Picking between AZ-104 and AZ-204 can get confusing fast, especially when considering the various azure certifications available . They’re both popular Azure certs, they’re both “associate level,” and they both look good on a resume. But they lead to totally different kinds of jobs.
If you’re stuck wondering which one fits your goals or whether it’s worth doing both to become microsoft certified azure , you’re in the right place. By the end, you’ll know exactly which one makes more sense for your career (and if you even need the other one at all).
Comparison
| Feature | AZ-204 (Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure) | AZ-104 (Microsoft Azure Administrator) |
| Full Name | Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure | Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate |
| Prerequisites | Basic programming and Azure knowledge | Basic networking, virtualization, and Azure knowledge |
| Exam Code | AZ-204 | AZ-104 |
| Difficulty Level | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Topics Covered | Azure development, app services, cloud storage, security, monitoring | Azure administration, networking, security, identity management |
| Number of Exams | 1 | 1 |
| Career Level | Associate-level | Associate-level |
| Job Roles | Azure Developer, Cloud Engineer, Software Engineer | Azure Administrator, Cloud Engineer, Systems Administrator |
| Validity | 1 year | 1 year |
| Cost | Approx. $165 | Approx. $165 |
What’s AZ-104 really about, and who actually needs it?
If your job leans toward keeping Azure up and running, not building fancy stuff from scratch, and managing various azure resources AZ-104 is probably the lane you’re in. This cert’s all about managing, maintaining, and monitoring Azure-based environments. It’s for the folks who are more concerned about keeping the cloud stable rather than shipping new code to it. Think infrastructure, not innovation.
Usually, people who go for AZ-104 are in IT already. They’ve worked with servers, maybe messed with Active Directory, spun up VMs, or managed on-prem systems and now they’re moving into cloud-heavy roles. Not necessarily devs. More like sysadmins, network admins, and techs who wanna stay hands-on but shift toward cloud infra instead of racking and stacking hardware all day.
It’s also a solid cert for anyone who’s in hybrid roles, still partly tied to on-prem stuff, but dealing with cloud-based resources more and more. It’s the one cert that gives you just enough Azure to do your job properly without throwing you into full-on development.
What does AZ-104 actually prep you to do?
This isn’t one of those certs that teaches broad ideas without backing it up by covering azure fundamentals . It gets pretty specific. Microsoft structured AZ-104 around actual admin tasks you’d be doing in a real-world Azure environment.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll end up learning and using:
- Managing Azure identities and governance
You’ll get deep into Azure AD users, groups, RBAC (role-based access control), Conditional Access, policy assignments. Stuff that directly affects how secure and manageable your environment is. Not just creating users, configuring them to not break things. - Implementing and managing storage
Think storage accounts, blobs, containers, shared access signatures. How to create them, how to lock them down, and how to automate provisioning for scale. - Deploying and managing Azure compute resources
This is where you deal with VMs, scale sets, availability sets, and more. You’ll be spinning things up, shutting them down, setting up auto-scaling. Azure CLI and PowerShell show up a lot here. - Configuring virtual networking
Subnets, network security groups, load balancers, firewalls- it’s all part of it. You’ll learn how to set up internal networks, route traffic securely, and make sure the architecture isn’t full of leaks. - Monitoring and backing up resources
Azure Monitor, log analytics, alerts, backups, recovery services vaults- this part is all about visibility and disaster recovery. Not sexy, but critical.
This stuff doesn’t just stay in the books. It’s stuff you’ll do daily if you’re managing Azure. Want to go deeper into the exam’s core domains and day-to-day admin tasks? See AZ-104 Certification: Key Stats and Exam Insights to explore the full scope.
Roles where AZ-104 matters and actually gets you hired
This isn’t some fancy cert that HR uses as a filter for those who are microsoft certified . AZ-104 aligns directly with cloud administrator, Azure infra engineer, IT operations analyst, platform support engineer, and even DevOps associate roles—depending on how broad the team is.
Companies hiring for cloud admin roles usually list AZ-104 under “nice to have” or “required” certs. Especially if you’re aiming for Microsoft-heavy orgs or Azure-first teams. Even for hybrid cloud teams, it signals that you understand how Azure infra works at a detailed level.
