McKesson$191k median pay
5 postings
View jobs ↗ at McKesson matching ACE
Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer (ACE)
Validates knowledge of setting up, deploying, operating and securing Google Cloud environments, including access and security configuration.
Summary
Associate Cloud Engineer is Google Cloud's hands-on associate certification for deploying, running and securing Google Cloud environments. It suits people who set up projects, compute, storage, networking and access day to day, and the exam asks which service or configuration fits a scenario.
Good fit if
- You deploy or run workloads on Google Cloud
- You want a first Google Cloud certification that tests practical work
- You have some networking, Linux or Kubernetes background
Look elsewhere if
- You design whole systems with years of cloud experience: Professional Cloud Architect
- Your employer runs on AWS: AWS Solutions Architect Associate
- Your employer runs on Azure: AZ-104
Salary & jobs
37 US job postings ask for ACE, with Account Technology Strategist as the most common job title. The median pay is $138k a year; most fall between $131k and $177k.
Top-paying job titles
Most common job titles
| Job title |
|---|
Top-paying employers
McKesson| Job title | ||
|---|---|---|
| Account Technology Strategist | - | 3 |
| AI Ops Engineer | - | 1 |
| Assistant Vice President Enterprise Architecture Consulting Gcp | - | 1 |
| Associate Cloud AI Engineer Ts Sci Clearance Travel | - | 1 |
| Bt System Engineer III | - | 1 |
| Cloud AI Engineer Travel Role | - | 1 |
| Cloud AI Engineer Ts Sci Clearance Travel Role | - | 1 |
| Cloud Engineer | - | 1 |
| Cloud Engineer Contract | - | 1 |
| Cloud Operations Reliability Engineer | - | 1 |
| Cloud Security Operations Engineer | - | 1 |
| Content Security Engineer | - | 1 |
| Cyber Threat Detection Response Analyst | - | 1 |
| Cybersecurity Architect | - | 1 |
| Cybersecurity Engineer | - | 1 |
Top employers
McKesson5 postings
$191k median pay
Most common title: Cybersecurity Architect
View jobs ↗ at McKesson matching ACE
PGTEK3 postings
Most common title: Associate Cloud AI Engineer Ts Sci Clearance Travel
View jobs ↗ at PGTEK matching ACE
Consolidated Edison2 postings
Most common title: Systems Manager Google Cloud Platform Enterprise Data Analytics
View jobs ↗ at Consolidated Edison matching ACE
Photon2 postings
Most common title: Gcp For Cloud Ops Springfield
View jobs ↗ at Photon matching ACE
The Planet Group2 postings
Most common title: Network Engineer II Cisco Cloud Infrastructure
View jobs ↗ at The Planet Group matching ACE
genpact2 postings
Most common title: Technology Business Partner 3
View jobs ↗ at genpact matching ACE
tibco2 postings
Most common title: Account Technology Strategist
View jobs ↗ at tibco matching ACE
5401 postings
Most common title: Cloud Engineer
View jobs ↗ at 540 matching ACEPrerequisites
Cost
What holders say
Most useful early in a cloud career
People with limited resumes describe Google Cloud certifications as a tiebreaker and quick proof of baseline knowledge. Those with years of hands-on work say the certificate itself matters much less.
Experienced engineers are expected to go further
A holder with ten years of GCP use who passed in 2026 was told employers expect Professional Cloud Architect at that level, and found few Google Cloud roles in an AWS-heavy region.
Preparation fills real gaps
Holders describe the preparation as a structured way to learn networking, Kubernetes and IAM that their day-to-day Google Cloud work had not covered.
Certification path
Google Cloud describes Associate Cloud Engineer as a path to its Professional certifications.
Renewal
Associate Cloud Engineer is valid for 3 years.
- Validity
- 3 years
- Renewal exam
- $75 USD 20 questions in 1 hour; adds 3 years
- Google Skills route
- Designated courses or skill badges Adds 1 year
The renewal exam opens 180 days before your certification expires and the Google Skills route opens one year before. You can also retake the standard exam. Google gives you a 50% discount code for your renewal attempt when you first certify.
Google Cloud renewal options ↗Alternatives
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate$150 required · Intermediate
The comparable associate step on AWS, with more emphasis on architecture choices.
AZ-104$165 required · Intermediate
The operations-focused associate certification for Azure.
PCA$200 required · Advanced
The next Google Cloud step if you design solutions rather than run them.
FAQ
How much does the Associate Cloud Engineer exam cost?
$125 plus tax. A retake costs the same. When you certify, Google gives you a 50% discount code for your renewal attempt.
Are there prerequisites for Associate Cloud Engineer?
No. Anyone 18 or older can book it. Google recommends at least six months of hands-on Google Cloud experience.
How long is Associate Cloud Engineer valid?
Three years. Renew with the $75 renewal exam, which adds three years, or with designated Google Skills courses in your final year, which add one year.
Does the Associate Cloud Engineer exam have labs?
No. It is 50 to 60 multiple choice and multiple select questions in two hours. Hands-on practice still helps because the questions describe real configuration choices.
Last updated October 2026