I’m looking to start a career in tech and want to know which skill offers the quickest "return on investment." Between Python, SQL, Excel, and AWS, which one typically leads to the highest starting salary in America right now? I want to focus my time on the skill that HR managers are most desperate to find and willing to pay a premium for immediately.
3 answers
If you are looking for the absolute highest starting floor, AWS (Amazon Web Services) generally leads the pack. While Excel and SQL are foundational and required for thousands of roles, they are often seen as "baseline" skills that come with a standard analyst salary (typically $65k-$80k). However, a Cloud Practitioner or Solutions Architect with an AWS certification can often command an entry-level salary closer to $90k-$110k in major US hubs like Austin or Seattle. Python is versatile and pays well in Data Science, but the learning curve is steeper than cloud infrastructure, where you can get certified and job-ready in a few months.
Megan, do you think the market for AWS is becoming oversaturated with beginners who just have the Cloud Practitioner cert but no actual hands-on Linux or networking experience?
Excel is the fastest to learn, but AWS definitely has the highest ceiling. I spent three months on cloud labs and doubled my previous salary as a coordinator.
I agree with Justin. While SQL is used in almost every job, AWS is specialized. As Daniel Foster asked about speed, you can't beat the ROI of cloud. Most American firms are migrating everything to the cloud, so the demand for even junior AWS talent is still outstripping the supply of qualified workers.
Christopher, that is a valid concern! Many people get the "paper" without the "practice." In the US, companies are wising up to this. To get that high AWS starting pay, you need to show you can actually build a VPC or manage S3 buckets. If you combine your AWS knowledge with basic Python scripting, you become twice as valuable because you can automate the infrastructure you’re building. That's where the real "fast money" is in DevOps right now.