You’re not just saying “I’ve used Azure before.” You’re proving you can build, manage, monitor, and optimize cloud environments that people depend on.
It’s also a common internal promotion tool—IT teams use AZ-104 as a benchmark for leveling up someone from a traditional sysadmin into a cloud-focused admin role. Like a trust badge.
What does AZ-104 work actually look like on a typical day?
Let’s paint a quick picture. Here are some actual tasks you’d be doing if AZ-104 lines up with your job:
- Spinning up new resource groups with correct naming conventions and policies pre-applied
- Creating Azure AD groups, assigning users, setting MFA enforcement, tweaking Conditional Access rules
- Configuring site-to-site VPNs and ExpressRoute for connecting to on-prem
- Setting up storage accounts with lifecycle policies to auto-archive old data
- Deploying VMs from pre-built images, configuring NSGs for specific ports
- Backing up VMs and setting restore points across different regions
- Setting up diagnostics for every resource; logs, metrics, alerts
- Creating automation scripts using Azure CLI and PowerShell to speed up boring tasks
- Making sure cost alerts are working and tagging resources for better billing clarity.
It’s not “one and done” work, especially when it comes to maintaining cloud applications . Azure infra is like a living thing, it breaks, it needs patching, it gets audited, it needs to scale. AZ-104 equips you to deal with that mess. If you’re targeting AZ-104, the AZ-104 exam dumps from Cert Empire are one of the best ways to study real-world questions and lock in exam confidence early.
When AZ-204 makes more sense for your goals?
If you’re not into patching servers or tweaking firewalls and you get more excited by code than configs, AZ-204 is probably where you wanna be. This cert leans hard into cloud app development, so it’s for folks who like to build things, apps, APIs, backend services, integrations on Azure.
You’re not managing the infrastructure here. You’re building stuff that runs on it. The point is: this exam’s for developers. Real ones. People writing code, designing apps, testing them, deploying them to the cloud, hooking up APIs, and making everything talk to everything else.
It’s not a stretch to say that if you don’t write code regularly, you’re gonna struggle with this one. This isn’t like AZ-104 where everything’s clicks, scripts, and setup- AZ-204 goes deep into SDKs, endpoints, auth flows, and writing actual code against Azure services.
The type of candidate AZ-204 is meant for
Let’s call it like it is: developers. Full stop. Whether you’re a backend engineer, a full-stack dev, or a software engineer working in cloud-first setups, AZ-204 is targeted at people writing software that uses Azure compute solutions and Azure security.
It’s also good for DevOps engineers who lean more toward the development side of things—those who build CI/CD pipelines, containerize apps, or work with APIs, and who might aim for azure security engineer associate role . But again, there’s a clear line: you need coding chops. The exam assumes you know your way around code editors, SDKs, HTTP requests, JSON, and authentication models.
Here’s the kind of person AZ-204 makes sense for:
- Someone writing apps and deploying them to Azure App Services
- A dev working on microservices and serverless setups
- Engineers building event-driven apps using Azure Functions or Event Grid
- Anyone integrating cloud services like Cosmos DB, Key Vault, Storage Queues, etc.
- Developers building secure, scalable backend systems hosted on Azure
If that sounds like what you do (or what you want to do), then yeah—AZ-204 is the cert to go for.
Why this exam is developer-centric (and what that actually means)
People see “Microsoft cert” and assume it’s all about configuration. Not here.
AZ-204 doesn’t just test whether you understand Azure services- it tests whether you know how to use them in code. You’ll be expected to call APIs, work with SDKs, handle auth tokens, and deploy resources programmatically.
It’s developer-centric because it assumes:
- You know how to write in at least one language (C#, JavaScript/Node.js, Python, etc.)
- You can build apps that interact with Azure services via APIs or SDKs
- You understand version control, Git, pipelines, and CI/CD workflows
- You’re familiar with async patterns, error handling, and performance tuning
- You’ve touched containers, service buses, queues, maybe even some IaC
So yeah, it’s not for hobbyists. You need real experience, or at least serious hands-on practice. For those preparing under time pressure, Cert Empire offers reliable AZ-204 exam dumps to speed up your prep without missing critical coverage.
What kind of projects are AZ-204 certified devs working on?
This cert gears you up for serious work that real companies need.
