Leidos$184k median pay
15 postings
View jobs ↗ at Leidos matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)
Validates knowledge of designing Azure solutions for identity, governance, monitoring, data, business continuity and infrastructure.
Summary
Azure Solutions Architect Expert is Microsoft's design certification for Azure, for people who design solutions and weigh service trade-offs. The AZ-305 exam asks you to recommend identity, governance, monitoring, data, business continuity and infrastructure designs that meet stated requirements.
Good fit if
- You hold AZ-104, or will, and want the expert design certification
- You design Azure solutions and weigh service trade-offs
- Postings you target list AZ-305
Look elsewhere if
- You have not worked hands-on in Azure: AZ-104
- Your employer runs on AWS: AWS Solutions Architect Professional
- You want a vendor-neutral architecture credential: TOGAF Foundation
Salary & jobs
371 US job postings ask for Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, with Cloud Engineer as the most common job title. The median pay is $155k a year; most fall between $131k and $183k.
Top-paying job titles
Most common job titles
| Job title | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Architect | $187k | 8 |
| Cloud Engineer | $135k | 24 |
| Azure Engineer | $135k | 9 |
| Data Engineer | $133k | 5 |
| Azure Platform Engineer | $127k | 6 |
| Azure Cloud Engineer | $125k | 22 |
Top-paying employers
Leidos
3cloud$175k median pay
7 postings
View jobs ↗ at 3cloud matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Peraton$135k median pay
12 postings
View jobs ↗ at Peraton matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Bright Vision Technologies$125k median pay
34 postings
View jobs ↗ at Bright Vision Technologies matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert| Job title | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Engineer | $135k | 24 |
| Azure Cloud Engineer | $125k | 22 |
| Azure Engineer | $135k | 9 |
| Cloud Architect | $187k | 8 |
| Azure Platform Engineer | $127k | 6 |
| Microsoft Cloud Engineer | - | 6 |
| Azure Cloud Architect | - | 5 |
| Azure Infrastructure Engineer | - | 5 |
| Data Engineer | $133k | 5 |
| DevOps Engineer | - | 4 |
| Infrastructure Engineer | - | 4 |
| Microsoft Azure Specialist | - | 4 |
| Software Engineer | - | 4 |
| Application Architect | - | 3 |
| Cloud Infrastructure Architect | - | 3 |
Top employers
Bright Vision Technologies34 postings
$125k median pay
Most common title: Azure Cloud Engineer
View jobs ↗ at Bright Vision Technologies matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect ExpertLeidos15 postings
$184k median pay
Most common title: Cloud Engineer
View jobs ↗ at Leidos matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect ExpertPeraton12 postings
$135k median pay
Most common title: Cloud Engineer
View jobs ↗ at Peraton matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert3cloud7 postings
$175k median pay
Most common title: Architect Enterprise Solutions Architecture
View jobs ↗ at 3cloud matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
ICF4 postings
Most common title: Azure Architect
View jobs ↗ at ICF matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
JCS Solutions LLC4 postings
Most common title: Multi Cloud Engineer Sme Albuquerque Nm
View jobs ↗ at JCS Solutions LLC matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
pwc4 postings
Most common title: Genai Python Systems Engineer Manager
View jobs ↗ at pwc matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
vamonosit4 postings
Most common title: Azure Engineer II
View jobs ↗ at vamonosit matching Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect ExpertPrerequisites
Cost
What holders say
A common route from support into cloud architecture
People in support roles describe AZ-104 followed by AZ-305 as how they moved into infrastructure work, sometimes through an internal promotion. It works best alongside real Azure projects.
Opinions differ on how much it teaches
Some holders call AZ-305 less practical than hands-on Azure exams. Others say its focus on design trade-offs made architecture make sense. Both say it mainly helps get a resume noticed.
Not a shortcut without cloud experience
People without hands-on Azure work say the certification starts conversations but rarely lands a job on its own, and the search can take months.
Certification path
Microsoft requires Azure Administrator Associate before Azure Solutions Architect Expert.
Renewal
Azure Solutions Architect Expert is valid for one year.
- Validity
- 1 year
- Renewal requirement
- Free online assessment
- Renewal fee
- None
The assessment opens six months before expiry on Microsoft Learn, and you can retake it as often as you need before then. AZ-104 renews separately. If AZ-104 expires, your Expert certification does not expire with it.
Microsoft renewal FAQ ↗Alternatives
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional$300 required · Advanced
The closer equivalent if your employer runs on AWS.
PCA$200 required · Advanced
The equivalent design certification for Google Cloud.
AZ-400$330 required · Advanced
The other Azure Expert certification, focused on pipelines and release processes.
FAQ
Do I need AZ-104 before I can take AZ-305?
No. You can take AZ-305 first. Microsoft awards Azure Solutions Architect Expert once you have passed AZ-305 and hold AZ-104.
What happens to my Expert certification if AZ-104 expires?
Nothing automatic. Microsoft says the Expert certification does not expire with its prerequisite. Each one renews separately with its own free assessment.
How much does the AZ-305 exam cost?
$165 in the US. If you do not hold AZ-104 yet, that exam is another $165.
AZ-104 vs AZ-305, which should I take first?
Take AZ-104 first if you can, then work in Azure for a while before AZ-305. The design questions assume hands-on knowledge.
Last updated October 2026