Peraton$176k median pay
42 postings
View jobs ↗ at Peraton matching AWS Certified Developer – Associate
AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02)
Validates knowledge of developing, securing, deploying, troubleshooting and optimizing cloud applications using AWS services.
Summary
AWS Certified Developer Associate is for people who already code and want to show they can write, deploy and debug applications on AWS. It tests how you use services such as Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, SQS and CloudFormation, including security.
Good fit if
- You write application code that runs on AWS
- You want a development credential, not an architecture one
- You plan to go on to DevOps Engineer Professional
Look elsewhere if
- You design systems more than you write code: AWS Solutions Architect Associate
- You are new to programming and AWS: AWS Cloud Practitioner
- You build mainly on Azure: AI-200 or AZ-104
Salary & jobs
132 US job postings ask for AWS Certified Developer – Associate, with Full Stack Developer as the most common job title. The median pay is $154k a year; most fall between $135k and $179k.
Top-paying job titles
Most common job titles
| Job title | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Software Engineer | $205k | 5 |
| Cloud Software Engineer Ts Sci W Poly | $163k | 6 |
| Full Stack Developer | $158k | 8 |
| Software Engineer | $142k | 8 |
Top-paying employers
Peraton| Job title | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full Stack Developer | $158k | 8 |
| Software Engineer | $142k | 8 |
| Cloud Engineer | - | 6 |
| Cloud Software Engineer Ts Sci W Poly | $163k | 6 |
| Cloud Software Engineer | $205k | 5 |
| Software Developer | - | 4 |
| Aws Developer | - | 3 |
| DevSecOps Engineer | - | 3 |
| Aws Cloud Engineer | - | 2 |
| Aws Consultant | - | 2 |
| Aws Solution Architect | - | 2 |
| Aws Technical Architect | - | 2 |
| Cleared Onsite Cloud Developer | - | 2 |
| Cloud Software Engineer Advisor | - | 2 |
| Cloud Software Engineer AI Ml Project Top Secret Sci W Poly | - | 2 |
Top employers
Peraton42 postings
$176k median pay
Most common title: Cloud Software Engineer Ts Sci W Poly
View jobs ↗ at Peraton matching AWS Certified Developer – Associate
NeuraFlash, Part of Accenture5 postings
Most common title: Aws Developer
View jobs ↗ at NeuraFlash, Part of Accenture matching AWS Certified Developer – Associate
CACI4 postings
Most common title: Mid Full Stack Developer
View jobs ↗ at CACI matching AWS Certified Developer – Associate
Electrosoft4 postings
Most common title: Developer Ops And Sustainment
View jobs ↗ at Electrosoft matching AWS Certified Developer – Associate
BDR Solutions, LLC3 postings
Most common title: Backend Developer
View jobs ↗ at BDR Solutions, LLC matching AWS Certified Developer – Associate
DecisionPoint Corporation3 postings
Most common title: Integration Developer
View jobs ↗ at DecisionPoint Corporation matching AWS Certified Developer – Associate
FOX3 postings
Most common title: Developer Back End
View jobs ↗ at FOX matching AWS Certified Developer – Associate
Guidehouse3 postings
Most common title: Full Stack Developer
View jobs ↗ at Guidehouse matching AWS Certified Developer – AssociatePrerequisites
Cost
What holders say
Helps early-career developers stand out
Students and junior developers say it helps them stand out a little against applicants with similar experience, especially with a few personal projects to discuss.
Interviews still test what you have built
The most repeated warning is that technical interviews expose a certification without project work behind it. Holders describe it as a baseline that helps alongside real AWS experience.
The preparation fills gaps for working developers
Developers who already use AWS describe the study as a way to learn services and settings they had not touched at work, such as deployment strategies and Cognito.
Certification path
AWS recommends Cloud Practitioner first if you are new to IT. Its roadmap adds Machine Learning Engineer Associate for AI/ML work.
Renewal
AWS Developer Associate is valid for three years.
- Validity
- 3 years
- Renew by exam
- Developer Associate or DevOps Engineer Professional
- Retake with 50% voucher
- $75 USD
With an active Skill Builder subscription, the Maintain route extends the certification by one year through training within 90 days of expiry.
AWS recertification options ↗Alternatives
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate$150 required · Intermediate
The broader AWS Associate exam, focused on designing systems rather than writing the code.
AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate$150 required · Intermediate
The AWS Associate for people who build data pipelines rather than applications.
AI-200$165 required · Intermediate
Microsoft's developer certification if you build on Azure.
FAQ
Is DVA-C02 being retired?
Yes. 30 November 2026 is the last day to take DVA-C02. DVA-C03 registration opens on 27 October 2026 and its exams start on 1 December 2026. Both versions earn the same certification.
What changes in DVA-C03?
The four domains stay, reweighted to 30%, 26%, 22% and 22%. AWS adds AI-assisted development across all domains, a new AI security task and more container content (ECS, EKS and Fargate). The format, price and passing score stay the same.
Should I take Developer Associate or Solutions Architect Associate first?
Take Developer Associate first if you write application code every day. Take Solutions Architect Associate if you design systems or want the broadest AWS credential.
How do I renew AWS Developer Associate?
Pass the latest Developer Associate exam or DevOps Engineer Professional within three years. With an active Skill Builder subscription, you can also extend it by one year through training in the last 90 days.
Last updated October 2026