15 Certifications That Pay Well (and Help You Change Careers)

The right certification can boost your salary, help you change careers and get your resume past applicant tracking systems. Here are 15 certifications that pay well and are frequently requested in job postings.

Cloud computing

1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate / Professional — one of the most requested cloud credentials.
2. Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
3. Google Professional Cloud Architect
4. HashiCorp Terraform Associate — infrastructure as code skills are in high demand.
5. Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

Cybersecurity

6. CISSP — senior security professionals and managers
7. CompTIA Security+ — the most common entry-level security certification
8. CISM — security management
9. AWS Certified Security – Specialty

Project and product management

10. PMP (Project Management Professional)
11. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or PMI-ACP

Data and AI

12. Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
13. Google Data Analytics Certificate — beginner-friendly
14. AWS Certified Machine Learning / AI practitioner credentials

Business and IT service

15. ITIL 4 Foundation — IT service management

How to choose the right certification

• Match job postings. Search your target role and count which certifications appear most.
• Consider prerequisites. Some (PMP, CISSP) require years of experience.
• Factor in cost and time. Associate-level cloud certs often take 6–12 weeks of study.
• Combine with hands-on projects — certifications get interviews; skills get offers.

Showing certifications on your resume

Add a “Certifications” section with the full name, issuing body and year. Also mention key certifications in your summary — recruiters and ATS systems search for them. See skills to put on a resume.

Certification roadmaps by goal

• Break into cloud: AWS Cloud Practitioner → AWS Solutions Architect – Associate → Terraform Associate
• Break into security: CompTIA A+ or Network+ → Security+ → a cloud security specialty
• Move into project management: CAPM or Scrum Master → PMP once you meet experience requirements
• Move into data: Google Data Analytics → Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) → a cloud data engineering certification

How to study efficiently

Use the official exam guide as your checklist, combine one video course with hands-on labs, and take practice exams to find weak areas. Schedule your exam date up front — a deadline keeps you consistent. Most associate-level certifications are achievable with 60–120 hours of focused study.

Do certifications expire?

Many do. Cloud certifications commonly need renewal every few years, and some credentials like PMP and CISSP require continuing education credits. Factor renewal into your plan.

Certifications that pay well: key takeaways

Here is a quick recap of certifications that pay well to save or share:

• The best certifications that pay well appear frequently in job postings.
• Cloud and security credentials remain in especially high demand.
• Combine certifications with hands-on projects to win offers.
• Plan for renewals and continuing education.

For official labor-market data and more career research, see the Project Management Institute (PMI) and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. Ready to put this into practice? Make sure your resume matches every job you apply for with the HiReXL ATS Resume Optimizer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest certification that pays well?

Entry-level credentials like AWS Cloud Practitioner, CompTIA Security+ and Google Data Analytics are accessible and can lead to well-paying roles when combined with projects.

Are certifications worth it without experience?

Yes, especially when paired with portfolio projects. They signal foundational knowledge and help resumes pass keyword filters.

Which IT certification is most in demand?

Cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and security certifications (Security+, CISSP) are consistently among the most requested.