AZ-204 vs AZ-104: Which AZ Certification Should You Take First?
Compare AZ Developer Associate (AZ-204) vs AZ Administrator (AZ-104) to find the right certification path for your career in 2025.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview: AZ-204 vs AZ-104
Both AZ-204 and AZ-104 are associate-level Microsoft AZ certifications, but they serve completely different roles:
- AZ-204 (AZ Developer Associate): For developers who build applications ON AZ using code, SDKs, and APIs
- AZ-104 (AZ Administrator): For IT pros who manage and configure AZ infrastructure and resources
Key Insight: These certifications are NOT prerequisites for each other. Choose based on your current role and career goals, not a predefined "learning path."
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | AZ-204 (Developer) | AZ-104 (Administrator) |
|---|---|---|
| Target Role | Software Developers | IT Administrators |
| Primary Focus | Writing code for AZ | Managing AZ infrastructure |
| Key Skills | SDKs, APIs, App Service, Functions, Cosmos DB | VMs, Networking, Storage, Identity, Governance |
| Coding Required | Yes - C#, Python, Java, JavaScript | Minimal - PowerShell/CLI scripting |
| Exam Cost | $165 USD | $165 USD |
| Questions | 40-60 questions | 40-60 questions |
| Time | 100-120 minutes | 100-120 minutes |
| Passing Score | 700/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Study Time | 6-10 weeks | 4-8 weeks |
| Prerequisites | 1-2 years dev experience | 6+ months AZ admin experience |
Who Should Take Which?
Take AZ-204 If You Are:
- A software developer or engineer
- Building web apps, APIs, or microservices
- Working with AZ App Service or Functions
- Using AZ SDKs in your daily work
- Responsible for application architecture
- A backend or full-stack developer
- Interested in serverless computing
Take AZ-104 If You Are:
- An IT administrator or system admin
- Managing virtual machines and networks
- Handling user access and security
- Setting up AZ governance and policies
- Migrating workloads to AZ
- A help desk escalating to cloud admin
- An on-prem admin moving to cloud
Career Paths & Salaries
AZ-204 Career Path
AZ-204 opens doors to development-focused roles:
- AZ Developer: $95,000 - $140,000
- Cloud Application Developer: $100,000 - $150,000
- Backend Engineer (AZ): $110,000 - $160,000
- DevOps Engineer: $115,000 - $165,000
- Solutions Architect: $130,000 - $180,000
AZ-104 Career Path
AZ-104 leads to infrastructure and operations roles:
- AZ Administrator: $85,000 - $125,000
- Cloud Engineer: $95,000 - $140,000
- Systems Administrator: $80,000 - $115,000
- Infrastructure Engineer: $100,000 - $145,000
- Site Reliability Engineer: $120,000 - $170,000
Salary Note: Salaries vary by location, experience, and company size. Major tech hubs like SF, NYC, and Seattle typically pay 20-40% higher than these averages.
Difficulty Comparison
AZ-204 Difficulty
Challenging for non-developers. The exam assumes you can:
- Read and write code in C#, Python, Java, or JavaScript
- Understand SDK patterns and API calls
- Debug code snippets and identify errors
- Design application architectures
If you're already a developer, AZ-204 feels natural. If you're not comfortable with code, this exam will be very difficult.
AZ-104 Difficulty
Challenging for non-IT pros. The exam assumes you understand:
- Networking concepts (VNets, subnets, NSGs, DNS)
- Identity management (AZ AD, RBAC)
- Storage architectures and redundancy
- Virtual machine management
If you have IT admin experience, AZ-104 builds on familiar concepts. Pure developers may struggle with networking and infrastructure topics.
Which is "Harder"?
Neither is objectively harder - they test different skills. Choose based on your background:
- Developers: AZ-204 will feel easier than AZ-104
- IT Admins: AZ-104 will feel easier than AZ-204
- New to Both: Start with AZ-900 to build foundations
Should You Get Both?
Yes, if you want to:
- Become a well-rounded cloud professional
- Move into DevOps or Platform Engineering roles
- Pursue AZ-305 (Solutions Architect Expert)
- Lead cloud transformation projects
- Maximize your marketability
Recommended Order:
- Developers: AZ-204 first, then AZ-104
- Admins: AZ-104 first, then AZ-204
- DevOps: Either order works, or pursue both simultaneously
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Final Recommendation
Our Recommendation
Follow your current role, not a certification path.
- If you write code daily, take AZ-204 first
- If you manage infrastructure daily, take AZ-104 first
- If you're completely new to AZ, start with AZ-900
- If you want both, start with whichever aligns with your current job
Remember: The "best" certification is the one that validates skills you already use. Build on your strengths first, then expand into adjacent areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip AZ-900 and go directly to AZ-204 or AZ-104?
Yes! AZ-900 is foundational and not required. If you already have AZ experience, you can go directly to AZ-204 or AZ-104. However, if you're completely new to cloud, AZ-900 provides helpful context.
How long should I wait between taking AZ-204 and AZ-104?
There's no required waiting period. Some professionals take both within 2-3 months. Others space them out over a year. It depends on your study capacity and career needs.
Do employers prefer AZ-204 or AZ-104?
Employers prefer the certification that matches the job. Developer roles want AZ-204. Admin roles want AZ-104. DevOps and architect roles value both.
Which certification expires first?
Both expire after 1 year. You can renew for free through Microsoft Learn assessments before expiration.
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