Salesforce is one of the world’s leading cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platforms. Companies, both big and small, utilize the many functions of this CRM platform to connect with customers, build lasting relationships, and streamline business processes.
Today, Salesforce is used by over 150,000 companies worldwide. In a recent report from the International Data Corporation, analysts forecast that by 2026, the use of Salesforce and its ecosystem will generate new revenues for its customers of up to $1.56 trillion worldwide. As a direct result, the IDC projects that there will be approximately 9.3 million new Salesforce jobs by 2026 [1].
The role of a Salesforce Administrator is one of the fastest-growing, in-demand jobs today. By enrolling in a Salesforce Administrator Certification Training, you can gain the skills you need to help companies optimize the platform to fit their unique needs and open the door to new opportunities in this high-demand digital skill career.
What does a Salesforce Administrator do?
Salesforce’s CRM technology enables companies to track customer interactions, monitor sales, streamline internal processes, and generate important business reports on one integrated platform. Individuals with Salesforce skills are tasked with some of the most important roles. Some examples include:
- Helping the American Red Cross track interactions with donors
- Supporting AllState insurance in streamlining their systems for communicating with customers
- Enabling a tech start-up to monitor its sales pipeline for new deal opportunities
A Salesforce Administrator is responsible for bridging the gap between a business’s unique needs and the technology’s capabilities. In doing this, the administrator can configure and manage the platform’s tools to improve its function and efficiency for any business type or industry.
Salesforce Administrator duties and responsibilities include:
- User Management: The administrator is responsible for creating and managing each user account in Salesforce. This duty requires knowledge and understanding of Salesforce permission sets (i.e., the settings and permissions that give each user access to various tools and functions within the platform). An administrator can add new users, modify existing user accounts, update permission settings, and restrict or open access to specific data on the platform.
- Contact Management: The management of new leads and existing contacts within Salesforce is a daily task for administrators. The administrator uses the data loader feature to import, update, export, and delete Salesforce accounts. They may also be responsible for developing standard operating procedures to streamline and automate portions of this process.
- Data Management: Salesforce gives companies the ability to keep and maintain a wide range of valuable data about their accounts and customers. The administrator uses data modeling to interpret the data and create easy-to-read reports for their team. With the use of custom objects and fields, an administrator can further customize the company’s reporting capabilities.
- Dashboards: Salesforce dashboards allow users to view essential data in charts, gauges, tables, and metrics. The administrator is responsible for building personalized dashboards using custom reports.
- Salesforce Platform App Builder: Using the Salesforce Lightning App Builder, an administrator can build low-code apps and custom pages to better leverage the Salesforce ecosystem to meet the needs of a company and its customers.
In addition to the administrative roles outlined above, an administrator supports the company in building workflows, streamlining sales processes, and improving customer success. A Salesforce Administrator must also possess a wide range of non-technical business skills that allow them to solve user problems in real-time, communicate important account details to key stakeholders, and increase productivity across the platform.
What is the average salary for a certified Salesforce Administrator?
The average salary of a certified Salesforce Administrator is $84,000 per year. However, salaries can range from $25,000 – $125,000 depending on company size, location, and individual experience. On average, Salesforce Administrators with five or more years of experience can expect to earn $87,000/year.
Is Salesforce worth learning?
The demand for digital skills in customer relationship management is steadily rising as more companies switch to cloud-based computing software like Salesforce. By 2026, the IDC projects that cloud-based software will occupy more than 60% of the software market.
In the last 12 months alone, nearly 3 million job postings required Salesforce training or experience. Salesforce is used by thousands of companies in various industries, including health care, government, higher education, manufacturing, and more. In addition to its broad industry reach, career opportunities for an individual with Salesforce training are endless. Individuals interested in software development, design, marketing, or administration can learn in-demand skills and build a rewarding career as a Salesforce expert.
What does it mean to be Salesforce certified?
Salesforce currently offers 37 certification programs across five roles:
- Salesforce Administrator
- Salesforce Architect
- Salesforce Developer
- Salesforce Marketer
- Salesforce Consultant
- Salesforce Designer
The purpose of receiving these credentials is to highlight your knowledge and understanding of a specific skill or role within the platform. You can prove that you have hands-on experience with the platform and highlight your competencies by earning one of these Salesforce credentials. Salesforce credentials are globally recognized and give you a competitive edge when applying for new career opportunities.
Under the Salesforce Administrator role, there are two levels of credentials: the Salesforce Administrator and the Salesforce Advanced Administrator credential. Both programs focus on the administrative features of the platform, such as user management, customization of the platform, data management, reporting, and more. They are designed to support individuals who have experience using the platform and are looking for new ways to expand their knowledge of the technology’s features and capabilities.
You must schedule a proctored exam either at a testing center or online to earn a Salesforce credential. The exam measures your knowledge and skills related to a Salesforce account’s configuration and setup, object manager and lightning app builder, sales and marketing applications, service and support applications, productivity and collaboration, data and analytics management, and process automation. Once you’ve passed the exam, you will receive a certificate that verifies your skills and experience.
Individuals can access various free and paid online educational resources to prepare for a Salesforce credential exam. Trailhead is a free Salesforce online library offering guided learning pathways for each credential program. In addition to a self-guided learning option, Pathstream offers an instructor-led program called the Salesforce Administrator Career Certificate. This online program gives you the knowledge and hands-on support you need to prepare for the Salesforce Administrator Certification exam and launch your career as a Salesforce Administrator.
Advancing your career with the Salesforce Administrator Career Certificate
Through Pathstream’s Salesforce Administrator Career Certificate, students can gain the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to excel in a career as a Salesforce Administrator. This 18-week online certificate program is designed for busy professionals who want a personalized yet flexible approach to their career development. In this instructor-led program, you will learn Salesforce administrative skills directly inside the platform, such as configuring Salesforce accounts, generating real-life reports, building dashboards, and more. Over the course of the 18-week program, you are required to complete three courses. Each of the three courses features content for different types of learners, including videos, slideshows, and guides.
Students typically spend 10 – 15 hours per week on coursework. However, students can move as quickly as they’d like through each of the three courses so long as they complete all coursework during the 3, and 5-week-long sessions. Pathstream courses are designed for working professionals without previous experience in the field. We’ll help you build on your existing skillsets to prepare you for your new career as a Salesforce Administrator.
And finally, once you’ve completed your certificate, Pathstream’s career coaches will help you improve your resume and connect you with job opportunities to ensure that you start advancing your career immediately. Learn more about how to get started as a Salesforce admin with Pathstream here.
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