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Certificate Programs That Pay Well, According to the Data

Compare certificate fields using reported graduate earnings from federal college data.

Top earnings$56,6701 year after completion
Top certificate fieldRegistered NursingHighest reported graduate earnings
Fields shown50With enough comparable data
ProgramRankEarnings / Yr
1 yr after completion
Earnings / Yr
5 yrs after completion
Schools
Registered Nursing 1 $56,670 $72,487 18
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. 2 $50,381 $45,756 3
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians. 3 $46,786 $58,701 49
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians. 4 $45,762 $65,459 16
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. 5 $43,827 $54,446 29
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians. 6 $43,626 $38,733 10
Fire Protection. 7 $43,255 $56,118 6
Agricultural Mechanization. 8 $43,216 $55,590 3
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. 9 $41,582 $51,695 226
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. 10 $40,534 $55,791 10
Criminal Justice and Corrections. 11 $40,468 $47,694 79
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians. 12 $38,694 $53,241 4
Computer Programming. 13 $38,661 $64,460 3
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. 14 $38,448 $50,318 631
Ground Transportation. 15 $37,493 $53,557 12
Legal Support Services. 16 $36,545 $55,490 28
Computer and Information Sciences, General. 17 $36,227 $45,260 11
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science. 18 $36,160 $56,635 5
Accounting and Related Services. 19 $35,784 $32,080 42
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers. 20 $35,556 $51,356 137
Precision Metal Working. 21 $34,653 $44,576 283
Carpenters. 22 $34,292 $44,355 8
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. 23 $33,816 $42,373 3
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. 24 $33,196 $37,334 5
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians. 25 $33,118 $47,148 267
Business Administration, Management and Operations. 26 $32,800 $40,759 44
Business/Commerce, General. 27 $32,744 $78,366 4
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR). 28 $32,358 $45,173 188
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. 29 $32,097 $49,781 16
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services. 30 $31,700 $43,806 14
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians. 31 $30,848 $40,768 40
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians. 32 $30,644 $38,936 5
Computer Software and Media Applications. 33 $30,535 $38,714 7
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. 34 $29,288 $37,412 14
Public Health. 35 $28,528 — 6
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. 36 $27,387 $31,968 30
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians. 37 $27,324 $42,897 23
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. 38 $26,896 $24,132 4
Design and Applied Arts. 39 $26,794 $72,830 10
Liberal Arts, General Studies & Humanities 40 $25,774 $42,628 62
Construction Trades, General. 41 $25,696 $42,804 4
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection. 42 $25,247 $32,178 20
Health and Medical Administrative Services. 43 $24,862 $32,536 303
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. 44 $24,413 $29,691 247
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems. 45 $24,292 $27,532 4
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. 46 $23,956 $30,835 508
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians. 47 $23,488 $27,249 15
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. 48 $23,212 $27,895 25
Human Services, General. 49 $22,878 — 3
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services. 50 $21,749 $28,439 68

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