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Great careers come from many paths. Explore how the military, skilled trades, and fast certifications can help you earn money, learn real skills, and build a future you're proud of — often while getting paid to train.

42
all paths to explore
up to $200k
top earning potential
from ~3 wks
to start earning
$0
degree debt required
Military

Army

Be all you can be.

Starting Pay
~$2,260/month (entry-level base pay)
Top Potential
$100,000+/year (officers & senior enlisted)
Training
10 weeks basic + job school
Always recruiting
Military

Navy

Forged by the sea.

Starting Pay
~$2,260/month (entry-level base pay)
Top Potential
$100,000+/year (officers & senior enlisted)
Training
9 weeks boot camp + job school
Always recruiting
Military

Marine Corps

The few. The proud.

Starting Pay
~$2,260/month (entry-level base pay)
Top Potential
$100,000+/year (officers & senior enlisted)
Training
13 weeks boot camp + job school
Always recruiting
Military

Air Force

Aim high.

Starting Pay
~$2,260/month (entry-level base pay)
Top Potential
$100,000+/year (officers & senior enlisted)
Training
7.5 weeks basic + tech school
Always recruiting
Military

Coast Guard

Always ready.

Starting Pay
~$2,260/month (entry-level base pay)
Top Potential
$100,000+/year (officers & senior enlisted)
Training
8 weeks basic + job school
Small & selective
Military

Space Force

Semper supra — always above.

Starting Pay
~$2,260/month (entry-level base pay)
Top Potential
$100,000+/year (officers & senior enlisted)
Training
7.5 weeks basic + tech school
Very selective
Trade

Electrician

Power the world around you.

Starting Pay
~$38,000/year (apprentice)
Top Potential
$100,000+ (master electrician / business owner)
Training
4–5 year paid apprenticeship
Growing faster than average
Trade

Plumber

Every building needs you.

Starting Pay
~$36,000/year (apprentice)
Top Potential
$100,000+ (master plumber / business owner)
Training
4–5 year paid apprenticeship
Steady demand everywhere
Trade

HVAC Technician

Keep homes comfortable year-round.

Starting Pay
~$38,000/year (entry tech)
Top Potential
$85,000+ (senior tech / business owner)
Training
6 months – 2 years
Growing fast
Trade

Welder

Build things that last.

Starting Pay
~$40,000/year (entry welder)
Top Potential
$100,000+ (pipeline & underwater welding)
Training
7 months – 2 years
Steady demand
Trade

Medical / CNA

Care for people every day.

Starting Pay
~$35,000/year (CNA)
Top Potential
$86,000+ (after becoming an RN)
Training
4–12 weeks
Fastest-growing field
Trade

CDL Truck Driver

See the country. Get paid for it.

Starting Pay
~$45,000/year (first year)
Top Potential
$90,000+ (long-haul & specialty freight)
Training
3–7 weeks CDL school
Strong nationwide demand
CertificationIT & Cloud

IT Support Specialist

Your entry ticket into tech.

Starting Pay
~$45,000/year (help desk)
Top Potential
$110,000+ (cybersecurity / cloud roles)
Training
3–6 months
Cost
Free study; exams ~$130+
Tech jobs keep growing
CertificationHealthcare

EMT

Be the first to help.

Starting Pay
~$35,000/year (EMT)
Top Potential
$70,000+ (paramedic / flight medic)
Training
3–6 months
Cost
$1,000–$2,000
Growing faster than average
CertificationHealthcare

Pharmacy Technician

Healthcare without the hospital.

Starting Pay
~$35,000/year (retail)
Top Potential
$55,000+ (hospital / lead tech)
Training
4–12 months
Cost
$500–$3,000
Steady healthcare demand
CertificationMarketing & Sales

Real Estate Agent

Turn people skills into income.

Starting Pay
~$45,000/year (first years vary)
Top Potential
$150,000+ (top agents)
Training
2–5 months
Cost
$200–$800
Driven by your hustle
CertificationAI & Data

Google AI Essentials

Learn to use AI tools like a pro — in under a day.

Starting Pay
Boosts pay in any role
Training
5–10 hours
Cost
$49 (financial aid available)
Explosive demand
CertificationAI & Data

Google Data Analytics

Turn data into decisions — a top entry path into tech.

Starting Pay
$60k median
Training
3–6 months
Cost
$49/mo (about $200 total)
Much faster than average
CertificationAI & Data

Microsoft Power BI Analyst (PL-300)

Build the business dashboards companies rely on.

Starting Pay
$70k median
Training
2–4 months
Cost
$165 exam
Strong demand
CertificationAI & Data

Python Programming (PCEP)

The #1 beginner coding language — opens doors everywhere.

