10 Best Certifications That Pay Well (Highest Paid)

Certifications offer professionals a simple and convenient way to unlock new earning opportunities quickly. We’ve looked at hundreds of online certifications to find the highest-paying certifications.

The certifications presented below can be conducted 100% online, are recognized worldwide, and can lead to high-paying jobs.

10 Top Paying Certifications

1. Google Digital Marketing & eCommerce Certification
2. Reliablesoft Digital Marketing Certification
3. Google Data Analytics Professional Certification
4. Google Project Management Professional Certification
5. IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
6. Meta Social Media Marketing Certification
7. IBM Full Stack Software Developer Certification
8. Meta Front-End Developer Certification
9. Meta Database Engineer Certification
10. Google IT Support Professional Certification

1. Google Digital Marketing & eCommerce Certification

The Google Digital Marketing & eCommerce certification prepares students for a career in online marketing.

Throughout the program, you’ll gain in-demand skills to prepare you for an entry-level role in digital marketing. You’ll learn how to use popular tools and platforms, including Google Ads and Google Analytics, Canva, Hootsuite, Constant Contact, MailChimp, and Shopify.

The course also includes behind-the-scenes insights from digital marketing experts at Google, designed to help learners build their own portfolios they can show to potential employers.

Cost and Duration

The Google Digital Marketing & eCommerce certificate consists of 7 courses, covering approximately 152 hours of content. If you devote approximately 48 hours of study per month (12 hours per week) to your education, you can complete the course within 3 months.

New users on Coursera can access this certification for free for 7 days before paying a monthly subscription fee of $39 per month, equating to $117 in total. Financial aid is also available.

Jobs You Can Do and Salary 

If you’re searching for certificates that pay well in digital marketing and eCommerce, a Google certification will prepare you for various lucrative roles.

You can pursue jobs as a digital marketer, marketing coordinator, search engine optimization (SEO) specialist, email marketing expert, paid search specialist, eCommerce associate, or media planner.

The median entry-level salary achieved by students who complete this course is approximately $63,000 per year. Additionally, Google notes that 75% of graduates report improving their career trajectory following the course.

The Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce certificate is an easy-to-follow and engaging training solution designed to teach you everything you need to know about making a profit online.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll learn the fundamentals of digital marketing and eCommerce, discover how to attract and engage customers, and leverage tools to assist you with measuring marketing and sales performance.

This course also provides step-by-step guidance on how to build your own online store and optimize it to ensure the best possible return on investment.

Other Digital Marketing Certifications

• Coursera Digital Marketing Specialization – Offered by the University of Illinois via Coursera
• Best Digital Marketing Certifications – a list of the best digital marketing certificate programs today.
• Digital Marketing Full Course – one of the best digital marketing certifications today (as rated by students).

2. Reliablesoft Digital Marketing Certification

One of the highest-paying certifications for professionals in online marketing, the Reliablesoft Digital Marketing certification teaches students everything they need to know about getting started online.

You’ll discover how to develop your digital presence and grow traffic to your website in 60 days or less.

Plus, there are behind-the-scenes insights into various digital marketing strategies, with tips on using Facebook and Google Ads, social media marketing, content marketing, affiliate marketing, and more.

Cost and Duration

The digital marketing bundle from Reliablesoft includes 13 courses, 92 lessons, and 280 topics to explore, covering all the key aspects of online marketing. You’ll need to dedicate around 60 days (or less) to your education.

All of the courses of this certification would usually add up to around $780, but the solution is currently available for a bundle price of $149. This includes a free 30-day subscription to SEMRush Pro, a 20% discount on OptinMonster, a 30% discount on Onlypult, and a 20% discount on Sitechecker. There’s also a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Jobs You Can Do and Salary 

The Reliablesoft Digital Marketing Certification prepares students for a career in all facets of online promotion. You could pursue roles as a Digital Marketing expert, SEO specialist, email marketing coordinator, social media manager, Google analytics expert, or content marketing specialist.

