6 Certifications That Pay Well, Including Online Options

You finally did it  —  you went to college, got your degree, and found a job. No more studying for you, right? Not exactly.

More and more, having a degree in a given field is the minimum requirement. Employers are looking for extra certifications and education that can strengthen your position and demonstrate flexibility. If you are already working, adding certifications to your resume can bump your salary significantly, often paying for themselves in a matter of weeks or months. If a raise follows, decide how much of your paycheck to save before lifestyle creep absorbs it.

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If you can’t take time off work to attend a course, here are some certifications that pay well, many of which you can get online, to give your paycheck a kick.

Key takeaways

• Increase your earning potential with a project management certification, a field where the median salary is $100,750 a year.
• Boost IT career earnings with a Microsoft certification, starting with a fundamentals exam and moving to role-based credentials in areas like Azure or Microsoft 365.
• Secure high-demand roles like Medical Coder, Process Manager, or Actuary with online certifications, enabling annual salaries from $40,000 to nearly $100,000 and flexible work-from-home or industry options.

1) Project management

Almost every industry is in need of quality project managers. A McKinsey study of 5,400 large IT projects found they run 45% over budget on average.

If you are in IT, engineering, healthcare, or construction, you will likely be required to participate in or even lead projects. Being able to deliver a completed project on budget, and on time will make you an invaluable member of any team. Project management specialists earn a median salary of $100,750, and the field is growing faster than average.

Getting a recognized certification is easy to do online for a reasonable investment. UC Berkeley is very reputable and offers an online program. Or, if you’re new to the field, look at PMI’s online courses, which prepare you for the entry-level CAPM certification.

2) Microsoft certifications

Computers are used for every industry and knowing how to use them makes you even more valuable to any employer. Even if you have a degree in IT, getting an entry level Microsoft Certified certificate for $150 won’t go unnoticed. Most employers will even reimburse you for the cost of the certification and put you one step above the competition when it comes time to promotions.

Most people start with a fundamentals exam, such as Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) or Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (MS-900), then move on to role-based certifications like Azure Administrator. You can study for free on Microsoft Learn and take most exams online from home. If you use Excel or Word every day, the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification is a quicker option.

Once you have completed the basic course, there is a wide range of options to pursue to work toward a Microsoft Professional (MCITP), Architect (MCA), or Professional Developer.

How much of a difference can it make? Microsoft claims:

“In high-growth industries, entry-level employees who hold a Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification or Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification can earn up to $16,000 more, annually, than their peers.”

3) Process management

If you have ever met someone who does process management, ask them, “What is it that you do exactly?”

You will likely get a fuzzy answer since it can vary from day to day. Basically, they watch people work and see if there are better ways to do their jobs. Then they help make those jobs easier to do.

This works really well for people that can see the big picture, understand the whole process and then be VERY diplomatic about changing the processes.

To become a process manager, you have to pass an exam prepared by their governing body. If you do, you can expect to earn upwards of $80,000 annually. And yes, this is another position that offers online certifications you can complete while you keep your day job.

4) Medical coder

ICD-10 medical coding has put knowledgeable medical coders in high demand. Even without a Bachelor’s degree, you can earn more than $40,000 per year. If you have one, you can bump that an extra $10,000 per year.

The American Health Information Management Association governs health information management in America and has plenty of information about education and certification courses. Having this certification makes working from home a snap, which is an amazing option if you have a family you want to be close to, or you want your “home” to be a beach in the Caribbean.

5) Exercise physiologist

To turn your passion for fitness into a career, earn this certification and start getting paid to help people get healthier. With steady demand in this field, there will be plenty of room for anyone who has the initiative to improve their body and their mind.

6) Actuary

If you finished your degree in mathematics, this certification can increase the probability of a high paying job. With a median salary of $125,770 and projected job growth of 22%, it’s a safe bet.

Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty. They are found at insurance companies or in any financial institution. To get the certification, you must demonstrate your aptitude for analytics by passing a series of exams. But to be a good actuary requires the ability to explain your conclusions, so communication skills are also a must.

Conclusion

Remember, not all certifications are made equal and getting one that is not related to your field might do nothing to help you. Do some research into what certification are in demand in your job market by asking your boss or other employers. A little research can go a long way and there is no telling where it could lead you.

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