You should consider getting a certification if you want to land high-paying jobs and advance your career within a short period. This is because you can significantly boost your earning potential in the short time it takes to complete a certificate program. Workers with a postsecondary certificate earn a median weekly salary of $935. Whereas, those with only a high school diploma make $853.
Over a year, that amounts to a difference of over $4,000.
The market is tough, and it does not look to be getting easier. If you want high-paying jobs, you must do something different than your peers. It would help if you stood out from the pack, which means getting the proper training for your desired job. However, since attaining and keeping a job is getting more problematic due to the raging competition, especially with so many people looking for work—you must upskill yourself to stay relevant.
Short-term job-oriented courses help achieve a definite career path. These specialized courses create opportunities for learners by providing them with superior skill-based knowledge demanded by employers today to survive in this competitive market.
What is a certification?
Professional certifications, or simply certifications, are designated credentials offered by a company or organization to the candidate for their competence to perform a job. They are displayed as a document stating the individual has been trained, prepared, and educated to meet the specific criteria for the job role.
Certifications are awarded only when the course is completed with proper assessments administered by a recognized institution or third-party organization.
Certifications are useful for job seekers wanting to quickly start their new career or switch to a different industry.
Difference between a certification and a certificate
| Certificate | Certifications |
| Awarded by schools and colleges for completing the required coursework. | Awarded by professional companies and associations to showcase that the individual is adept in the particular job role. |
| Shorter time frame is needed to obtain them. | Longer time frame, generally more than 5 hours that can go up to a month is required to obtain them. |
| Certificates are a result of an educational process. | Certifications are awarded when an assessment process is completed. |
| Both freshers and experienced can obtain them. | Experience is required to obtain them. |
| The course is set through an academic process. | Industry-wise concepts and fundamentals are set. |
| Focuses on knowledge and awareness development. | Demonstrates ongoing training development. |
| Listed under the education section in a resume. | Results in a designation to use after one’s name, such as PMP, SPHR, CPA, and more. |
High-paying certification jobs for you to target
There are many high-paying jobs that often only require certifications to support your knowledge and experience in the industry. Learning about different careers you can pursue upon completion of different certification programs can help you find the program and career that’s the right fit for you and your professional goals.
Many of these roles are considered high-paying due to their low barrier of entry, high demand or advancement opportunities. Here are 15 high-paying jobs that only require a certification.
Paralegal
National average salary: $58,912 per year
Paralegals help lawyers and other legal professionals with preparing and organizing legal documents for client trials and cases. These professionals help plan client correspondence for attorneys and discuss case details to help legal professionals prepare themselves for upcoming proceedings.
Other duties these individuals perform include summarizing cases for lawyers, conducting case research, creating legal documents, and filing documents with the courts. They also archive case documents and track legal changes that can affect legal proceedings.
Architectural drafter
National average salary: $61,219 per year
Architectural drafters develop structural features and artistic details for new buildings or other types of construction or remodelling projects. They use computer-aided design software to create comprehensive plans and reference engineer and architect sketches to ensure they create a design that meets their specifications.
These professionals specify layout dimensions, collaborate with other building professionals and design speciality products to meet client needs.
Solar installer
National average salary: $62,420 per year
Solar installers install, maintain and repair solar panels on buildings and tracts of land. They also assess potential solar locations to determine their viability for solar panel installation. These professionals take detailed measurements, make adjustments for solar panel installations and connect panels to electrical systems.
Additional duties these professionals perform include grounding electrical equipment, researching industry trends, adhering to safety guidelines and performing maintenance checks at solar panel locations.
Construction and building inspector
National average salary: $62,860 per year
Construction and building inspectors analyze building structures to ensure their compliance with building standards and codes. These professionals conduct inspections before, during and after construction operations to ensure their structural integrity and safety for customers.
Some inspectors also refer inspection deviations to city engineers, maintain inspection records, and assist with public or client inquiries. They attend project close-out meetings and distribute violation notices where a structure doesn’t meet current industry regulations.
Web developer
National average salary: $67,868 per year
Web developers create visually appealing and functional web pages using graphic design and technical programming skills. These professionals apply coding language fundamentals to develop website codes that are functional, engaging and secure.
Developers also troubleshoot reported issues to identify potential coding or usability issues and create solutions to help improve user experiences.
Commercial diver
National average salary: $68,300
Commercial divers are typically responsible for using surface-supplied air or scuba gear to inspect, install, repair, or remove underwater equipment and structures, involving surveying, welding, or rigging explosives. Also, some commercial divers work as photographers tasked with taking pictures of underwater structures or marine life.
There are several certifications that you can earn to learn the skills needed to become a commercial diver and show potential employers that you’re qualified for this role. A certification from the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) is particularly well-regarded in this industry.
Insurance appraiser (auto damage)
National average salary: $69,380
Auto damage insurance appraisers inspect vehicles after accidents to estimate the cost of repairs. They prepare reports for insurance adjusters, who use the estimated cost of repairs to help determine how much an insurance company will pay out to their clients to cover claimed losses. Auto damage insurance appraisers may collaborate with insurance investigators to deal with suspected fraudulent claims.