- Building RESTful APIs that run on Azure App Services or Function Apps
- Creating serverless systems with Azure Functions and Event Grid
- Deploying microservices in containers using Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) or Container Instances
- Using Azure Logic Apps to automate business processes
- Hooking up frontends to secure backends with Azure AD B2C or MSAL
- Storing and retrieving data using Cosmos DB, SQL Database, Blob Storage
- Securing sensitive info using Azure Key Vault
- Sending and handling messages through Service Bus, Event Hub, or Queues
- Automating builds and deployments through Azure Pipelines or GitHub Actions
- Building CI/CD-ready solutions that auto-scale, self-heal, and integrate with monitoring
Real-world AZ-204 examples that come up constantly
Let’s make this visual. You’re an AZ-204 certified dev and your day might look like this:
- Your team is building a new customer onboarding app. You write the backend using Azure Functions and store user data in Cosmos DB.
- You secure sensitive data using Key Vault and use managed identities for access control.
- The app has a queue-based order processing system, so you hook up Azure Storage Queues or Service Bus.
- You create a CI/CD pipeline in Azure DevOps to deploy the app on every push.
- You throw in some Application Insights to monitor performance, usage, and track errors.
- Need to support real-time alerts? You throw in Event Grid to trigger functions based on blob uploads or user activity.
That’s a regular week. Maybe even a regular day. If you want a full breakdown of AZ-204 topics, tools, and prep strategy, check out the in-depth AZ-204 Certification Guide.
It’s heavy on development. But also packed with Azure-specific decision-making. You’re choosing which service to use, why to use it, how to write code that talks to it, and how to secure and scale it.
AZ-204 vs AZ-104 job opportunities and where the demand really is
There’s a big difference between who gets hired with AZ-104 and who lands work with AZ-204. Both have strong demand, but they live in different corners of the cloud job market. One side is about keeping Azure environments alive and healthy, the other is building stuff that lives in Azure.
And yeah, both matter to employers, but not always in the same team, and definitely not for the same goals.
What employers are actually looking for when hiring for Azure roles
Let’s not pretend job titles are always clean. They’re not. You’ll see things like “Cloud Engineer” or “Azure Consultant” in listings, but the actual job duties are what tell you where your cert fits.
If you’ve got AZ-104, most companies expect you to:
- Handle Azure VM provisioning and patching
- Work with RBAC, Azure AD, subscriptions
- Set up VNETs, private endpoints, and firewalls
- Monitor resource usage and performance
- Set up backup/recovery, DR, security alerts
- Optimize spend and keep the Azure environment clean
If you’ve got AZ-204, on the other hand, hiring managers look for:
- Ability to build and deploy scalable cloud apps
- Experience with Azure SDKs, App Services, Functions
- CI/CD pipeline building (DevOps friendly teams love this)
- Knowledge of event-driven design (Service Bus, Event Grid)
- API development, auth implementation (OAuth2, MSAL, JWT, etc.)
- Working with Cosmos DB, Blob Storage, Key Vault from inside code
Both get hired but they solve different problems for the company. AZ-104 keeps the cloud stable and locked down. AZ-204 builds the products that run on it.
AZ-204 job roles vs AZ-104 job titles
Here’s what job boards usually show for each cert path:
AZ-104 Job Titles
- Azure Administrator
- Cloud Infrastructure Engineer
- Systems Engineer (Azure)
- Cloud Operations Analyst
- IT Cloud Support Engineer
- Platform Engineer
- Infrastructure Support Specialist
- Azure Migration Specialist
These are more infra-focused. You’re in IT, cloud ops, sometimes DevOps. It leans toward support, maintenance, optimization, and resource control.
AZ-204 Job Titles
- Azure Developer
- Cloud Software Engineer
- Azure Full Stack Developer
- Application Developer (Azure)
- Cloud Solutions Engineer
- Backend Developer – Azure Cloud
- Integration Developer
- Serverless App Engineer
This is where code lives. These jobs involve writing, testing, and shipping apps on Azure. Sometimes you’re integrating services, other times building from scratch.
Completely different vibe from the title to the task list.
Cloud dev vs cloud admin: which side has more open doors in 2025?
Right now, both tracks are solid. But if we’re being honest? Cloud dev roles are growing faster. Companies are building more stuff in Azure than ever- APIs, integrations, customer apps, internal tools. That means they need more developers who “get” cloud, not just on-prem coders.
