By Which Certificate Course Has The Highest Salary?
In 2024/25, around 1.17 million people enrolled in certifications for a higher salary. (Source: Gov.UK).
Aged 36, all my life, I have heard people saying, “Get a degree, do a job, and eventually you will land a high-paying job.”
And just like every other person, I was in the rat race in academia to earn a degree.
Yes, you read right: a degree—spending 4 years in an institute. But in today’s world, the dynamics have significantly changed.
Do degrees still matter? Without a doubt! However, if you want a high-paying career but don’t want to spend time earning a complete 4-year degree, enrolling in certifications is the right option for you.
It also helps in boosting your CV and attracting recruiters. So, let’s discuss some of the industries that offer amazing certification opportunities with better job prospects.
What’s the Difference Between a Degree and a Certificate?
“Degree” and “certificate,” these are the two terms you have read above. And I’m assuming most of you would know the difference.
But let’s break them down in detail, leaving no point uncovered about them.
| Degree | Certificate | |
| Time | 2-6 years | Within a year |
| Tuition | $3000-$8000 | $250-$2500 |
| Career | Government & Law, Software Development, Financial Analysis, Nursing, etc. | Project Management, Marketing, Data & AI, Healthcare & Allied Health, Safety & Skilled Trades, etc. |
| Salary range | $49,000-$100,000 | $43,000-$120,000 |
Let’s quickly go through this table. It clearly shows that a degree takes longer to complete, it’s more expensive, and it offers almost the same salary bracket.
Moreover, for some professionals (like teachers), a relevant degree is required. And also, universities foster professional networking, critical thinking skills, and personal independence.
On the contrary, certifications are less time-consuming and more affordable, and some courses (that we will be discussing from the next heading) offer amazing salary brackets.
But just like everything has its cons, certifications can be quickly outdated for some industries (like IT), and also lack broad and foundational knowledge about the field.
Top 3 High Salary-Focused Certifications and Their Careers
Let’s breakdown top 3 high-salary-focused certifications for UK people.
1. Project Management Certifications
| Do you know?
According to the PMP-certified survey, respondents reported a median salary of $135,000, compared to $109,157 for those non-certified, around a 24% difference. |
Project management certifications validate skill in leading projects, with the Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) from PMI being the gold standard for experienced professionals and requiring proven expertise in agile, predictive, and hybrid methods.
Project managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They are the central point for ensuring the deliverables are completed on time, within budget, and according to the specifications.
Here are the requirements to earn a CAPM:
- Must have a high school diploma, associate degree, or equivalent.
- Complete 1500 hours of project experience OR take 23 hours of project management education.
- Clear a 150-question exam through the Project Management Institute (PMI).
- Lastly, pay a fee of $220-$300.
For PMP, the requirements are:
| PMP requirements with less than a 4-year degree | PMP requirements with a 4-year degree |
| High school diploma, associate degree, or equivalent | Get a bachelor’s degree. |
| Hold 7,500 hours of project leadership experience | Work for 4,500 hours leading a project |
| Completion of 35 hours of education in project management | Take 35 hours of education in project management |
| Clear a 200-question exam | Pass a 200-question exam |
| Pay a fee of $400-$550 | Pay a fee of $400-$550 |
2. Business Analyst Certifications
| Do you know?
Business analysis professionals who are certified earn about 13% more than their non-certified peers. (Source: IIBA) |
Business analyst certifications validate skills in bridging business needs and IT solutions, with top providers like IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis) and BCS offering tiered options from entry-level (IIBA ECBA, BCS Foundation) to experienced (IIBA CBAP, BCS Advanced).
Business analysts work with companies to analyze processes, products, and services to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
The popular choices by professionals for this field’s certifications are Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) or the IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AAC).
Here are the requirements to enroll for CBAP and IIBA-AAC:
| CBAP requirements | IIBA-AAC requirements |
| Completion of 7,500 hours of business analysis experience in 10 years, ensuring 900 of those hours meet 4-6 BABOK Guide knowledge areas. | No specified requirements |
| Must possess at least 35 hours of professional development credits over the past four years. | 2-5 years of agile-related experience |
| Pass the 120-question CBAP exam | Complete the 85-question exam in 2 hours. |
| Pay around $350-$450, along with $120 as application fee | Pay exam fee worth $325-$450, plus $120 as an application fee |
3. Human Resources Certifications
| Do you know?
Research shows that HR professionals with certification can see a salary boost of up to 31.6% and are up to 25% more likely to get a promotion. |
Human Resource Certifications are professional credentials, such as SHRM-CP/SCP and HRCI PHR/SPHR, that validate expertise in HR strategy, management, and compliance.
If you are employed in HR or are thinking to pursue this field, you can consider enrolling in a relevant certification to show employers that you have taken the right step.
Also, recruiters seek individuals with the relevant skillset or holding certifications, as it proves leadership, strong communication, and conflict resolution.
Furthermore, the highly in-demand certifications include Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
The table below shows the requirements to enroll in PHR and SPHR:
| PHR requirements | SPHR requirements |
| Have at least 4 years of experience working in HR OR | Have at least 7 years of experience working in HR OR |
| Have a two-year bachelor’s degree in HR OR | 5 years of professional experience as HR with a bachelor’s degree OR |
| 1-year professional experience in HR with a master’s degree | At least 4 years of HR experience with a master’s degree. |
This is where you get an abundance of options to enroll in your designated human resource certifications.
Also, through this certification, you will be writing tons of assignments to show your critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and employee engagement by incorporating relevant HR theories and examples.
So if you ever get stuck on that, seek Professional HR Assignment Writing Help UK to keep on learning and growing in the field!
You can also read techniques to manage HR assignments deadlines and write your content without any stress and chaos.
Final Words
This guide highlighted the top three highest-paying certifications you could do in the UK in 2026, which are:
- Project Management Certifications
- Business Analyst Certifications
- Human Resources Certifications
Make sure to read the job role and the requirements to enroll in a specific program. Also, certifications consume less time, are affordable, and bring high earning potential.
