Top Dollar IT Certifications

While the down economy has led to nearly flat salaries for many tech jobs, IT professionals are touting one important tool that helps them earn more money: professional certifications. According to the March issue of the Dice Report, IT professionals who obtain specific certifications are increasing their value to other companies and organizations, raising their value in the job market and signaling to their current management that they're worth holding on to.

Here are the top 10 certifications that technology professionals believe have the potential for higher salaries, according to Dice:

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Microsoft's Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)

CompTIA's A+ certification

Cisco Certified Network Associates

Microsoft Certified Professional

CompTIA's Network+ certification

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Microsoft's Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)

IT Infrastructure Library certification

CompTIA's Security+ certification.

The government's rigid General Schedule pay system does not always mean obtaining additional certifications or education will lead to a boost in pay for federal IT professionals, however. What certifications can prove valuable to federal IT workers, and do agencies pay a premium for obtaining them, through monetary or even non-monetary incentives?

Meanwhile, Dice.com also reports that the top metro areas for IT jobs as of March 1 were New York, with 7,039 job postings, and Washington, D.C., with 6,523 job postings. Silicon Valley trailed behind, with 3,564 job openings so far this month.