ML AI
2025 Comparison

AWS Machine Learning vs Azure AI Engineer

Compare AWS ML Specialty and Azure AI Engineer Associate certifications for machine learning careers.

Side-by-Side Comparison
Salary Insights
Expert Verdict

AWS Machine Learning - Specialty

Amazon Web Services

Difficulty
Specialty
Duration180 minutes
Cost$300 USD
Valid For3 years
Salary Range$140,000 - $200,000

Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)

Microsoft

Difficulty
Associate
Duration120 minutes
Cost$165 USD
Valid For1 year (renewal)
Salary Range$120,000 - $175,000
Detailed Comparison

Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

Compare all aspects of these certifications side by side

FeatureAWS Machine Learning - SpecialtyAzure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)
ProviderAmazon Web ServicesMicrosoft
Difficulty Level
Specialty
Associate
Exam Duration180 minutes120 minutes
Exam Cost$300 USD$165 USD
Exam Format65 questions40-60 questions + labs
Prerequisites2+ years ML experiencePython/C# experience
Validity Period3 years1 year (renewal)
Ideal ForML engineers, data scientists on AWSAI developers using Azure services
Salary Range$140,000 - $200,000$120,000 - $175,000
Coverage Areas

What Each Certification Covers

Key topics and domains covered in each exam

AWS Machine Learning - Specialty Focus Areas

  • SageMaker
  • Data Engineering
  • Modeling
  • ML Implementation
  • Operations

Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) Focus Areas

  • Azure Cognitive Services
  • Azure Bot Service
  • Azure ML
  • Computer Vision
  • NLP
Expert Verdict

Our Recommendation

AWS ML is more technical/deep; Azure AI focuses on pre-built cognitive services.

Choose AWS Machine Learning - Specialty

Choose AWS ML Specialty for custom model building with SageMaker.

Choose Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)

Choose Azure AI Engineer for implementing pre-built AI services.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: AWS Machine Learning - Specialty or Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)?

AWS ML is more technical/deep; Azure AI focuses on pre-built cognitive services.

What are the salary differences between AWS Machine Learning - Specialty?

AWS Machine Learning - Specialty typically offers salaries around $140,000 - $200,000, while Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) offers $120,000 - $175,000.

Which certification should I get first?

Choose AWS ML Specialty for custom model building with SageMaker. Choose Azure AI Engineer for implementing pre-built AI services.

How long does it take to prepare for these certifications?

Preparation time varies based on experience. Most candidates spend 4-12 weeks studying, depending on their background and the certification difficulty level.

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