Starting Pay
$65k+ entry
Training
2–4 months
Cost
$59 exam
Very high demand
CertificationIT & Cloud

CompTIA Network+

Level up from help desk to networking roles.

Starting Pay
$60k median
Training
2–4 months
Cost
$369 exam
Steady demand
CertificationIT & Cloud

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Enter cloud computing — the backbone of modern tech.

Starting Pay
$70k+ entry
Training
1–3 months
Cost
$100 exam
Much faster than average
CertificationIT & Cloud

Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

Cloud basics on the platform most companies use.

Starting Pay
$68k+ entry
Training
1–2 months
Cost
$99 exam
Strong demand
CertificationCybersecurity

ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)

A free, entry-level way into cybersecurity.

Starting Pay
$60k+ entry
Training
1–3 months
Cost
Free (via ISC2 program)
Severe worker shortage
CertificationProject & Business

Google Project Management

Lead projects in any industry — no degree needed.

Starting Pay
$65k median
Training
3–6 months
Cost
$49/mo (about $200)
Faster than average
CertificationProject & Business

Project Management Professional (PMP)

The gold-standard PM credential — big salary boost.

Starting Pay
$95k+ median
Training
3–6 months prep
Cost
$405–$555 exam
High demand
CertificationProject & Business

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

Help agile teams ship — a hot skill in tech.

Starting Pay
$85k+ median
Training
2 days + exam
Cost
$400–$1,000 (course + exam)
Strong in tech
CertificationMarketing & Sales

Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce

Run marketing campaigns and online stores.

Starting Pay
$55k median
Training
3–6 months
Cost
$49/mo (about $200)
Steady demand
CertificationMarketing & Sales

HubSpot Inbound Marketing

Free, respected marketing certs employers know.

Starting Pay
Boosts marketing resumes
Training
A few hours each
Cost
Free
Steady demand
CertificationMarketing & Sales

Meta Social Media Marketing

Get paid to run Instagram and Facebook ads.

Starting Pay
$52k median
Training
3–5 months
Cost
$49/mo (about $200)
Growing demand
CertificationMarketing & Sales

Salesforce Administrator

Admin the #1 CRM — high pay, huge demand.

Starting Pay
$75k median
Training
2–4 months
Cost
$200 exam
Very high demand
CertificationDesign & Creative

Google UX Design

Design apps and websites people love to use.

Starting Pay
$65k median
Training
4–6 months
Cost
$49/mo (about $300)
Growing demand
CertificationDesign & Creative

Adobe Certified Professional

Prove your Photoshop and Illustrator skills.

Starting Pay
$50k median
Training
1–3 months
Cost
About $150 exam
Steady demand
CertificationHealthcare

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

The fastest way into hands-on healthcare.

Starting Pay
$38k median
Training
4–12 weeks
Cost
$500–$2,000
Faster than average
CertificationHealthcare

Phlebotomy Technician

Draw blood, enter healthcare in months.

Starting Pay
$40k median
Training
1–4 months
Cost
$700–$2,500
Faster than average
CertificationHealthcare

Medical Billing & Coding (CPC)

Work in healthcare — often from home.

Starting Pay
$47k median
Training
4–9 months
Cost
$300–$2,500
Faster than average
CertificationSkilled Trades & Safety

OSHA 30 Safety Certification

Boost your pay and hireability on any job site.

Starting Pay
Raises trade pay
Training
30 hours
Cost
$150–$200
Widely required
CertificationSkilled Trades & Safety

HVAC EPA 608 Certification

Required to work on cooling systems — fast to earn.

Starting Pay
$57k median (HVAC)
Training
Days to weeks
Cost
$20–$150
Faster than average
CertificationFinance & Admin

Intuit Bookkeeping

Manage the books — remote and freelance friendly.

Starting Pay
$47k median
Training
3–4 months
Cost
$49/mo (about $160)
Steady demand
CertificationFinance & Admin

Notary / Loan Signing Agent

A flexible side income you can start fast.

Starting Pay
$75–$200 per signing
Training
Days to weeks
Cost
$100–$300
Steady demand
CertificationWellness & Services

NASM Personal Trainer

Get paid to coach fitness — gyms hire year-round.

Starting Pay
$46k median
Training
3–6 months
Cost
$700–$2,000
Faster than average
CertificationWellness & Services

ServSafe Food Handler / Manager

Required for many food jobs — earn it in a day.

Starting Pay
Qualifies you for food-service roles
Training
A few hours
Cost
$15–$180
Steady demand

Questions, answered

Not sure which path fits you? Take the SkillDNA™ assessment to find careers that match your strengths.