If you are looking for high paying certificate jobs then you’ve come to the right place. In this article we are going to take a deep dive into the highest paying jobs you can get with just a certificate. We’ll also look into what schools and online courses you can attend to get these quick certifications that pay well, and any additional information to get you off the ground.
Let’s start by saying that if you are looking for high paying certifications to avoid the high cost and time commitment of a 4-year college, then you’re not alone. Student debt is out of control, and smart people are finding ways to educate themselves without falling into the same trap. And the good news is there are more ways than ever to get certificates, Associate’s degrees, and other professional training without breaking the bank. According to the data we’ve crunched from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there are 205 jobs that fit this category. We’ve included those that specifically require a certificate or no degree at all.
There are many reasons you might be looking for a path to jobs without a lot of schooling. Maybe you are a new high school graduate without a lot of financing options. Or maybe you are looking for a new career later in life and just don’t want to spend a significant amount of time in school. Regardless of your situation, you are going to see there are many high paying certificate jobs in highly desirable fields. So let’s get into the details.
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Table of Contents
Sound Engineering Tech
If you love anything that makes sound and have a creative bug then this might be a good job for you. Sound engineers are one of our high paying certifications and can land you in many different roles operating different sound equipment. That can include recording, synchronizing, mixing, and editing sounds across many different media industries.
Median Pay: $52,390
10 Year Growth: 200
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 1,700
Surgical Technologist
If you are looking to break into the medical industry, this is a great certification that pays well. Surgical technologists assist in operations. Not only is this a very important job, but can also offer an interesting day-to-day experience and environment. You’ll likely spend most of your time in a hospital setting with this job and spend a good bit of time on your feet. After completing your certificate program and CST exam, you’ll be off and running.
Median Pay: $47,300
10 Year Growth: 9,700
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 10,400
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Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Another high paying certificate job is and LPN. The need for medical professionals of all kinds is booming and LPN’s are no exception. With our aging population, there is more demand now than ever for people who can assist doctors and nurses in the daily care of patients. If you are a patient and caring person, consider a job as an LPN.
You’ll need to complete your LPN program, and pass the NCLEX exam to become a practicing LPN.
Median Pay: $46,240
10 Year Growth: 78,000
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 66,000
Medical Records and Health Information Technician
If you’d rather not be on your feet most of the day but still determined to work in the medical arena, this might be the spot for you. In this job, you will spend your time helping to organize health information at various different organizations. The expected growth rate of this job is well over the average with a large number of job opportunities each year.
Median Pay: $42,600
10 Year Growth: 8%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 16,800
Massage Therapist
Another of the certifications that pay well and is suited to the trend of an aging population. As people age, there is a need for pain relief, and massage is one of the major treatments for such ailments. Need evidence, just look at the huge expected growth rate in jobs over the next 10 years. As a massage therapist, your job is to work with a patient’s muscles and soft tissue to treat various conditions. Having a good bedside manner is important as you will be interacting with many people on a daily basis.
Median Pay: $42,820
10 Year Growth: 21%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 24,200
Firefighter
Being a firefighter is a tough business, but it can also be very rewarding. One could argue they should earn more money given the risk, but it is still a high paying job that only requires a certificate degree. Formal education is followed by long-term on-the-job training as you might expect. So if you enjoy helping people and have a no-fear personality, then becoming a firefighter is something to consider.
Median Pay: $49,620
10 Year Growth: 5%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 25,000
Dental Assistant
If pearly white teeth are your thing, then becoming a dental assistant is a great idea. In this role, you work directly with patients to provide care and do things like take x-rays, keep records, etc. You’ll work in a dentist’s office and assist both the dentist and dental hygienists with day-to-day work. After completing a dental assistant program, you will need to pass the DANB CDA exam before getting your license.
Median Pay: $40,800
10 Year Growth: 7%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 44,800
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
In this profession, you will find yourself working on all manner of aircraft from airplanes to helicopters. If you love aircraft but don’t want to be a pilot, this is one of the high paying certifications you can pursue. While this profession isn’t seeing as high of an increase in jobs over the next ten years, it still has a good number of positions open every year.
Median Pay: $62,920
10 Year Growth: 3%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 11,800
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
If you’ve ever had new heating or air conditioning unit put into your home or office, then you’ve met people who do this job. In this job, you will work on different heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems to either install new ones or fix existing ones. It’s a perfect fit for someone who is mechanically inclined. You’d also be entering a job market with above-average growth and a lot of job openings each year.
