A high-paying technical career rarely happens by accident. It’s built on choosing the right specialization at the right moment—and the NS0-164 (NetApp Certified Data Administrator, ONTAP) certification has become one of the strongest catalysts for long-term earning power in enterprise storage and data management.
Professionals worldwide are turning to this certification because organizations now rely heavily on storage engineers, NetApp ONTAP administrators, and data specialists who can keep mission-critical environments running with performance, security, and reliability. Whether you are early in your IT journey or looking to upgrade your career trajectory, the NS0-164 certification positions you directly in the center of high-demand, high-salary roles.
This guide explores how to leverage the NS0-164 certification to build a profitable and future-proof career, what job opportunities it can unlock, salary expectations, and the exact roadmap to maximize your growth after passing the exam.
What the NS0-164 Certification Represents in Modern IT
The NS0-164 certification validates your ability to administer and support NetApp ONTAP storage systems. This includes configuration, troubleshooting, data protection, performance optimization, and day-to-day operations inside enterprise storage networks.
According to NetApp Learning Services, ONTAP administrators play a critical role in modern infrastructure that blends hybrid cloud storage, virtualization environments, and scalable enterprise-class data systems.
As digital transformation accelerates across industries, organizations need certified administrators who can guarantee data availability, optimize performance, and enforce protection standards. This is where NS0-164 holders stand out—your skill set becomes indispensable.
Why Employers Value the NS0-164 Certification
Professionals certified in NS0-164 bring a combination of technical skills and real-world storage expertise that employers rely on. Companies choose NS0-164-certified candidates because they demonstrate:
1. Proven ONTAP Administration Skills
You can manage complex storage infrastructures, enabling enterprises to maintain uptime and data integrity.
2. Hybrid Cloud Readiness
ONTAP systems often integrate with cloud platforms. NS0-164 holders understand hybrid storage behavior, replication, and secure connectivity.
3. Efficient Troubleshooting and Performance Tuning
Downtime affects revenue directly. Certified professionals specialize in spotting bottlenecks and optimizing systems for high-performance workloads.
4. Risk Mitigation Through Data Protection Expertise
Skills like SnapMirror, SnapVault, RAID, and recovery processes allow you to protect data in critical business operations.
5. Vendor-Trusted Capability
Certification ensures that your knowledge aligns with NetApp’s official standards, providing employers confidence in your technical depth.
When these strengths combine, they place you miles ahead of non-certified storage and infrastructure engineers.
Job Roles You Can Pursue After Earning the NS0-164 Certification
Organizations across finance, healthcare, telecom, e-commerce, and government are urgently hiring professionals who can manage structured storage systems. After earning the NS0-164 certification, you can confidently pursue roles such as:
1. NetApp Storage Administrator
Responsible for managing ONTAP environments, implementing policies, and troubleshooting storage issues.
2. Storage Engineer / Storage Specialist
You’ll design, deploy, and maintain enterprise storage architectures with scalability and reliability.
3. NetApp ONTAP Administrator
Focused on ONTAP cluster operations, upgrades, replication, and system health.
4. Systems Administrator (Storage Focus)
Organizations need specialists who combine general system administration with storage expertise.
5. Cloud Storage Engineer
As companies shift to hybrid and multi-cloud setups, skilled ONTAP professionals become critical assets.
6. Enterprise Data Administrator
You help organizations maintain accessibility, governance, and integrity for large data volumes.
7. Backup and Recovery Engineer
Ideal for professionals with SnapMirror, SnapVault, and disaster recovery experience.
Each of these roles offers strong compensation and long-term growth potential.
Expected Salary After Earning the NS0-164 Certification
Professionals holding the NS0-164 certification consistently report higher than average salaries due to the complexity of storage environments and the limited global talent pool.
Here’s a breakdown of typical salary ranges across job roles:
1. NetApp Storage Administrator
Annual Salary Range: USD 85,000 – 125,000
2. Storage Engineer / Specialist
Annual Salary Range: USD 90,000 – 135,000
3. Cloud Storage Engineer
Annual Salary Range: USD 95,000 – 145,000
4. Systems Administrator (Storage Focus)
Annual Salary Range: USD 75,000 – 110,000
5. Senior ONTAP Administrator / Storage Architect
Annual Salary Range: USD 130,000 – 165,000+
In regions such as the U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, Singapore, and Australia, salaries for skilled NetApp administrators can exceed these ranges due to demand and cost of living.
