9 Free Courses And Certificates That Pay $100K+:
Anyone can say they want to advance their career and make more money, but few dare to put their actions where their mouth is. That’s what separates you from the next professional who’s satisfied with mediocrity and complains about the cost of living. You’re actively making a change by researching what skills you need to boost your salary, how to learn them, and where to find free courses and certificates to do so. This article will show you courses and certificates that you can take for free which teach six-figure skills. These skills will instantly raise your value in the workplace, or in your business if you’re a freelancer.
Free Courses And Certificates For High-Paying Tech Skills
1. Become an AI-Powered Marketer, Free Certification
- Offered by: Semrush Academy
- Teaches: AI in marketing, both of which are high-demand, lucrative fields in 2025.
- Job you can get: Digital Marketing Manager
- Income potential: $115,282
2. AI and Search Webinar Series, Free Training
- Offered by: Semrush Academy
- Teaches: AI Overview and AI search, and how to get your business featured in AI search results, which is the future of SEO and is critical to attracting new clients.
- Job you can get: Senior SEO Manager
- Income potential: $118,177
3. Career Essentials in Project Management
- Offered by: LinkedIn and Microsoft, available free to LinkedIn Premium members and also as a free trial.
- Teaches: Project management best practices, project management software, and foundational concepts.
- Job you can get: Project Manager
- Income potential: $146,828
4. Programming Foundations with Python
- Offered by: CodeSignal
- Teaches: Essentials of Python programming, for beginners.
- Job you can get: Data Scientist
- Income potential: $118,393
5. Agile Explore
- Offered by: IBM SkillsBuild
- Teaches: Agile methodology and project management techniques.
- Job you can get: Scrum Master
- Income potential: $125,119
6. Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner
- Offered by: IBM SkillsBuild
- Teaches: Problem-solving, creative thinking, prototyping, etc.
- Job you can get: Product Manager
- Income potential: $149,859
7. UX Design Fundamentals
- Offered by: IBM SkillsBuild
- Teaches: User experience design principles and software.
- Job you can get: UX/UI Designer
- Income potential: $114,063
8. Data Science Foundations
- Offered by: IBM SkillsBuild
- Teaches: Data visualization, programming, data management, cleaning, etc.
- Job you can get: Senior Data Analyst
- Income potential: $104,201
9. Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- Offered by: IBM SkillsBuild
- Teaches: Cybersecurity concepts, risks, and best practices.
- Job you can get: Cybersecurity Analyst
- Income potential: $118,078
Do Employers Care About Free Certifications?
The source of your certification or course does not matter to most employers. What matters most is what you’ve learned and how you can apply it. Employers look for proof of your skills (evidenced through practice projects and your portfolio), your passion for continuous learning, the recency of your training, and real-world results from the skills you’ve acquired.
According to Coursera, obtaining a microcredential (a short course or certificate) boosts your chances of getting hired by 96%, and employers are often willing to pay as much as 15% on top of your salary estimate for certified candidates.
The same principle applies if you’re a freelancer. Clients don’t care if you have a degree; they care that you are an expert who can solve their specific problem with minimal hassle. If you can prove your expertise, you’ll find yourself earning a six-figure salary.
Credit: Forbes.com
