Paul, and Portland experience less competition for jobs than other area of the country, suggesting that despite regional differences in salaries, techies in these markets should be negotiating higher compensation. CCIEs in Phoenix, Portland, and Chicago should be able negotiate higher salaries than CCIEs living elsewhere. To certify or not to certify Common wisdom says having a technical certification should get you more money. There's also an intrinsic value to increasing your knowledge. But before deciding to pursue a CCIE, or any certification for that matter, take some serious time to plan your career.
Certifications are a solid investment.
But they are not the only option for getting a better salary.