Highest-paying jobs with a certificate
The best-paid is commercial pilots, with a median of $123,220 a year. 3 of the 51 occupations here have a median of $100,000 or more. The median for all U.S. occupations is $50,980.
How this list is built. Occupations where the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists “Postsecondary nondegree award” as the typical education needed to enter the occupation (Employment Projections 2025–35). Some workers in these jobs have more or less education than the typical entrant.
Source BLS-OEWS · Period May 2025 · # = national rank shown on each page51 records · annual wages, USD
| No. | Occupation | Median | Top 10% earn over | Typical entry | Jobs 2025–35 | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial Pilots | $123,220 | $266,620 | Certificate | +5.2% | 47,630 |
| 2 | Ship Engineers | $109,530 | $165,490 | Certificate | +2.7% | 8,400 |
| 3 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | $103,020 | $129,920 | Certificate | +9.7% | 20,720 |
| 4 | Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | $97,150 | $167,470 | Certificate | +6.1% | 2,340 |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 | $140,010 | Certificate | +3.7% | 99,140 |
| 6 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $92,460 | $170,640 | Certificate | +4.0% | 36,850 |
| 7 | Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | $84,890 | $116,810 | Certificate | +5.4% | 6,940 |
| 8 | Avionics Technicians | $82,280 | $113,680 | Certificate | +9.4% | 18,830 |
| 9 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | $79,870 | $128,890 | Certificate | +5.4% | 138,090 |
| 10 | Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | $78,240 | $101,590 | Certificate | -8.7% | 11,560 |
| 11 | Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $75,920 | $118,750 | Certificate | +4.2% | 13,800 |
| 12 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | $74,090 | $105,590 | Certificate | +0.3% | 65,010 |
| 13 | Sound Engineering Technicians | $73,130 | $137,370 | Certificate | -3.1% | 13,080 |
| 14 | Commercial Divers | $72,990 | $157,790 | Certificate | +4.8% | 3,450 |
| 15 | Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $72,420 | $130,560 | Certificate | -0.1% | 12,870 |
| 16 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | $68,120 | $100,320 | Certificate | +5.9% | 28,500 |
| 17 | Lighting Technicians | $68,060 | $130,760 | Certificate | -4.8% | 8,900 |
| 18 | Surgical Assistants | $66,800 | $107,610 | Certificate | +6.1% | 22,270 |
| 19 | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other | $65,790 | $129,830 | Certificate | +5.1% | 35,010 |
| 20 | Surgical Technologists | $64,650 | $96,940 | Certificate | +5.0% | 117,460 |
| 21 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | $83,440 | Certificate | +3.0% | 648,410 |
| 22 | Wind Turbine Service Technicians | $64,120 | $92,460 | Certificate | +29.5% | 9,980 |
| 23 | Tool and Die Makers | $64,050 | $92,680 | Certificate | -9.2% | 56,930 |
| 24 | Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | $63,890 | $96,730 | Certificate | -3.3% | 140,920 |
| 25 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $61,010 | $95,210 | Certificate | +10.9% | 409,670 |
| 26 | Paramedics | $60,600 | $84,850 | Certificate | +5.7% | 100,610 |
| 27 | Firefighters | $59,280 | $101,040 | Certificate | +3.7% | 345,990 |
| 28 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $79,380 | Certificate | +3.8% | 2,062,040 |
| 29 | Massage Therapists | $58,450 | $100,200 | Certificate | +15.3% | 98,790 |
| 30 | Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $100,650 | Certificate | +3.9% | 70,230 |
| 31 | Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers | $52,600 | $84,190 | Certificate | +4.8% | 19,780 |
| 32 | Medical Records Specialists | $51,140 | $81,150 | Certificate | +7.8% | 194,720 |
| 33 | Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $50,620 | $81,790 | Certificate | +5.0% | 704,640 |
| 34 | Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,290 | $85,270 | Certificate | +5.9% | 182,610 |
| 35 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | $48,690 | $66,080 | Certificate | -15.3% | 23,840 |
| 36 | Motorcycle Mechanics | $48,580 | $74,400 | Certificate | +2.1% | 13,510 |
| 37 | Dental Assistants | $48,070 | $62,250 | Certificate | +7.4% | 387,790 |
| 38 | Cooks, Private Household | $47,940 | $91,130 | Certificate | +5.1% | 1,100 |
| 39 | Motorboat Operators | $47,520 | $84,530 | Certificate | +4.9% | 2,480 |
| 40 | Medical Assistants | $45,690 | $59,310 | Certificate | +12.9% | 817,870 |
| 41 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | $45,570 | $61,940 | Certificate | +21.4% | 71,010 |
| 42 | Skincare Specialists | $45,330 | $82,050 | Certificate | +8.8% | 72,890 |
| 43 | Phlebotomists | $45,230 | $58,780 | Certificate | +6.8% | 143,540 |
| 44 | Psychiatric Technicians | $45,130 | $60,750 | Certificate | +22.3% | 156,960 |
| 45 | Library Technicians | $44,580 | $63,080 | Certificate | -6.4% | 68,690 |
| 46 | Emergency Medical Technicians | $44,470 | $62,500 | Certificate | +5.8% | 180,510 |
| 47 | Nursing Assistants | $42,260 | $51,980 | Certificate | +2.6% | 1,448,910 |
| 48 | Medical Transcriptionists | $40,410 | $55,950 | Certificate | -4.4% | 41,550 |
| 49 | Barbers | $38,210 | $76,460 | Certificate | +3.3% | 15,000 |
| 50 | Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $71,190 | Certificate | +7.7% | 305,710 |
| 51 | Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,760 | $50,140 | Certificate | +9.2% | 152,770 |
“No.” is the position in this list. Each occupation page shows its rank among all occupations. Wages exclude the self-employed, overtime and non-production bonuses.