[machinerychorus]

I've got a few entry level certs as well, and I've had the same experience that you're describing. they're nice to have and they show a certain (minimal imo) amount of competency or knowledge, but they aren't really gonna unlock any doors. It's a line item on your resume, not a talking point in an interview.

The only place I've worked that really pushed certs was at a big-4 consultant which wanted a certain percentage of their employees to be certified, mainly for marketing reasons afaict. Even there, though, there was no salary increase for people with certifications, just a one time bonus of a few hundred dollars when you got the cert.