Salary Survey Extra is a series of periodic dispatches that give added insight into the findings of our most recent Salary Survey. These posts contain previously unpublished Salary Survey data.

Virtualization is making the world smaller, or at least reducing the amount of physical space taken up by computers. That's probably especially true when it comes to virtual data centers, which use cloud technology to provide to businesses something that would otherwise require a bank of physical servers, as well as the resources required to store, power, and protect them.

Californa-based VMware — a subsidiary of Dell since 2004 — has steadily become a leader virtualization technology and VMware certifications are among the most sought-after credentials in the virtualization realm. The VMware Certified Professional (VCP) 5 - Data Center certification landed at No. 33 on our most recent Salary Survey 75 list.

Out of all VCP 5 - Data Center holders who responded to our survey, 65 percent live and work in the United States, while the rest chimed in from eight other countries around the world: Australia, Canada, Germany, Lebanon, Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

Among VCP 5 - Data Center holders from the United States, the average annual salary in 2016 was $123,350, with a median annual salary of $106,670. The average annual salary across all countries outside the United States was $77,540, with a median annual salary of $65,000.

There are almost certainly female VCP 5 - Data Center holders out there, but not a one of them responded to our survey: every respondent was male. Among VCP 5 - Data Center-certified survey respondents, roughly 75 percent are 35 or older, either landing between the ages of 35 and 44 (28.6 percent of those surveyed), between the ages of 45 and 54 (32.1 percent of those surveyed), or between the ages of 55 and 64 (14.3 percent of those surveyed). Most of those younger than 35 aren't very much younger: 18 percent of those surveyed are between the ages of 25 and 34.

The highest level of education attained by most VCP 5 - Data Center holders is either a master's degree (35.7 percent of those surveyed) or a bachelor's degree (21.4 percent of those surveyed. Quite a few respondents, on the other hand, topped out with either an associate's (two-year) degree (14.3 percent of those surveyed) or some level of technical training (17.9 percent). We even heard from a tiny handful of VCP 5 - Data Center-certified individuals who said they had no formal education before entering the workforce — perhaps for some, certification is all you need.

Employment is strong among VCP 5 - Data Center holders, with 89.3 percent employed full-time, 7.1 percent employed part-time, and 3.6 percent unemployed. Among those with jobs, most are doing at least a little extra work. Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed put in either between 41 and 50 hours per week (39.3 percent of those surveyed), or more than 50 hours per week (28.6 percent). Most of the rest (roughly 25 percent of those surveyed) have a regular old 40 hours-per-week schedule.

Almost exactly 65 percent of VCP 5 - Data Center holders in the survey are at the senior specialist level in the organizations where they work. Most of the rest (21 percent) are in management or executive positions, though there are a few who are among the more lowly ranks of (just) specialists and rank-and-file employees.

Most VCP 5 - Data Center holders are impressively experienced: 60 percent have worked in a role that utilized their certified skills for more than 10 years, while a further 25 percent have been thus engaged for between 6 and 8 years.

Finally, here's the view of VCP 5 - Data Center holders on key questions from the survey about how certification impacts job performance:

At my current job I use skills learned or enhanced through certification:
Several times a day: 42.9 percent
Several times a week: 39.3 percent
Several times a month: 10.7 percent
Occasionally: 7.1 percent
Rarely: [No responses]

Since becoming certified, I feel there is greater demand for my skills.
Strongly agree: 25 percent
Agree: 43.3 percent
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 28.2 percent
Disagree: [No responses]
Strongly Disagree: 3.5 percent

Becoming certified has increased my problem-solving skills.
Strongly agree: 21.2 percent
Agree: 36.1 percent
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 33 percent
Disagree: 9.7 percent
Strongly Disagree: [No responses]

Becoming certified has increased my workplace productivity.
Strongly agree: 25.1 percent
Agree: 29.6 percent
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 30.5 percent
Disagree: 11.5 percent
Strongly Disagree: 3.3 percent