There’s still strong demand for infra people, especially in enterprise and hybrid orgs. But if you want to chase volume of openings, the AZ-204 track gives you more mobility.
Also: startups and mid-size tech orgs usually need one dev who can build and deploy cloud stuff end-to-end more than they need an entire infra team. That’s AZ-204 territory.
AZ-104 leans more into long-term, stable hiring in larger orgs, where compliance, DR, uptime, and cost control are everything. It’s not disappearing. But it’s not exploding either.
Salary comparisons: AZ-104 vs AZ-204 in real-world numbers
AZ-204 tends to pay more. But that doesn’t mean AZ-104 is lowball territory, either. It just means the kind of work AZ-204 unlocks usually comes with bigger budgets, tighter timelines, and more revenue-generating pressure, which companies pay a premium for.
Let’s break it down:
Average salaries for AZ-104 certified professionals
If you’ve got AZ-104, you’re likely in cloud admin, infra support, or operations. These roles pay solid—especially if you’ve got some experience stacked behind the cert.
🇺🇸 U.S. Salary Ranges (2025 data estimates):
- Entry-level (0–2 yrs): $70K – $85K
- Mid-level (3–5 yrs): $85K – $105K
- Senior / Specialist roles: $105K – $125K
🇬🇧 UK Ranges:
- £40K – £60K typically
- Top-end roles hit £70K+ if you’re multi-cloud or in FinTech
🇮🇳 India Ranges:
- ₹7L – ₹15L depending on city, company, and whether you’re infra or DevOps-leaning
It’s stable. You won’t get thrown massive startup money, but orgs NEED cloud admins, and they pay for people who can keep things from breaking.
What AZ-204 can earn you in the development world?
AZ-204 folks land in software roles, and that world just… pays better. Always has. Especially if you’re building things that touch revenue or customer-facing features.
🇺🇸 U.S. Salary Ranges:
- Entry-level Dev (with AZ-204): $85K – $100
- Mid-level Cloud Dev: $100K – $130K
- Senior App Dev / Cloud Engineer: $130K – $160K+
🇬🇧 UK: £50K – £85K is the sweet spot for Azure-focused devs, especially full-stack or backend
🇮🇳 India: ₹10L – ₹20L for app developers in enterprise, higher in startups or product firms
The jump comes because you’re solving deeper problems: performance, scalability, uptime, security, all inside the app. Businesses see that as direct value.
Add in DevOps skills or experience with containers/k8s? You push past the top end pretty fast.
Industry-specific pay differences (finance, healthcare, tech startups)
Not every industry pays the same, even for the same cert. Here’s how it shakes out:
Finance / Banking
- Security-heavy, compliance-obsessed = higher demand for reliable Azure infra.
- AZ-104 pros with GRC/security skills can earn as much as app devs here.
- Salaries: $100K+ baseline even for infra roles, $130K+ for developers.
Healthcare
- Slower tech adoption, but they pay well for stability
- AZ-104 roles dominate; AZ-204 roles are usually tied to internal apps and automation tools.
- Salaries: Mid to high range; $90K – $120K avg in US.
Tech Startups / SaaS
- Want builders, not maintainers.
- AZ-204 gets hired faster, paid more, and grows quicker here.
- Salaries: Devs can hit $150K+ quickly, especially with full-stack or DevOps edge.
So, where AZ-104 gets love is in stability-focused orgs (banks, enterprise IT, healthcare), especially for managing Azure SQL and similar resources. AZ-204 shines in product-heavy companies, agile teams, and cloud-native orgs.
What if you already work in IT or dev? Here’s how to choose
Your background matters a lot here. Choosing between AZ-104 and AZ-204 isn’t just about what sounds cooler, it’s about what fits where you already are, and where you wanna go.
If you’ve spent the last few years in IT, messing with Windows Servers, AD, networks, maybe even VMware, AZ-104 is the smoother jump. It’s the cloud version of what you already do. Same logic, just different tools. You’ll understand resource groups faster than app settings, and that’s fine.
But if you’re already writing code or even if you’re not, but you want to get into building, then AZ-204 makes way more sense. It’s a signal to employers that you’re not just learning Azure, you’re building with it.
