Azure Administrator Certification 2026 (AZ-104): Cost, Salary & Preparation
Quick Overview
- Certification (Zertifikat): Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
- Cost: Exam €165 | Training €300-€2,500 (optional)
- Duration: 6-10 weeks preparation (at 10-15 hrs/week)
- Salary with certification: +€10,000-€18,000 vs. non-certified IT admin
- Best choice: Self-study with Microsoft Learn + practice tests
Course Details
| Category (Kategorie) | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam (Prüfungsname) | AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator |
| Exam cost (Prüfungskosten) | €165 (DE) |
| Questions (Fragen) | 40-60 questions, 100 minutes |
| Passing score (Bestehensgrenze) | 700/1000 |
| Validity (Gültigkeit) | 1 year (free online renewal) |
| Prerequisites (Voraussetzungen) | 6+ months Azure hands-on experience recommended |
| Exam languages (Prüfungssprachen) | EN, DE, JP, CN, FR, ES, PT |
Data verified on 2026-05-06. Source: Microsoft Learn / Microsoft Certification Dashboard.
Price Comparison — Preparation Options
| Option | Price | Format | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Learn (self-study) | Free | Online learning path | Theory + sandbox exercises |
| AZ-104 Exam | €165 | Test center / Online | Exam attempt |
| A Cloud Guru | $49/month | Video + Labs | Full AZ-104 course + practice exam |
| Whizlabs AZ-104 | €35 | Practice tests | 5 tests x 55 questions with explanations |
| Microsoft Enterprise Skills | €895 | Live online (4 days) | Instructor-led + Labs + exam voucher (Prüfungsgutschein) |
| Bootcamp (e.g. Firebrand) | €2,500 | 5 days on-site (vor Ort) | Intensive course + exam attempt + retake |
Prices verified on 2026-05-06.
Salary After Certification
| Role (Rolle) | Without AZ-104 (Ohne) | With AZ-104 (Mit) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT Administrator / System Admin | €45,000 | €55,000 | +€10,000 |
| Cloud Administrator | €52,000 | €65,000 | +€13,000 |
| Azure Engineer (Mid) | €60,000 | €72,000 | +€12,000 |
| Senior Cloud Engineer | €72,000 | €90,000 | +€18,000 |
Data: kununu, Glassdoor, Hays IT Salary Report (2026). Salaries gross/year, Germany.
Decision Matrix
If you want to minimize costs, choose Microsoft Learn (free) + Whizlabs practice tests (€35) + exam fee (€165). Total investment: €200. The ROI (return on investment) at +€10,000 salary increase is astronomical: 50:1 in the first year.
If you prefer structured learning, choose A Cloud Guru ($49/month for 2-3 months). The combination of video, labs, and practice tests is the sweet spot between self-study and expensive bootcamps.
If your employer pays, choose Microsoft Enterprise Skills Training (€895). 4 days live online with a certified Microsoft Trainer (MCT). The exam voucher (Prüfungsgutschein) is included — effectively the training costs €730.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the AZ-104 exam difficult?
AZ-104 is considered a challenging associate-level exam with a passing rate of around 60-65%. It is significantly harder than the entry-level AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals). Candidates with 6+ months of hands-on Azure experience typically pass after 6-10 weeks of preparation. The case study questions — which test multiple Azure services simultaneously — are often cited as the hardest part.
How many times can I retake the exam?
After a failed attempt, you can retake the exam after 24 hours. The waiting period increases with each retry: 14 days after the second failure, and 30 days after the third. There is no limit on total attempts per year, though the exam fee applies each time.
Does the certification renew automatically?
No, renewal is an active process. Microsoft provides a free online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn, available six months before expiry. It is open-book, untimed, and focuses on updated content. After passing, the expiration date is extended by one year immediately. Important: once the certification has expired, it cannot be renewed — you must retake the full exam.
AZ-104 or AWS Solutions Architect — which should I choose?
Both certifications carry similar market value. The right choice depends on your ecosystem: Azure dominates the German enterprise market (60% of DAX companies use Azure), while AWS is more common among startups and tech companies. AZ-104 is more admin-focused; AWS Solutions Architect covers a broader architecture spectrum. See our guide to AWS Solutions Architect Certification for a detailed comparison.
AI Disclosure (KI-Offenlegung): This page was created with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor. Pricing and salary data comes from publicly accessible sources and was verified on 2026-05-06. Last updated: 2026-05-06.
Related: Cloud Engineer Jobs 2026, DevOps Engineer Salary, AWS Solutions Architect Certification 2026, Cloud Engineer Salary
Sources
- Microsoft Learn — Azure Administrator Associate — Official certification page with exam details, preparation paths, and registration information. learn.microsoft.com/credentials/certifications/azure-administrator/
- Microsoft Learn — Study Guide for Exam AZ-104 — Official study guide with validated skill areas, weightings, and learning resources (updated April 2026). learn.microsoft.com/credentials/certifications/resources/study-guides/az-104
- Hays IT Salary Report 2026 — Annual salary study for IT professionals in Germany including detailed data on cloud administrators and Azure specialists. hays.de/it-gehaltreport
Methodology
Comparison data based on:
- Microsoft Learn & Microsoft Certification Dashboard (accessed 2026-05-06)
- A Cloud Guru, Whizlabs, Firebrand — official pricing pages (2026)
- kununu Salary Check (n=400+ cloud administrators in DE)
- Hays IT Salary Report (2026)
- r/AzureCertification community experience reports (Erfahrungsberichte) (n=120+)
How we work
- Data researched directly from providers and official sources
- Prices updated regularly (as of 2026-04-12)
- Independent analysis — no paid placements
- Transparent methodology with source citations