Salesforce$167k median pay
20 postings
View jobs ↗ at Salesforce matching Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator
Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator (Plat-Admn-201)
Validates knowledge of configuring and administering a Salesforce org, including security, data management, automation, reporting and Agentforce.
Summary
Salesforce Platform Administrator is for working admins and people moving into admin roles. It tests whether you can configure, secure and run a Salesforce org, from users and sharing to objects, Flow, reports and Agentforce.
Good fit if
- You already work in or around a Salesforce org
- You're moving into a Salesforce admin, RevOps or business systems role
- Job postings for your target role list it
Look elsewhere if
- You want to write Apex code: Platform Developer
- Your organization runs ServiceNow: ServiceNow CSA
- You mainly build reports and dashboards: Tableau Data Analyst
Salary & jobs
396 US job postings ask for Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator, with Salesforce Developer as the most common job title. The median pay is $123k a year; most fall between $100k and $156k.
Top-paying job titles
Most common job titles
| Job title | ||
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer Salesforce | $158k | 9 |
| Salesforce Developer | $114k | 19 |
| Salesforce Business Analyst | $105k | 7 |
| Salesforce Administrator | $98k | 15 |
Top-paying employers
Salesforce
Western Governors University$141k median pay
5 postings
View jobs ↗ at Western Governors University matching Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator
ICF$110k median pay
10 postings
View jobs ↗ at ICF matching Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator| Job title | ||
|---|---|---|
| Salesforce Developer | $114k | 19 |
| Salesforce Administrator | $98k | 15 |
| Software Engineer Salesforce | $158k | 9 |
| Salesforce Business Analyst | $105k | 7 |
| Salesforce Engineer | - | 7 |
| Salesforce Solution Architect | - | 5 |
| Aws Developer | - | 3 |
| Business Systems Analyst | - | 3 |
| Certinia Implementation Consultant | - | 3 |
| Manager Salesforce Data Engineering | - | 3 |
| Sales Operations Analyst | - | 3 |
| Salesforce Analyst | - | 3 |
| Salesforce Solutions Architect | - | 3 |
| Salesforce Technical | - | 3 |
| Administrador De Salesforce | - | 2 |
Top employers
Salesforce20 postings
$167k median pay
Most common title: Solution Engineer
View jobs ↗ at Salesforce matching Salesforce Certified Platform AdministratorICF10 postings
$110k median pay
Most common title: Salesforce Developer
View jobs ↗ at ICF matching Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator
NeuraFlash, Part of Accenture5 postings
Most common title: Aws Developer
View jobs ↗ at NeuraFlash, Part of Accenture matching Salesforce Certified Platform AdministratorWestern Governors University5 postings
$141k median pay
Most common title: Software Engineer Salesforce
View jobs ↗ at Western Governors University matching Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator
Booz Allen4 postings
Most common title: Technical Program Manager
View jobs ↗ at Booz Allen matching Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator
crosscountry-consulting4 postings
Most common title: Salesforce Developer
View jobs ↗ at crosscountry-consulting matching Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator
Axon3 postings
Most common title: Certinia Implementation Consultant
View jobs ↗ at Axon matching Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator
Epicor3 postings
Most common title: Salesforce Architect Quote To Cash
View jobs ↗ at Epicor matching Salesforce Certified Platform AdministratorPrerequisites
Cost
What holders say
Most useful when it formalizes work you already do
People who already use Salesforce as analysts, sales ops or informal admins describe the certification confirming their skills and helping with a title change or raise.
A baseline, not a differentiator
Many admin, junior admin and RevOps postings list it, so holders call it the minimum for Salesforce. Interviewers say the badge alone does not prove someone can explain basic concepts.
Pair it with real org experience
Holders who found a first role describe getting org experience another way, such as a coordinator job that manages a CRM or volunteer admin work for a nonprofit.
Renewal
Platform Administrator stays active as long as you complete one Trailhead maintenance module each year.
- Validity
- Annual maintenance
- Renewal requirement
- Platform Administrator maintenance module on Trailhead
- Renewal fee
- Free
Salesforce publishes the maintenance module for each release cycle with a deadline. If you miss the deadline, the certification expires and you need Salesforce's reinstatement or retake route to get it back.
Maintain your Salesforce certification ↗Alternatives
Salesforce Certified Platform Developer$200 required · Intermediate
For people who want to write Apex and build on the platform rather than configure it.
CSA$300 required · Intermediate
The equivalent first certification if your organization runs ServiceNow.
Tableau Data Analyst$200 required · Entry
For analysts who build reports and dashboards in Tableau.
FAQ
How much does the Salesforce Administrator exam cost?
$200 plus local tax. A retake costs $100.
Do I need experience to take the Salesforce Administrator exam?
No. Anyone can book it. Salesforce recommends six or more months of hands-on admin experience, and a free Developer Edition org lets you practise every topic.
What is the passing score for Salesforce Platform Administrator?
68% for the English exam and 65% for the Japanese exam. The exam has 60 scored questions plus up to five unscored questions in 105 minutes.
How do I maintain my Salesforce Administrator certification?
Complete the free Platform Administrator maintenance module on Trailhead once a year by its deadline. If you miss it, the certification expires.
Is Plat-Admn-201 the same as ADM-201?
Yes. Plat-Admn-201 is the current exam code for the Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator, which was previously called Salesforce Certified Administrator (ADM-201).
Last updated October 2026