How the NS0-164 Certification Strengthens Your Career Growth
The NS0-164 certification contributes directly to long-term career advancement—technically and financially—across multiple stages of your professional journey. Its benefits include:
1. Enhanced Job Security
Data remains the core asset of any digital enterprise, and certified administrators ensure the systems protecting that data stay operational.
2. Competitive Advantage in Hiring
Recruiters actively seek NS0-164 candidates when building cloud, virtualization, and enterprise infrastructure teams.
3. Strong Foundation for Multi-Cloud Careers
NetApp integrates with AWS, Azure, and GCP, helping you transition into cloud-focused roles.
4. Opportunity to Move Into Leadership Roles
With experience, NS0-164 professionals often become lead storage engineers, architects, or team managers.
5. Ability to Specialize in High-Demand Technologies
The certification opens doors to fields like:
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Disaster recovery
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Backup engineering
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Hybrid cloud storage
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Virtualization
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Data protection architecture
6. Pathway to Advanced NetApp Certifications
The NS0-164 serves as the foundation for:
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NCIE (NetApp Certified Implementation Engineer)
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Specialist-level certifications
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Architect-level roles
Your learning journey does not stop here—this certification kickstarts a career-long growth cycle.
Career Roadmap After Earning the NS0-164 Certification
To maximize the value of your NS0-164 certification, follow this structured roadmap:
Step 1: Strengthen ONTAP Fundamentals
Ensure you master:
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ONTAP architecture
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Storage virtual machines (SVMs)
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RAID policies
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Disk management
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Snapshot and replication technologies
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NAS and SAN protocols
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Performance tools and logs
These are core pillars of enterprise storage administration.
Step 2: Build Real Environment Experience
Hands-on practice drastically improves your skills. Use labs to configure:
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Clusters
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Aggregates and volumes
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Replication between systems
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SnapMirror and SnapVault
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Network and security settings
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NFS, SMB, and iSCSI workloads
Real-world exposure turns theoretical knowledge into confidence.
Step 3: Gain Hybrid Cloud Understanding
More companies now use NetApp Cloud Volumes or ONTAP integrations with:
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AWS
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Azure
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Google Cloud
Learning these systems improves your chances of landing high-value roles.
Step 4: Expand Into Data Protection and Security
Enterprises rely heavily on data protection policies. Deepen your knowledge in:
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Backup technologies
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Data lifecycle management
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Compliance frameworks
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Encryption and access controls
This is vital for regulated industries.
Step 5: Grow Into Storage Architecture
With time and experience, aim for advanced responsibilities:
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Designing multi-site storage topology
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Implementing DR strategies
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Performance engineering
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Storage automation using scripts
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Leading infrastructure modernization projects
This is where six-figure salaries become standard.
Study Strategy to Prepare for the NS0-164 Certification Exam
Preparing for NS0-164 can feel overwhelming, especially when balancing work or transitioning from another IT domain. To streamline your preparation, rely on structured study plans and practice resources that simulate the real exam.
One of the most effective preparation tools is the NS0-164 practice exam, available at NWExam.
These practice tests help you:
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Identify weak topics
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Improve time management
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Understand question patterns
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Boost confidence before exam day
Candidates who consistently use practice tests perform significantly better in the actual certification environment because they gain exam familiarity and reduce anxiety.
Why NS0-164 Is Ideal for Both Beginners and Experienced IT Professionals
Unlike some high-level certifications that require years of background knowledge, the NS0-164 certification is accessible yet powerful enough to impact mid-career growth.
If you are a beginner in IT:
This certification provides a strong technical foundation in data storage, one of the most stable and high-demand domains in IT.
If you are already experienced:
You can leverage NS0-164 to transition into enterprise roles, gain credibility, and move toward leadership or cloud-focused career paths.
Its versatility makes it suitable for professionals across networking, virtualization, cloud engineering, and system administration.
Conclusion: Your NS0-164 Certification Can Shape a High-Paying, Future-Proof Career
Building a high-paying career in IT becomes easier when you choose certifications that align with long-term industry demand. The NS0-164 certification opens doors to premium job roles, strong salary potential, and long-term professional stability in enterprise storage and data administration.
Whether you want to specialize in ONTAP, transition into cloud storage, or architect large-scale enterprise environments, this certification places you at the center of one of the most critical and well-compensated areas in IT.
If your goal is to accelerate your career and stand out in competitive hiring markets, combine dedicated study with reliable practice tools like the NS0-164 practice test and follow the learning path provided by NetApp Learning Services. Your next step toward a high-paying IT role could begin today.
