---
title: "Short Certificate Programs That Pay Well | CareerDirecting"
description: "Jobs where a postsecondary certificate is the usual way in, ranked by May 2025 median pay, from HVAC and LPN to phlebotomy and CDL."
url: https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/short-certificate-programs/
updated: 2026-10-09
site: CareerDirecting
---

Lists · Certificates

# Short certificate programs that pay well A year or less of school, real wages after.

Postsecondary certificates

A certificate is the shortest formal credential most schools offer, and for a lot of jobs it is exactly what employers want. These are the jobs where BLS says a certificate is the typical way in.

In short

Certificate programs that lead to good pay include practical nursing, HVAC, wind turbine technology, surgical technology and commercial truck driving. In BLS data, licensed practical nurses earn a median of $64,400 and HVAC technicians $61,010. Programs often run from a few weeks to about a year, and many qualify for federal aid.

**Job numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics** Updated October 9, 2026. Pay figures are national medians and are not a promise of what you will earn.

**On this page**

1. [ Certificate jobs, ranked by pay](#s-certificate-jobs-ranked-by-pay)
2. [What a certificate is](#s-what-a-certificate-is)
3. [Paying for it](#s-paying-for-it)
4. [Questions people ask](#s-faq)

## Certificate jobs, ranked by pay

Sort by

Jobs where a certificate is the typical way in

| # | Job | Median pay | Typical way in | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial pilots [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/airline-and-commercial-pilots.htm) | $123,220 | Certificate | 5.2% | 5,200 |
| 2 | Ship engineers [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/water-transportation-occupations.htm) | $109,530 | Certificate | 2.7% | 900 |
| 3 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/electrical-and-electronics-installers-and-repairers.htm) | $103,020 | Certificate | 9.7% | 1,800 |
| 4 | Makeup artists, theatrical and performance | $97,150 | Certificate | 6.1% | 600 |
| 5 | Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/water-transportation-occupations.htm) | $92,460 | Certificate | 4% | 3,800 |
| 6 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/electrical-and-electronics-installers-and-repairers.htm) | $84,890 | Certificate | 5.4% | 500 |
| 7 | Avionics technicians [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/aircraft-and-avionics-equipment-mechanics-and-technicians.htm) | $82,280 | Certificate | 9.4% | 1,700 |
| 8 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/aircraft-and-avionics-equipment-mechanics-and-technicians.htm) | $79,870 | Certificate | 5.4% | 11,400 |
| 9 | Insurance appraisers, auto damage [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/claims-adjusters-appraisers-examiners-and-investigators.htm) | $78,240 | Certificate | a decline of 8.7% | 700 |
| 10 | Fire inspectors and investigators [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/fire-inspectors-and-investigators.htm) | $75,920 | Certificate | 4.2% | 1,600 |
| 11 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/electrical-and-electronics-installers-and-repairers.htm) | $74,090 | Certificate | 0.3% | 4,700 |
| 12 | Sound engineering technicians [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/broadcast-and-sound-engineering-technicians.htm) | $73,130 | Certificate | a decline of 3.1% | 1,000 |
| 13 | Commercial divers | $72,990 | Certificate | 4.8% | 400 |
| 14 | Court reporters and simultaneous captioners [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/court-reporters.htm) | $72,420 | Certificate | a decline of 0.1% | 1,800 |
| 15 | Computer numerically controlled tool programmers [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/metal-and-plastic-machine-workers.htm) | $68,120 | Certificate | 5.9% | 2,700 |
| 16 | Lighting technicians [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/broadcast-and-sound-engineering-technicians.htm) | $68,060 | Certificate | a decline of 4.8% | 600 |
| 17 | Surgical assistants [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/surgical-technologists.htm) | $66,800 | Certificate | 6.1% | 1,400 |
| 18 | [Surgical technologists](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/surgical-technologist/) | $64,650 | Certificate | 5% | 7,100 |
| 19 | [Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/lpn/) | $64,400 | Certificate | 3% | 51,800 |
| 20 | Wind turbine service technicians [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/wind-turbine-technicians.htm) | $64,120 | Certificate | 29.5% | 1,500 |
| 21 | Tool and die makers [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/machinists-and-tool-and-die-makers.htm) | $64,050 | Certificate | a decline of 9.2% | 4,300 |
| 22 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/telecommunications-equipment-installers-and-repairers-except-line-installers.htm) | $63,890 | Certificate | a decline of 3.3% | 11,300 |
| 23 | [Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/hvac/) | $61,010 | Certificate | 10.9% | 40,600 |
| 24 | [Paramedics](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/paramedic/) | $60,600 | Certificate | 5.7% | 4,300 |
| 25 | [Firefighters](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/firefighter/) | $59,280 | Certificate | 3.7% | 26,800 |

Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm) (Table 1.2), May 2025 median wages, retrieved 2026-10-09. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or switch fields.

## What a certificate is

BLS calls it a "postsecondary nondegree award." It is a program after high school that ends in a certificate or diploma rather than a degree. Community colleges, technical colleges and private trade schools all offer them. Some lead to a state license or a national certification exam.

## Paying for it

Many certificate programs at accredited schools qualify for [Pell Grants](https://careerdirecting.com/paying-for-school/pell-grant-for-trade-school/) if you meet the rules. Your local American Job Center may also pay for training through [WIOA](https://careerdirecting.com/paying-for-school/wioa/).

## Questions people ask

### What is the highest-paying certificate?

Commercial pilots and ship engineers top the certificate list, but both need long flight or sea time. Among more common paths, avionics technicians, aircraft mechanics and LPNs pay well.

### How long are certificate programs?

It varies a lot. Truck driving programs can be a few weeks; practical nursing usually takes about a year.

### Are online certificates worth it?

For desk jobs like billing and coding, online can work well. For hands-on jobs, you need lab or clinical time in person.

## Sources

- [BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035, Table 1.2 (occupational projections and worker characteristics)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)
- [BLS Employment Projections: education and training assignments](https://www.bls.gov/emp/documentation/education/tech.htm)
- [Federal Student Aid: Federal Pell Grants](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell)

## Where to go next

- [6-month certificates](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/6-month-certificate-programs/)
- [Payback calculator](https://careerdirecting.com/career-quiz/training-payback-calculator/)
- [Paying for school](https://careerdirecting.com/paying-for-school/)
- [Jobs without a degree](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/)
- [AI-proof jobs](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/ai-proof-jobs/)
- [Associate degree jobs](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/associate-degree-jobs/)
- [Trades for women](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/best-trades-for-women/)
- [Best trades to learn](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/best-trades-to-learn/)

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