Median Pay: $48,730
10 Year Growth: 4%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 42,800
Court Reporter
If you are interested in the legal professions, being a court reporter is one of the only jobs you can get with only a certificate. As a court reporter, you will create transcripts of various legal proceedings including trials, depositions, and others. With an expected growth rate well above the average, this looks like a good career opportunity in the legal space.
Median Pay: $60,130
10 Year Growth: 9%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 1,600
Insurance Appraiser
Insurance companies invariably need people who can go out and assess individual claims. Appraisers prepare cost estimates and complete the necessary forms for the insurance company when an accident or claim comes in. With a very high median pay and an above-average growth rate, this is a great job to consider. It’s also a short certificate program that pays well when compared to the length of some others on the list.
Median Pay: $62,520
10 Year Growth: 5%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 1,600
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
As an EMT or paramedic, you will be responding to various medical emergencies. You’ll treat patients accordingly, and be responsible for transporting them to a hospital. While we still consider this one of our high paying certifications given the level of education required, we’d like to see the median wage increase given the critical nature of the job. Regardless, this job can be very fulfilling since you are helping people on a daily basis. Keep in mind, however, there is a decent amount of stress as you will be dealing with emotionally charged situations.
Median Pay: $35,400
10 Year Growth: 6%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 19,900
Ophthalmic Medical Technician
In this job, you will be assisting an ophthalmologist in day-to-day tasks. Things like conducting eye exams and working with patients on general care instruction. Given the aging population in this country, the growth rate according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics of this profession is extremely high. That means you shouldn’t have any problems finding employment after getting your certificate.
Median Pay: $36,530
10 Year Growth: 17%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 5,600
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians
If you’ve ever wondered who was behind the sound stage at your favorite concert, or the amazing sounds at your local sports event, look no further. These technicians are in charge of setting up the audio and video equipment at these types of events. From speakers, video screens, and microphones, to connecting wires and cables, you will be engrossed in a behind the scenes world of the entertainment business.
Median Pay: $43,770
10 Year Growth: 12%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 11,600
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
One of the most popular high paying certificate jobs is a tractor-trailer truck driver. Given the massive number of products that need to be transported around the country, there’s no shortage of jobs in this space either. This job isn’t for everyone because it can put you on the road for long periods of time and it can be a lonely existence. On the other hand, if you’re someone who likes to be on the open road along with alone time, this might be the perfect job opportunity for you.
Median Pay: $43,680
10 Year Growth: 6.3%
Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Annual Job Openings: 238,000
How to get Certifications that Pay Well
Getting a certificate requires you to go through some type of educational program. Those can run anywhere from a few weeks to 2-years, although most fall under 12-months. Obviously one of the main benefits of getting a certificate job is that you spend less time in school. It’s also a means of getting into an industry without spending a lot of money on education. So if you’re not sure a certain profession is right for you, getting a certificate might be a good starting point.
Once you’ve made the decision, you’ll most often go to a local community college, trade school, or career school. Community colleges typically have a large selection of certificate programs available across many different subjects. On the other hand, trade and career schools are typically more focused on one area of skills building such as medical or mechanical certificates.
Either way, most areas of the country have a number of different options close to your community. So not only is the program itself more often cost-effective, you eliminate the room and board part of the equation.
How Quickly Can You Get High Paying Certificate Jobs
The lower cost and time commitment are two of the major benefits of these programs. Many of these are short certificate programs that pay well in less than a year’s worth of school. In fact, most of the programs on our list will have you on the job in 1 year or less, and the remainder of your learning will take place on the job. As with any other job, your earning power will increase the longer you’re on the job, and the more experience you get.
On the upper end of the spectrum, you may need to spend as much as 2 years in some of these certificate programs. It’s especially typical of the medical certificates to take a little longer since you need more time training in a classroom setting before being able to work on patients.
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Source: Bureau of Labor and Statistics
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The Bottom Line
If you are concerned about finding a job without going to a 4-year college, think again. There are plenty of high paying certificate jobs and those that don’t require any degree or certificate at all. At a bare minimum, these are great starting points for a career. Once you get working, there will be opportunities to continue your education if that’s what you choose to do.
These opportunities exist across multiple industries, so whatever your interests, there’s plenty of options. And with many people finding the burden of student loan debt insurmountable, it’s wise to consider alternatives before committing to expensive colleges. Whatever your final decision, at least give some thought to jobs you might be able to do with a certificate. You might find it’s a much more cost-effective way to find a new career.
Massage Therapy is not an easy career to jump into. Its hard and most therapists don’t make anywhere near 42k a year. 90% quit within 5 years.