So yeah: don’t just chase a cert. Pick the one that extends your current skills, while pointing you in the direction you actually wanna go.
The “cloud switch”: sysadmin moving to dev or vice versa
Let’s say you’re a sysadmin who wants to become a cloud dev. Or a developer who’s tired of the code grind and wants to explore cloud ops. It happens all the time.
If you’re a sysadmin moving toward dev:
- Start with AZ-104 so you can secure your base and understand Azure deeply.
- Then pick up coding in C#, Python, or JS on the side, build demos.
- After that, AZ-204 will hit way harder (and feel less painful).
- Bonus: you’ll understand cloud from both sides, which gives you a serious edge.
If you’re a dev moving toward infra or cloud ops:
- If you already know CI/CD, containers, APIs, etc., AZ-204 is your comfort zone.
- But learning AZ-104 gets you into infra tuning, security layers, and Azure governance—which most devs skip.
- That combo turns you into a DevOps-ready engineer real fast.
The switch isn’t easy but knowing where to start makes it way less chaotic.
Upskilling without doubling your cert load unnecessarily
Let’s be real—doing both certs back-to-back isn’t always the smartest move.
If your goal is to get hired quickly, or move up internally, don’t burn months chasing both AZ-104 and AZ-204 unless your role actually demands it.
Instead:
- Pick the cert that matches your job (or your target role) most closely
- Use the other one as study material, not a full-on cert pursuit
- Learn just enough of the “other side” to talk the talk if needed in interviews
- Stack one cert with hands-on projects instead of more exams
You don’t always need both certs. What you need is enough understanding of both areas to be useful on a team. Certs can help, but they’re not the only proof.
Which one should come first if you’re planning to do both?
There is a smart order, especially if you’re planning to get both eventually. And it depends on your background.
If you’re coming from IT / ops:
AZ-104 first, then AZ-204
Why: AZ-104 will give you a grip on Azure basics and structure. Then AZ-204 builds on top with dev work.
If you’re coming from software / coding:
AZ-204 first, then AZ-104
Why: You’ll fly through the app/dev stuff, and only pick up AZ-104 if your role expands into DevOps or cloud infra.
Just follow the path that builds on top of what you already know.
How to avoid redundant prep
If you’re doing both, don’t make the mistake of learning Azure twice.
- Use AZ-104 to understand what Azure offers and how it’s configured
- Use AZ-204 to learn how to use those services in code
There’s overlap, resource groups, RBAC, and monitoring but don’t repeat the same Portal walkthroughs or documentation. Instead, build apps that force you to use the services.
When dual-certification actually makes sense (and when it doesn’t)
Makes sense when:
- You’re in a hybrid or DevOps role
- You’re working toward cloud architect or technical lead jobs
- You’re the “go-to Azure person” in your company
- You’re consulting and need to speak both dev and infra language fluently
Doesn’t make sense when:
- You’re early in your career and just need one cert to break in
- You’re specializing (e.g., only want to be a backend dev or only infra engineer)
- You’re chasing both just to “look more certified”, it won’t help much
Pick the cert that moves your career forward right now. Save the second one for when it actually solves a real problem for you.
FAQs
Is AZ-104 easier than AZ-204?
It depends on your background of Azure solutions. AZ-104 is easier for folks from IT or sysadmin roles, while AZ-204 feels easier if you already write code. The Azure developer associate certification is tough in totally different ways.
Can I take AZ-204 without AZ-104?
Yep, there’s no rule saying you need AZ-104 first. If you’re already working as a dev and you’ve built apps on Azure before, jumping straight into AZ-204 makes total sense to get an azure administrator associate certification.
Which cert pays more: AZ-104 or AZ-204?
On average, AZ-204 leads to higher salaries, mainly because cloud computing dev roles tend to pay more than admin ones. That said, experience and job role still matter more than just the cert.
Should I get both AZ-104 and AZ-204?
If you’re working in DevOps, cloud engineering, or aiming to be a solutions architect, having both certs, including the azure developer associate, is a strong move. Otherwise, stick with the one that aligns with your daily work.
How long does it take to prepare for each exam?
For AZ-104, most people need around 6–8 weeks with solid practice. AZ-204 might take longer (8–10 weeks), especially if you need to brush up on coding against Azure services.
Last Updated on by Team CE
