CompTIA A+ Worth It in 2026? Honest Salary & Career Analysis

CompTIA A+ Worth It?

CompTIA A+ is the entry point for IT careers. But is it still valuable in 2026?

What CompTIA A+ Proves

Hardware troubleshooting. Operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS). Networking basics. Security fundamentals. Mobile device management. Cloud computing basics.

Salary Impact

Without A+: $45,000-$65,000 (help desk). With A+: $55,000-$80,000 (desktop support, field technician). The certification adds $10,000-$15,000 to starting salary. ROI is positive within 6-12 months.

Who Should Get It

Career changers entering IT. Help desk professionals wanting advancement. Anyone without a CS degree wanting formal credentials. Government/military IT positions (often required).

Who Should Skip It

People aiming directly for software development (skip to coding bootcamp). Those with CS degrees (your degree covers the material). People targeting cloud/networking (go directly to those certs).