The Cheapest Professional Certificates That Pay Pretty Well

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The American economy as a whole may be an unstoppable force these days, but on an individual level most of us feel pretty poor. While some of that may be “money dysmorphia,” it’s also a fact that everything costs more these days, and until very recently our incomes haven’t kept pace.

In a capitalist society, the answer to any problem is usually “more money,” so a lot of people have been wondering how they can level up their earning power, especially if they don’t have a college degree or experience in a well-paying field. While there are a lot of professions that only require a certificate or license, paying for that when you’re already broke can be a challenge.

But not every professional certificate costs an arm and/or a leg. Here are eight professional certificates that are relatively cheap but can lead to robust careers.

Drone pilot

Cost: $225

Potential salary: $98,249

Drone pilot careers seem like a glitch in the matrix. Chances are, if you’re somewhat good at video games you could probably be a good drone pilot, and yet this career path averages close to six figures in terms of income. Even more amazing, to become a certified drone pilot you just need your Part 107 certificate, which costs just $175. If you need some help to pass the exam, a drone pilot course will run you about $50, making your total cost $225 (although you’ll probably need a drone to practice with, which might run you a bit more). Even if you find a job for a lot less than six figures, that’s a pretty great deal.

You might wonder who hires drone pilots—the main industries looking for these skills include photography businesses (including real estate photographers), film and television production companies, and surveying companies.

Home inspector

Cost: $500 - $800

Potential salary: $48,000 to $78,000

Home inspectors are always in demand, because people are still buying houses and still worried about buying a money pit. While a background in construction or home maintenance might give you a leg up, it’s not required—if you can meet your state’s requirements (and some states don’t even require a high school diploma to certify you as a home inspector), you're good to go. All you generally need to do is take a Home Inspector Education Course that costs anywhere from $500 to $800, pass your state’s exam, and start up your business. How much you make depends entirely on you; while the range is generally between $48,000 and $78,000 per year, it depends on how many inspections you can schedule every day.

Real estate agent

Cost: $1,325

Potential salary: $139,286

Real estate often seems like everyone’s fallback career. Lose a job? Retire? Get into real estate! Well, there’s a reason for that: It’s not hard to get licensed, and there’s potential for a lot of money. The operative word there is potential, because real estate is not a magical journey where money rains out of the sky—most newbie real estate agents work for brokers who sponsor them, and they often start off working the lowest-paying listings and paying part of their commissions up to their broker.

But getting licensed as a real estate agent isn’t too expensive—about $1,325, including fees—and the average income is just under $140,000 if you stick with it. The only catch is that it takes a lot of knowledge to pass that exam, so be prepared to study your butt off.

EMT

Cost: $1,000 to $2,000

Potential salary: $98,000

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are an essential part of our emergency medical system—these are the folks who show up in an ambulance and offer emergency stabilizing treatment while getting you to a hospital. It’s a high-pressure, high-stress job, but it can pay close to six figures. Getting certified as an EMT isn’t a high barrier, either, as long as you can master the skills and knowledge required. Most courses cost between $1,000 and $2,000 (equipment and exam fees might be extra). If you have a passion for serving your community and saving lives, this certificate offers an excellent ROI.

Funeral director

Cost: $4,000 to $21,000

Potential salary: $64,617

Being a funeral director isn’t for everyone, obviously, and getting licensed can cost a bit more than some of the other certifications on this list (up to $21,000 depending on the program). And it won’t get you into six figures easily, averaging just under $65,000 a year. But if you find a program under $5,000, it’s a career that offers something invaluable: Job security.

Medical coder

Cost: $3,564

Potential salary: $48,780

Medical billing involves knowing how to appropriately code medical services so insurers and healthcare systems can bill properly for them. It’s precise work, but it’s work that anyone can do if they apply themselves and complete the appropriate training. While the average salary is just under $50,000, it’s a growing industry, and getting a two-year certification to work in it usually costs under $4,000 (although you can spend much more), making it a solid investment.

Massage therapist

Cost: $10,000+

Potential salary: $57,060

Just because your friends tell you that you have “magic hands” doesn’t mean you’re ready to just open up a massage therapy business. To get certified as a massage therapist in most states, you’ll need to complete 500 hours (or more) of training. And that training isn’t as cheap as some of the other programs listed here, costing about $10,000 or more. But that’s still a lot less than the average cost of a four-year degree (about $38,270). If you complete that training, you can look forward to a career earning an average of about $57,600.

Air traffic controller

Cost: $10,000 to $35,000

Potential salary: $129,750

You might assume you need all kinds of arcane experience to become an air traffic controller, responsible for preventing air disasters and keeping your flights from ramming into each other. You’d be wrong: It’s relatively easy to become an air traffic controller (ATC). You don’t need a degree, although getting one is often helpful. All you absolutely need is to complete a training course offered by the Federal Aviation Administration and passing an exam.

Technically, you can become an air traffic controller without any degree as long as you pass the exam, but it’s usually necessary to either have training (from military service, for example) or to complete at least a two-year Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) school. The FAA has a list of approved CTI schools on its website. Total costs can go as high as $35,000, but can be as low as $10,000—and ATCs enjoy a median salary of $129,750.