Digital marketing specialists can earn a median salary of approximately $62,133 per year, depending on their area of expertise.

What You’ll Learn

The Reliablesoft Digital Marketing Certification offers access to all of the insights students need to start a lucrative career online. The topics cover everything from mastering Google Analytics to content marketing, keyword research, social media, and eCommerce SEO. You’ll also learn how to promote brands through retargeting, affiliate marketing, email, and YouTube.

Both an SEO Certificate and a Digital Marketing certificate are included within the bundle.

3. Google Data Analytics Professional Certification

Another of the leading certificate programs that pay well is the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. This course provides students with in-demand skills in the world of data analysis, designed to help them process, analyze, and use data to their advantage.

Cost and Duration

The Google Data Analytics Professional Certification includes 8 courses and approximately 180 hours of instruction and practice-based assessments. At a rate of 48 hours of study per month, students can complete this course in 4 months.

Beginners on Coursera can access the course for free as part of their 7-day trial. After that, it costs $39 per month to subscribe to Coursera, so you can expect to pay around $156.

Jobs You Can Do and Salary 

Upon successful completion, you can apply for roles as a Junior Data Analyst, Junior Data Scientist, Associate Data Analyst, Operations Analyst, Finance Analyst, Data Technician, Marketing Analyst, or Business Performance Analyst.

Median entry-level salaries in data analytics start at approximately $74,000 annually, depending on your expertise and experience.

What You’ll Learn

The quick certifications from Google provide extensive guidance from leading subject matter experts. Through videos, assessments, and hands-on projects, you’ll discover how to clean and organize data for analysis and then complete evaluations using the right information. You’ll also discover how to present data to shareholders and business leaders. You’ll also complete a case study you can use in your professional portfolio.

Other Data Analytics Certifications

• IBM Data Science Professional Certificate – one of the most popular IBM professional certifications.
• Best Data Analytics Certifications – a review of the best certification courses on data analytics and data science.

4. Google Project Management Professional Certification

Google offers a number of certificates that pay well in collaboration with Coursera. The Google Project Management Professional Certificate will prepare you for an entry-level job in project management, with guidance on managing changes, risks, and shareholders.

Cost and Duration

The Google Project Management Professional Certification features 140 hours of instruction alongside hundreds of practice-based assessments. At a rate of 48 hours of study per month, this course will take approximately 3 months to complete.

If you’re new to Coursera, you can access 7 days of education for free before signing up for a $39 per month subscription. Three months of training will cost approximately $117.

Jobs You Can Do and Salary 

This hands-on training class will give you all the knowledge you need to start a career as a Project Manager. You’ll also be able to pursue roles such as Project Coordinator, Operations Manager, Project Assistant, Operations Associate, Program Manager, Project Analyst, or Scrum Master. You can also look into roles like Project Administrator or Technical Project Manager.

The median entry-level salary for a professional in the Project Management space is $73,000 per year, depending on your experience and employer.

What You’ll Learn

This comprehensive course is an excellent option for students hoping to accelerate their journey into the world of project management. You’ll learn how to manage escalations, team dynamics, and stakeholders. There are behind-the-scenes insights into some of the top project management software, tools, and templates.

Plus, you’ll develop an understanding of budget creation and procurement techniques. The guidance also includes insights into implementing Scrum events, artifacts, and roles.

Other Project Management Certifications

• Best Project Management Certifications – the top PM certifications in the industry that pay well.

5. IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

One of the most popular analytics programs available today, the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate, helps students develop job-ready skills in the analysis landscape.

You’ll learn to use libraries, databases, Python, SQL, data analysis, and statistic analysis in your work. Plus, hands-on projects within the IBM cloud will give you a clear view of using real-world data sets in decision-making.

Cost and Duration

The IBM Data Science Professional Certificate includes 176 instruction and hands-on projects. If you allocate around 48 hours of study to the course monthly, you can earn your certification within 4 months.

A 7-day free trial is available from Coursera, followed by a monthly subscription fee of $49. If you complete your certification within 4 months, you’ll pay approximately $196.

