Top Paying Scrum Certifications

A Scrum Certification is an important credential that recognizes your competency in different Scrum project management principles. It can qualify you to become a skilled Scrum Master —a type of project manager who uses the Scrum framework to complete projects for businesses. 

Scrum certifications may not always be necessary to become a project manager; companies often request them in positions that heavily emphasize Agile frameworks. So, what are the top-paying Scrum Certifications you must do? Scroll below to learn about them in detail.

Top and Best Scrum Certifications

Here is a list of the best Scrum Certifications to help you become a professional Scrum Master and lead teams across organizations.

1. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)® Certification

The Certified Scrum Master (CSM)® Certification is conferred by the Scrum Alliance. This certification is recommended for both current and aspiring Scrum team leaders across industries. It is also suitable for any professional who expects to work on cross-functional teams and solve complex problems.

Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM®) and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) certifications are among the more advanced certifications offered to enhance the Certified Scrum Master payscale. 

Requirements:

You need no specific prerequisites for the CSM® certification. However, you must attend a two-day CSM® training under the guidance of a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) to become eligible for the exam.  

Cost:

The cost of the CSM® certification can be different because it depends on the training provider and location. Depending on the specific country or region, you can examine the pricing in various locations.

Cost Summary:

Benefits:

• Understand all the Scrum principles and practices.  
• Engage with different Scrum teams to improve productivity and efficiency.  
• Enhance your communication and leadership skills as a Scrum Master.  
• Increase your employability in the job market and earn recognition. 

Average Salary of a Certified Scrum Master:

2. Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO®)  

The Certified Scrum Product Owner®(CSPO) certification courseCertified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO) course will certify your ability to maximize the value of a product usually created by any development team. The certification tests your understanding related to the Product Owner's Learning Path and also analyzes your capacity to apply and interpret the complete Scrum Guide.

Requirements:

There are no specific requirements for the CSPO® certification. Yet, you must undergo a two-day CSPO training led by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) to get a certified Scrum professional salary, including the certificate. 

Cost: 

This particular certification also varies depending on the training and location. The following is the cost of CSPO® certification training depending on different geographical locations worldwide.

Cost Summary:

Benefits:

• Get an understanding of the Scrum Product Owner role.
• Learn techniques to deliver valuable product increments.  
• Develop the skills to negotiate or communicate with stakeholders.   
• Fulfill customer's needs to drive business value through product development.  

Average Salary of a Certified Scrum Product Owner:

3. Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM I) Certification 

The Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM I) Certification is the highest Scrum certification offered by Scrum.org, an organization. This certification validates your understanding of the Scrum framework, including the different ways to apply it. 

The PSM I is the first level of Scrum certification. You can also take the PSM II or PSM III for more complex Scrum processes.

Requirements: 

There are no prerequisites for the PSM™ I certification. That is why it is accessible to individuals at various experience levels. However, you must understand Scrum principles well if you attempt this particular exam.  

Cost: 

Here is a look at the detailed cost structure of the PSM™ I certification, making it one of the best Scrum certifications.

Cost Summary:

Benefits:

• Strengthen your coaching skills to support Scrum teams.  
• Showcase your understanding of leadership skills and Scrum principles. 
• Become a highly skilled Scrum Master to enhance your career aspects. 
• Join Scrum.org with other qualified and experienced Scrum professionals.

Average Salary of a Professional Scrum Master:

4. Advanced Certified ScrumMaster℠ (A-CSM℠)  

The (A-CSM℠) certification is designed for Scrum Masters who want to advance their expertise and take their skills to the next level. It can help you boost your advanced techniques to support teams and make necessary changes to the organization. This certification further helps you improve your Scrum expertise and play an important role in your organization's shift towards agility.

Requirements:

You must hold an active CSM® certification from Scrum Alliance to be eligible for the A-CSM℠ certification. You must also complete the mandatory A-CSM℠ training before attempting the exam. 

Cost: 

Given below is the detailed cost structure of the Advanced Certified Scrum Master℠ (A-CSM℠) certification course that often varies depending on the training provider and location.

Cost Summary:

Benefits:

• Gain specialized skills to overcome challenges stakeholders and other Scrum teams face.
• Guide teams toward higher performance by enhancing your coaching abilities. 
• Enhance your career growth opportunities to increase your value as a Scrum Master.

Average Salary of an Advanced Certified Scrum Master® (CSM®):

5. Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO)  

The PSPO certification is designed specifically for product owners. You can choose this certification if you want to excel in your role and deliver maximum value to customers and stakeholders. It enhances your knowledge and skills necessary for product owners to manage product backlogs and work as per priority.

Requirements:

The PSPO certification does not have specific prerequisites. However, you must understand Scrum principles well to be eligible for the same. You must also have practical experience as a product owner before attempting the exam. 

Cost:

Below is a table that outlines the training costs for the PSPO certification in various significant countries for your reference.

Cost Summary:

Benefits:

• Showcase your ability as a product owner to ensure the accurate delivery of products. 
• Maximize product value as per client feedback by learning advanced Scrum techniques. 
• Develop skills for better collaboration with colleagues and team members. 

Average Salary of a Professional Scrum Product Owner:

6. SAFe® 6.0 Scrum Master Certification  

Getting SAFe® Scrum Master (SSM) certified might be what you are looking for if you want to become a Scrum Master in an organization that practices Agile, Lean or DevOps concepts at a large scale. It is among the top Scrum Master certifications. 

Scaled Agile administers this particular certification. You will learn the tools you need to work with teams that are fully remote in addition to getting acquainted with Scrum through this certification.

Requirements:

There are no specific requirements to attain a SAFe® Scrum Master (SSM) certification. However, you must attend the course provided by the certified trainer before taking the exam.

Cost:

The below table represents the SAFe® Scrum Master certification fee, including the exam price in different countries:

Cost Summary:

Benefits:

• Understand the role of Scrum Master in SAFe along with other Agile principles. 
• Learn to organize program-level events and support Scrum teams.
• Learn to implement the Scrum framework in large-scale Agile environments. 

Average Salary of a SAFe Scrum Master:

7. PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI - ACP)® 

This PMI-ACP certification helps you become a skilled Agile professional by enhancing your expertise in Agile principles and practices. You also learn a broad spectrum of Agile methodologies as a part of this course. 

Requirements:

You must have experience in Agile project management and formal training in Agile practices to be eligible for the PMI - ACP® certification.

Cost:

The cost of Agile Certified Practitioner Certification is different based on the specific mode of the exam and membership status.

Benefits:

• Gain knowledge of various Agile methodologies, including Kanban and Lean.
• Learn to adapt Agile practices based on the project requirements. 
• Gain recognition as a skilled Agile practitioner. 
• Enhance your career prospects in the field of Agile environment and project management. 

Average Salary of a PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner:

In Conclusion

Learning Scrum concepts can be beneficial to business analysts, project managers, product owners, and other professionals who work with Scrum teams. If you want a basic or advanced introduction to Scrum, consider enrolling in the Simpliaxis courses. These top Scrum certifications are your best resort to getting the highest-paying scrum master jobs.

We have already examined some of the top Scrum Master certifications of 2023 and beyond. The certifications are tailored to certain jobs, including degrees of knowledge. Hence, consider your job objectives and experience level before choosing the certification that suits your career objectives.