Hey {{first_name | default: there}},
I want to tell you something your employer already knows.
The work you do every day may be worth two or three times more than you’re being paid.
They know it.
Most employees never realize it.
💡 This Week: What Your Cloud Skills Are Actually Worth
I have spent years working in cloud infrastructure. Azure migrations. Infrastructure as Code. Identity. Security. Building environments that companies rely on every day.
For a long time I thought a good salary and solid benefits were the goal. Get the raise. Get the promotion. Keep climbing.
Then I started seeing what consulting firms charge for the same work.
Not estimates. Actual numbers.
$150 an hour.
$200 an hour.
Sometimes even more.
For work I was already doing.
That realization did not make me want to quit my job. It made me want to understand the gap.
Why does the exact same skill pay so differently depending on where you sit?
The answer is packaging.
The Packaging Problem
When you work for a company, your skills get bundled into a role.
Cloud Engineer.
DevOps Engineer.
IT Manager.
The company pays for the role, not each individual skill.
A consultant sells something different.
They sell an outcome.
“We’ll migrate your infrastructure to Azure.”
“We’ll build your Infrastructure as Code framework.”
“We’ll reduce your cloud costs.”
Same technical work.
Different framing.
Different paycheck.
This is not just about experience.
Experience matters.
But plenty of people with less experience than you earn more because they packaged what they know as a solution instead of simply performing a job.
What the Market Is Actually Paying For
Right now, some cloud skills consistently command higher consulting rates.
• Infrastructure as Code
• Cloud security and identity
• Cloud cost optimization
• Azure AI and data architecture
• Azure migrations
If you already know how to do some of these things, you have something the market wants.
The question is whether you are only using those skills for one employer or building toward using them for yourself.
You do not have to leave your job to start thinking like a consultant.
You simply have to start seeing your skills the way the market sees them.
That shift changes everything.
Even if you are not in technology, the principle is exactly the same.
Every profession has specialized knowledge that someone will pay for.
The opportunity is not limited to cloud computing.
It is learning how to package your expertise into something people value enough to buy.
🛠 Tool of the Week: Microsoft Learn
If you want to sharpen your Azure skills or understand what companies are looking for, Microsoft Learn is still one of the best free resources available.
The learning paths are practical, current, and built around real world skills.
Even if you are not planning to take an exam immediately, the learning paths show you exactly what employers and consulting clients value.
If you want to strengthen your career, increase your earning potential, or eventually explore consulting, certifications like Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) and Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) can help demonstrate your technical knowledge and architecture skills.
Even if you never become a consultant, the knowledge you gain and the credibility those certifications provide can open doors to better opportunities throughout your career.
If you have been putting off a certification you’ve wanted to earn, this is a good week to put a date on the calendar.
🎯 Your Action Step This Week
Go to Upwork, Toptal, or LinkedIn.
Search for cloud consulting projects in your area of expertise.
Don’t apply yet.
Just look.
Read the project descriptions.
Look at what companies are paying.
Then ask yourself one question.
Could I do this work?
If the answer is yes, you already have an income layer waiting to be built.
The only thing missing is the decision to build it.
We’ll talk about exactly how to do that in a future issue.
See you next Tuesday,
Migrate to Millions
P.S. Hit reply and tell me: What’s the one technical skill people always come to you for? I read every reply, and I’d love to know.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not financial or career advice. Everyone’s situation is different. Consider speaking with a qualified financial or career professional before making important decisions.