Jobs You Can Do and Salary 

This professional certificate will prepare you for a range of roles related to Data Science. You can apply for a position as a Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Data Architect, Marketing Analyst, Data Engineer, Business Intelligence Analyst, Operations Analyst, or Quantitative Analyst.

The median entry-level salary for a data analyst is approximately $74,000, with opportunities to increase your income as you gain experience.

What You’ll Learn

The IBM Data Scientist Professional certificate provides students with all the core knowledge they need to thrive in a data science role. Around 26% of certificate grads taking this course have started a new career. The training also comes with special access to IBM’s talent network.

The course includes practical overviews of various leading libraries, including Pandas and Numpy, and guidance on using tools like R Studio, GitHub, and Jupyter.

6. Meta Social Media Marketing Certification

One of the highest-paying certifications in the social media landscape, the Meta Social Media Marketing certification is an industry-leading course that requires no prior experience.

Throughout the lessons, you’ll learn how to create a powerful online presence on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. The six-course program also provides guidance into other leading channels like YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, and more.

You’ll also discover how to analyze and assess your campaigns for optimization purposes effectively. Upon successfully completing the certification, students also gain access to the exclusive Meta Career programs job board, where they can find new potential roles.

Cost and Duration

There are approximately 70 hours of content included in the Meta Social Media Marketing certification in the form of written resources and videos. At a rate of around 48 hours of study per month, this course will take around 2 months to complete.

The course will cost $49 per month with a Coursera subscription ($98 in total), with a 7-day free trial for beginners.

Jobs You Can Do and Salary 

This online certification will prepare you for a variety of jobs in the social media space. You can pursue roles as a Social Media Manager, Social Media Specialist, Social Media Strategist, or paid media coordinator.

Entry-level salaries for social media marketers start at around $52,000 per year, with the opportunity to earn additional revenue as you gain experience.

What You’ll Learn

Taught by a leader in the social media landscape, the Meta Social media Marketing certification is one of the most lucrative certifications available. The course will teach you how to build a social media presence and online community and develop an effective social media strategy.

You’ll learn how to use social media tools like Meta Ads Manager to enhance business results and discover how to interpret the outcomes of your campaigns.

Other Social Media Marketing Certifications

• Reliablesoft Social Media Marketing Courses – three courses covering paid and organic social media marketing.
• Best Social Media Marketing Courses – great alternatives to the Meta Social Media certificate for learning social media marketing.

7. IBM Full Stack Software Developer Certification

The IBM Full Stack Software Developer certification aims to help students start a career in application development.

Throughout the lessons, students will discover how to use software development tools to build their own custom applications.

Cost and Duration

This course includes approximately 156 hours of instruction through videos and written resources. At a pace of 48 hours per month, you can complete the certification within 4 months.

Following your 7-day free trial of Coursera, there will be a subscription cost of $49 per month, meaning this course should cost around $196 to complete.

Jobs You Can Do and Salary 

This Professional Certificate will provide the skills you need to handle the challenges of becoming an entry-level application developer. You can pursue roles as a full-stack software developer, application developer, app manager, back-end developer, or front-end developer.

The average salary in the US for a junior full-stack developer is approximately $76,000 per year.

What You’ll Learn

The IBM Full Stack Software Developer certification provides comprehensive insight into all aspects of cloud software development. A combination of videos, written resources, and hands-on projects will allow you to kick-start your career and develop extensive experience.

You’ll also get a comprehensive overview of cloud computing, web development with CSS, JavaScript, and HTML, and commonly used tools like GitHub and React.

8. Meta Front-End Developer Certification

The Meta Front-End Developer certification will teach you to leverage tools like CSS, HTML5, and JavaScript to create stunning application interfaces.

The professional certificate comes with hands-on projects so you can build your own portfolio and show a custom-made app to potential employers. Plus, successful students also gain access to the exclusive Meta job board.

