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10 High-Paying Jobs You Can Get With Just a Certification (Not a Degree)

Health care and public safety are among the options for jobseekers.

By Chris Adam

Edited by Sara Albertelli

Updated Jan. 11, 2026

You may be looking for a new job in 2026. Perhaps you don't want to go back to school but want to secure a high-paying job that doesn't require a college degree.

If that sounds like your plan for the new year, here's a look at 10 high-paying jobs you could get with a certification that could help you move beyond living paycheck to paycheck.

Editor's note: Salary information comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

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Massage therapist

Median annual salary: $57,950

You'll often find work as a massage therapist in places like spas and health offices. You could also travel to client homes and area events. As a massage therapist, you would apply pressure and massage techniques to treat clients.

Typically, massage therapists complete a postsecondary education, as many states require a license or certification. Generally, you are able to become a massage therapist after graduating from an approved program and passing an exam.

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Firefighter

Median annual salary: $59,530

You could be a community hero and earn a nice salary as a firefighter. You could help put out fires and respond to other emergencies. You may need to be on-call at the station and work long shifts.

A firefighter often receives training at a fire academy after high school and may obtain emergency medical tech (EMT) certification.

Fire inspector

Median annual salary: $75,480

Certification, on-the-job training, and experience as a firefighter may lead to rewarding work as a fire inspector. Some postsecondary instruction, such as that required for emergency medical tech (EMT) certification, may be needed. The Certified Fire Inspector I (CFI-I) may also be beneficial when pursuing this career path.

In this role, you'll help identify fire risks, suggest ways to prevent them, make sure safety regulations are followed, and look into what caused fires when they occur. These inspectors work in office settings and on-site.

Medical records specialist

Median annual salary: $50,250

As a medical records specialist, you could compile, process, and maintain patient files. You may spend lots of hours at a computer in this role. These specialists typically need a postsecondary certificate to enter the occupation, as certification may be required or preferred.

Community colleges and technical schools often offer certificates and associate's degrees for this career path.

Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic

Median annual salary: $59,810

You could enjoy work outside of an office as a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic or installer. You would work on systems in homes, schools, hospitals, and other buildings.

You may need to tackle a period of on-the-job training, and many workers have a license or certification. Programs for these kinds of techs may be offered at tech and trade schools or community colleges.

Surgical assistant

Median annual salary: $62,480

Being a surgical assistant would allow you to work in health care and help with surgeries. Many assistants and technologists work in hospitals and spend most of their time on their feet. You should be able to enter the field with a certificate.

Many community colleges and vocational schools, as well as some universities and hospitals, offer accredited surgical technology or surgical assisting programs. Some states regulate these types of workers.

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Court reporter

Median annual salary: $67,310

If you like legal dramas, you may be familiar with the work of a court reporter. They create word-for-word transcriptions and trials and other legal proceedings. A similar job, called a simultaneous captioner, provides similar transcriptions for television or for presentations.

Many community colleges and tech institutes offer certificate programs for these areas. Certification programs help students build the skills and confidence they need to pass required licensing exams and typing-speed tests that most states and employers expect.

Aircraft mechanic

Median annual salary: $79,140

Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and techs install, test, and repair equipment and systems in aircraft. They typically work in hangars, repair stations, or on airfields. A certificate from a Federal Aviation Administration-approved program may be needed for this type of role.

Programs that are affiliated with community colleges offer students the opportunity to earn an associate's degree. On-the-job training is a great way to learn in this kind of work.

Long-haul truck driver

Median annual salary: $57,440

Working as a heavy or tractor-trailer truck driver means transporting goods from one place to another. Being a long-haul truck driver could mean days or weeks away from home at a time.

These drivers may go to a professional truck driving school and obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL) after taking training courses to learn how to maneuver large vehicles on highways or through crowded streets.

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Telecommunications technician

Median annual salary: $64,310

Telecommunications techs install, maintain, and repair radio, internet, and other telecommunications infrastructure. They may travel frequently to installation and repair sites. These techs may need a certificate to enter the occupation.

Such certificates may be available after training at community colleges. Community colleges and technical schools offer courses in subjects such as data transmission systems, data communication, AC/DC electrical circuits, and computer programming. These workers also often have on-the-job training.

Bottom line

Health care and public safety are just a couple of areas where you could secure a high-paying job and get ahead financially with a certification. These roles may offer rewarding duties and lead to advancement opportunities.

At a time when many workers are looking for a new job, there is a lot of tough competition. If you want to start exploring opportunities to get a new job with a certification, one place to start is the website for your local community or technical college. You could get an idea of just how many opportunities are available.

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