If you don’t have experience working at an auto shop, you’ll need to complete a postsecondary certificate program that teaches you how to assess auto damage and estimate the cost of repairs.
Fire inspector/investigator
National average salary: $69,450
The responsibilities of a fire inspector or investigator may include reviewing blueprints with developers to ensure there are no fire hazards, inspecting buildings for fire code violations, managing fire safety education programs, and collecting and analyzing evidence from the scenes of fires and explosions. Fire investigators often testify in court; some even carry a weapon and work with law enforcement officers to conduct searches and arrests.
Many technical colleges offer programs for learning how to prevent fires and inspect the causes of fires. You will likely also need to have previous experience as a firefighter to get hired as a fire inspector.
Licensed vocational nurse
National average salary: $69,775 per year
Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide quality patient care to individuals under the guidance of a registered nurse. Many LVNs provide direct support to physicians and registered nurses by monitoring patient vital signs, updating patient charts and offering basic bedside care to patients.
Other duties these medical and administrative professionals perform include assisting in nursing care, dressing patient wounds, administering medication, monitoring patients, providing nutritious meals, starting intravenous fluids and cleaning medical equipment.
Aircraft mechanic/service technician
Average annual salary: $70,010
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians maintain and repair aeroplanes, helicopters, and other flying vehicles. This work may include diagnosing mechanical problems, repairing or replacing components as needed, and inspecting completed work to ensure it was done correctly. Some professionals work as generalists, while others specialize in a particular aspect of aircraft maintenance, such as repairing engines or performing inspections.
You’ll need to earn an Aviation Mechanic Technician certification from the FAA to advance in this field.
Ship engineer
Average annual salary: $87,300
Ship engineers operate and maintain equipment on water vessels, such as engines, boilers, pumps, and refrigeration systems. They often work in a supervisory role, directing crews to perform maintenance tasks and repairs when needed. Their other day-to-day responsibilities often include ordering supplies, fabricating custom parts with machine tools, and assisting with navigation.
To become a ship engineer, you’ll need to complete a postsecondary certificate program or apprenticeship and then obtain a license from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Real estate agent
National average salary: $94,526 per year
Real estate agents help clients buy, sell and rent properties according to their preferences, budget and lifestyle. These professionals generate client leads by developing marketing campaigns and advertising their services or real estate listings to generate consumer interest.
Agents also offer advice to customers, create real estate listings, host open houses or showings, and create purchase proposals. They also present proposal information to sellers, review purchase contracts and facilitate negotiations between buyers and sellers.
Surgical technologist
National average salary: $95,694 per year
Surgical technologists support surgeons and surgical operations by preparing operating rooms, arranging operating equipment and providing support to doctors. These professionals prepare sterile operations rooms by inspecting surgical equipment, cleaning the room according to industry best practices and setting up the room to maintain optimal workflow for surgical operations.
They also prepare patients for surgery by cleaning operation sites, tracking surgical equipment and maintaining their industry knowledge by attending training courses or completing additional education.
Makeup artist (Theatrical and performance)
National average salary: $96,370
Theatrical and performance makeup artists alter the appearance of actors to reflect the setting and situation of their roles. Before applying makeup, these artists typically review scripts and conduct research to determine makeup requirements. Their responsibilities may also include ordering supplies and managing the makeup services budget for productions.
This occupation requires a high level of technical skill and attention to detail, as makeup artists are often required to duplicate the exact appearance of characters day after day to avoid continuity errors.
Compared to most other occupations, there are limited job opportunities in this field. In addition to earning a makeup artist certificate from a well-respected program, you should also look for internships that would allow you to refine your skills and expand your professional network.
Commercial pilot
National average salary: $103,910
Pilots are responsible for flying aeroplanes and helicopters. Their daily responsibilities often include inspecting the condition of aircraft before and after each flight, preparing and submitting flight plans to air traffic control, and using cockpit instruments and visual references to navigate aircraft to their destinations.
While airline pilots typically transport passengers and cargo on a fixed schedule, commercial pilots are involved in unscheduled flight activities, such as charter flights, firefighting, and crop dusting.
This particular occupation typically only requires flight training and a commercial pilot certificate. You’ll need to complete at least 250 hours of flight time before you can earn your commercial pilot license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, any given employer may have higher standards for minimum experience.
High-paying certification jobs: In conclusion
Certification helps individuals stand out from the crowd to land high-paying jobs. For instance, if you have an IT certification that aligns with your current job, you may be paid more than a regular employee. Certifications work as a qualifier for the job role. Moreover, it does help to get better promotions, which directly increases the salary.
Certifications upgrade skills and continually build them. This, in return, enhances the practical experience, which helps in high pay. By getting certifications, there are chances to grow in the career sphere. The higher the professional training certification, the higher the salary one can expect as it gives a professional skill set to demonstrate knowledge.
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