Cost and Duration

This certification includes around 76 hours of instruction in the form of detailed videos, written videos, and hands-on projects. At a pace of 48 hours of study per month, you should be able to complete the certification within less than 2 months.

The total cost of the course will be around $98, with a subscription to Coursera costing $49 per month, following a 7-day trial.

Jobs You Can Do and Salary 

This certification will provide you with the job-ready skills you need to begin a role as a front-end developer. However, you’ll also be able to apply for positions as a website developer, full stack developer, front-end engineer, or software engineer.

The median entry-level salary for a front-stack developer is approximately $76,000 per month.

What You’ll Learn

The Meta Front-End Developer certification is a comprehensive and easy-to-follow course that requires no prior experience. Taught by the creators of Facebook and Instagram, the lessons will teach you everything you need to know about responsive web design, UI/UX design, test-driven development, and object-oriented programming.

You’ll also be able to manage your own project in GitHub, and build a static version of an application using routing, hooks, React, frameworks, bundlers, and data fetching.

Other Meta Certifications

• Meta Back-End Developer Certificate – learn how to become a backend software developer from meta.
• Best Meta Certifications – a comprehensive review of all available Meta certifications.

9. Meta Database Engineer Certification

Another leading option for people searching for the highest-paying certifications, the Meta Database Engineer program teaches the job-ready skills professionals need to excel in database engineering.

You’ll learn how to design, deploy, and manage structured and unstructured data and gain hands-on experience with industry-leading tools.

The course also includes access to the exclusive Meta Job board for successful graduates and allows you to build assets for your portfolio.

Cost and Duration

There are approximately 170 hours of content to cover in total within this course. At a pace of 48 hours of study per month, you can complete the certification in 4 months.

The course will cost around $196, with a monthly subscription to Coursera at $49 per month.

Jobs You Can Do and Salary

The lessons in this program will prepare students for a career as a Database Engineer. However, you can also apply for related roles, such as Data Engineer or Architect, Database Administrator, Machine Learning Engineer, Software Engineer, or Solutions Architect.

The median entry-level salary for a Database Engineer is approximately $72,000 per year.

What You’ll Learn

The Meta Database Engineer certification prepares students to excel in a role associated with database management and creation. You’ll learn about industry-standard programming languages and use software like Django, Python, and SQL to create your own projects.

Upon completion, you should have all the skills necessary to create database-driven applications in Python and connect clients to MYSQL databases.

10. Google IT Support Professional Certification

Delivered by the experts at Google, the Google IT Support Professional Certification is one of the most popular choices for growing IT professionals.

This certification course will teach you the in-demand skills you need to operate and manage networking systems in less than 3 months.

Cost and Duration

This course includes a little over 100 hours of instruction alongside hundreds of practice-based assessments and hands-on labs. The certification will take approximately 3 months to complete at a rate of 48 hours per month.

In total, you can expect to pay around $117 for this course, with a Coursera subscription costing $39 per month.

Jobs You Can Do and Salary 

This certification primarily prepares students for a career as an IT specialist. However, you can also apply for roles as a Database administrator, Tech support specialist, Network Engineer, Help Desk Technician, Computer specialist, IT assistant, or IT Technician.

The median entry-level salary for an IT specialist is approximately $52,000 per year, depending on your expertise and experience.

What You’ll Learn

This comprehensive course will give you all of the guidance you need to apply for an entry-level job in the IT support landscape. After finishing the 5 courses, you can apply directly for jobs with Google and several associated partners.

The course will also prepare you for the CompTIA A+ examination for IT. Plus, the course is ACE-approved and can deliver up to 12 course credits to successful graduates.

Other Google Career Certifications

• Google Career Certifications – a review of the best Google certifications that pay well.

How Much You Can Earn With a Certification?

With a top-paying certification, you can get an annual salary between $52K and $76K. The table below compares the salaries of popular certifications that pay well.

* Certificate duration is calculated for studying 12 hours per week

Other Certifications That Pay Well

Here is a list of additional certifications that can be completed in less than 4 months and can give you a salary between $52K and $115K annually.