mentor or study buddy. Another option is to enrol in the Trailhead Academy and attend in-person or virtual classes.
Once you have completed training, you may take the exam online. The test consists of multiple-choice and open-ended questions, with a time limit of 90 minutes or longer, depending on the credential you are seeking.
Salesforce certifications are globally recognized, meaning that you can use them to find work anywhere in the world. Just make sure you complete at least one Trailhead maintenance module per year to keep your credentials current.
How to land your first role in Salesforce
It’s true that Salesforce offers excellent career opportunities, regardless of your professional background or work experience. But if you’re interested in a career in Salesforce, you’ll need training and placement as well as certifications.
While many organizations offer Salesforce training, few provide the all-important commercial experience that companies look for in a new candidate.
And while Salesforce certifications are definitely a requirement, you’ll still need practical experience to truly stand out in the Salesforce hiring crowd. Employers want to see how you can leverage your skills to grow their business and bring value to the team.
At Revolent, we offer the best of both worlds. Our mission is to recruit, cross-train, and place top talent in technology-driven roles.
All new hires complete an intensive, fully-funded training program, led by our expert Salesforce training team. After which, they will sit their exams for their first few Salesforce certifications (which, again, are fully funded by us!).
Once certified, our trained Salesforce professionals (known as ‘Revols’) get the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience working with our world-class client list, and to gain hands-on experience as a Salesforce professional. Our clients include market-leading companies, tech giants, and other Salesforce end-users.
The training is paid for by us, as are the costs for sitting your certifications. And, of course, you’re paid a proper salary while working with clients.
Ready to take your career to new heights?
