International IT: Six Outliers from the CertMag Salary Survey

Back in early April, Amazon filed paperwork with the United States government that disclosed its intention to build (eventually) a network of more than 3,200 satellites that willl deliver reliable internet service to "unserved and underserved communities around the world."

The word "unserved" is a key, if subtle, reminder that while information technology (IT) is a global industry that almost certainly includes workers in every major country and most minor countries, there are still locales that are untouched (unsullied, some would surely say) by the long shadow of the digital age.

IT certification is commonplace in the United States and other large nations, but there are places where you might be less likely to find a certified IT professional. One certainly less-than-perfect indicator of where computer technology is perhaps taking root more gradually is the annual Salary Survey conducted by Certification Magazine.

While more than half of all survey respondents check in from the United States, the Salary Survey is open to participation by anyone with a certification and an internet connection. Certified IT professionals from 95 countries outside the United States participated in the most recent survey.

Not all of those countries are equally represented, of course, with some claiming only a handful of Salary Survey participants, and some even fewer than that. Thanks to our ongoing good relations with the CertMag team, this week we're taking a look at six countries represented by a single certified IT professional.

MAURITIUS

Home to 1.26 million citizens, the tiny island nation of Mauritius is situated more than 1,000 kilometers east of Magascar in the Indian Ocean. Mauritius is a parliamentary republic and citizens enjoy free universal health care, education, and public transportation. Agriculture, financial services, and tourism are the main drivers of the economy.

The sole certified professional from Mauritius to participate in the 2019 Salary Survey is a man between the ages of 35 and 44 whose annual salary is between $100,000 and $104,999 (between Rs3,452,300 and Rs3,719,379). He has three current certifications.

AZERBAIJAN

A former Soviet Socialist Republic (from 1920 to 1991) Azerbaijan is a central European nation on the west shore of the Capsian Sea. With a population of nearly 10 million, Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic. Agriculture, energy development, and tourism are the main drivers of the economy.

The sole certified professional from Azerbaijan to participate in the 2019 Salary Survey is a man between the ages of 25 and 34 whose annual salary is between $22,500 and $24,999 (between ?38,362 and ?42,623). He has three current certifications.

CAMEROON

The coastal west African nation of Cameroon, home to nearly 23.5 million citizens, is a presidential republic where the current president, Paul Biya, has held office since 1982. Continuously inhabited for at least the last 12,000 years, Cameroon today derives most of its economic activity from agriculture, timber, manufacturing, and energy.

The sole certified professional from Cameroon to participate in the 2019 Salary Survey is a man between the ages of 35 and 44 whose annual salary is less than $20,000 (less than FCFA11,730,962). He has more than 15 current certifications.

EL SALVADOR

The nation of El Salvador, on the Pacific coast of Central America, is both the smallest and most densely populated nation in the region. A presidential constitutional republic, El Salvador is home to 6.4 million inhabitants. The economy, formerly concentrated on gold and silver mining, is today driven by agriculture (including sugar and coffee), textiles, electricity distribution, telecommunication, and finance.

The sole certified professional from El Salvador to participate in the 2019 Salary Survey is a man between the ages of 35 and 44 whose annual salary is between $32,500 and $34,999 (the United States dollar is the official currency of El Salvador). He has eight current certifications.

LUXEMBOURG

With a total land area of just 2,586 square kilometers, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is one of the smallest sovereign states in Europe. The total population is 602,005, roughly equivalent to one-fourth the total population of the Borough of Queens in New York. The economy is largely driven by banking and financial services, manufacturing, and production of steel, rubber, and chemicals.

The sole certified professional from Luxembourg to participate in the 2019 Salary Survey is a man between the ages of 25 and 34 whose annual salary is between $105,000 and $109,999 (between �93,899 and �98,369). He has 2 current certifications

SIERRA LEONE

The west African coastal nation of Sierra Leone, with a population of 7.1 million, is home to 16 different ethnic groups (each of which has its own language and customs). Rich in natural resources, Sierra Leone has built an economy on precious metals (including gold and titanium), diamonds, and industrial metals and minerals including bauxite and rutile.

The sole certified professional from Sierra Leone to participate in the 2019 Salary Survey is a man between the ages of 45 and 54 whose annual salary is between $120,000 and $124,999 (between Le1,073,873,551 and Le1,118,609,333). He has 10 current certifications.