The tech industry is ever-evolving, and staying relevant means continually updating your skillset. One such skill that has seen substantial demand over the past few years is Salesforce. But is Salesforce training worth it? Let’s delve into it.
Salesforce training refers to a systematic program designed to arm you with the critical knowledge and capabilities needed to exploit Salesforce, a globally dominant customer relationship management (CRM) tool.
It equips you with insights about CRM, its structure, and its application in optimizing business operations. Salesforce brings a variety of tools and characteristics to the table, each uniquely tailored to cater to specific business requirements. Salesforce training guides you in mastering these tools, allowing you to create customized solutions that can drive business growth. you’ve
As Salesforce continues to dominate the CRM industry, more and more companies are adopting the platform and demanding Salesforce skills. This leads many tech professionals to ask: is investing in Salesforce training worth it for my career?
In this comprehensive article, we’ll analyze the costs, benefits, and ROI of Salesforce certifications to help you decide if it’s the right move.
Why Consider Salesforce Training?
There are a few key reasons why Salesforce skills are in such high demand right now
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Massive market share – Salesforce holds over 20% of the CRM market. As more companies use Salesforce they need Salesforce experts.
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High pay – According to PayScale, the average base salary for a Salesforce admin is $73k. Developers can earn over $100k.
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Lots of job opportunities – There are over 50,000 job openings on LinkedIn for Salesforce roles. Specialized skills give you an edge.
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Valuable credentials – Salesforce certifications are globally recognized and help you stand out. They prove hands-on skills.
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Flexible career paths – You can work as an admin, developer, consultant, architect and more. Salesforce skills open diverse roles.
Simply put, the demand is high and skilled Salesforce pros are rewarded with ample job options and pay. Let’s look at the costs of training next.
What Does Salesforce Training Cost?
Salesforce training costs depend mainly on two factors:
- Method of training – Self-study vs instructor-led
- Certifications pursued – Admin, developer, specialty certs, etc.
Here are the typical costs broken down:
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Self-study – $0 to $200 for materials/courses. Trailhead is Salesforce’s free training platform. Udemy and LinkedIn Learning offer paid online courses for ~$15 to $200.
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Instructor-led – $400 to $5,000 for multi-day prep courses. Includes training and exam voucher. Cost varies by location and provider.
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Certification exams – $200 per exam attempt. Some prep courses include vouchers. Retake fee applies unless you pass.
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Study materials – $50 to $300 for practice exams, study guides and materials. Helpful for self-study.
So for example, self-studying via Trailhead and Udemy courses + exams could cost under $1000 total. A 5-day prep bootcamp + exams could be $5000.
It’s possible to get certified for under $500 if you’re diligent about self-study. But instructor access and materials provide structure. Evaluate your learning style.
What Are the Benefits of Salesforce Certifications?
Advancing your Salesforce skills and certifications offers many career benefits:
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Job opportunities – Certs make you more hireable. 89% of employers prioritize certified candidates according to Salesforce.
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Higher pay – Certified admins/developers can earn 10-15% more on average. The premium payback period is less than 1 year typically.
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Resume clout – Certifications get you noticed and interviewed faster. They validate your expertise.
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Job mobility – Your skills transfer across companies and industries. Certs prove competence to new employers.
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Promotions – Certifications demonstrate initiative to your company. They qualify you for Sr. admin/dev and management roles.
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Confidence – Hands-on training builds real-world skills and improves performance. Certs prove mastery.
Clearly, Salesforce certs provide tremendous career benefits and pay dividends over time. But what about hard ROI numbers?
The Direct ROI on Salesforce Certification
According to research by IT training firm Global Knowledge, the average ROI on Salesforce certification is 405%.
This means that for every $1 spent on training and certification, professionals gain $4.05 back in increased income over 5 years.
The graph below illustrates this:
Source: Global Knowledge 2019 IT Skills & Salary Report
The average recoup period is just 12 months. And the income gains from multiple certifications are compounding over several years.
These numbers will vary based on your location, experience, company and certification path. But the ROI on Salesforce skills is clearly substantial in most cases.
Final Thoughts: Should You Invest in Salesforce Training?
Let’s summarize the key points:
- Strong demand for Salesforce skills will continue due to the platform’s market dominance
- Admin and developer roles pay well with an average salary of $73k-$100k
- Salesforce credentials make you more qualified and competitive
- Certification ROI is 405% over 5 years on average
- ROI recoup period is less than 12 months
For intermediate to senior professionals, Salesforce certifications are absolutely worth the investment given the accelerated career growth and income bump.
For beginners, online courses and Trailhead learning are budget-friendly ways to start building skills. Get some hands-on practice then evaluate if paid certs make sense.
The cost of exams and prep courses is easily justified by the long term income gains and career development potential. Investing in Salesforce training clearly produces a positive return financially.
Just be sure to strategically choose certifications that align with your experience and target job roles. Maintain your credentials and always keep building in-demand skills as the platform evolves.
Salesforce expertise is a pathway to thriving tech careers. For most professionals, proactively gaining Salesforce certifications and sharpening your skillset will prove to be a smart decision and worth the investment.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Salesforce?
The timeframe to learn Salesforce can vary greatly depending on several factors, including your current skill level, the depth of knowledge you aim to achieve, the specific Salesforce role you’re interested in, and the amount of time you can dedicate to learning each day. Here’s a rough guideline to give you an idea.
If you’re a complete beginner with no prior experience or knowledge of Salesforce, it’s advisable to start with the basics of Salesforce Administrator training. This encompasses the fundamental concepts and functionalities of the platform. On average, you might need 30 to 60 hours of study over 1 to 2 months to grasp these basics.
If you’re aiming for a more intermediate level, such as preparing for the Salesforce Administrator certification, you’ll need to dedicate more time. In addition to understanding the basics, you’ll also need to learn about customizations, security, data management, and more. On average, this could require 60 to 100 hours of study over 2 to 4 months.
For more advanced roles, such as a Salesforce Developer or Consultant, you will need an even deeper understanding of the platform, along with coding skills for the Developer role. This could require 120 to 200 hours of study spread over 4 to 6 months, on average.
Personal Growth and Satisfaction
Ultimately, Salesforce training can contribute to personal development and gratification. The path to mastering a new skill can be demanding but also exceptionally fulfilling. As you master Salesforce’s functionalities and begin to create innovative solutions, you’ll likely experience a sense of achievement and confidence.
These points clearly indicate that Salesforce training is definitely a smart and beneficial choice.
DON’T LEARN SALESFORCE!!
Do you need Salesforce training?
Comprehensive Salesforce training is vital. A study by Whatfix found that 35% of sales reps feel they need more training to use their customer relationship management platform (CRM) effectively. Salesforce is used by over 150,000 companies and because of this, there is a myriad of learning courses, training materials, and videos available.
Do Salesforce certifications make you stand out?
Learning can be its own reward, but certifications will definitely make you stand out to potential employers. Many higher-paying positions require a certain level of Salesforce Certifications. Choosing the right ones is important for the advancement of your career. Employers definitely recognize the importance of having certified employees.
How much does Salesforce training cost?
Pricing: Cost varies widely between different topics and locations, starting at $300 and going up to $4,500 per course. Main benefit: Since it is Salesforce running these classes, your team will be directly learning from them. Salesforce in-app guidance
Should you learn Salesforce?
Both Nguyen and Waldt agree that learning Salesforce is critical if you plan on working in a CRM environment; it’s evolved into a primary vendor of such technology for many thousands of companies around the world. Dice dives deep into industry-specific hiring trends to deliver the recruiting tips you need to find and hire the right tech talent.
