By Quick answer: Which easy certifications lead to well-paid jobs in 2027?
- Fastest — AWS Cloud Practitioner and ISC2 CC can be prepared in a few weeks.
- Best pay potential without coding — Salesforce Administrator.
- Steadiest entry jobs — CompTIA A+ and Google IT Support for IT support roles.
- Honest caveat — easy certifications open the door; pay rises come from the experience that follows.
Key takeaways
- 'Easy' here means no degree, no experience requirement and a few weeks to months of study, not no effort.
- These credentials lead into fields where pay grows quickly with experience: cloud, CRM, IT, data and security.
- Plan the next, harder certification on the same path as soon as you land your first role.
Search for the easiest certifications that pay well and you'll find big salary numbers attached to credentials that took holders a decade to earn. This list is more honest. Every pick has no degree requirement and no experience gate, and can be prepared in weeks or a few months. What makes them pay well is where they lead: into cloud, CRM, IT, data, security and project roles where salaries rise steadily with experience. Skillsoft's 2025 data, for example, reports a US average of $142,704 for holders of AWS Cloud Practitioner, though many of those holders were already experienced.1
Seven easy, well-paid certifications at a glance
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerAmazon Web Services | $1002 | 90 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 2 | Salesforce Certified AdministratorSalesforce | Exam fee on Trailhead3 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 3 | CompTIA A+CompTIA | Two exams4 | 90 minutes and up to 90 questions per exam | Free test |
| 4 | Google IT Support Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan5 | 3–6 months at about 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 5 | Google Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan6 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 6 | ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)ISC2 | See ISC2 page7 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 7 | CAPM – Certified Associate in Project ManagementPMI | $225 PMI members / $300 non-members8 | 180 minutes, 150 questions | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner before you pay.Start free test →
- Salesforce Administrator Certification PracticePractise for Salesforce Certified Administrator before you pay.Start free test →
- CompTIA A+ Practice TestPractise for CompTIA A+ before you pay.Start free test →
- IT Support and Troubleshooting CertificationPractise for Google IT Support Professional Certificate before you pay.Start free test →
Each certification, and where it leads
- AWSAWS Certified Cloud PractitionerA fast first step into cloud$100
- SalesforceSalesforce Certified AdministratorA well-paid role without codingExam fee on Trailhead
- CompTIACompTIA A+IT support job filtersTwo exams
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- Cost
- $1002
- Format
- 90 minutes, 65 questions
A $100 exam that most people can prepare for in two to six weeks using AWS's free training. It won't make you a cloud engineer, but it's the accepted first rung of a ladder whose upper levels pay very well. Take Solutions Architect – Associate next.
Best fora fast first step into cloud
Salesforce Certified Administrator
- Cost
- Exam fee on Trailhead3
Probably the best pay-to-effort ratio on this list. Salesforce administrators configure the CRM that sales and service teams run on, a role that doesn't require coding. Training on Trailhead is free; the exam needs real hands-on practice in a free developer org.
Best fora well-paid role without coding
CompTIA A+
- Cost
- Two exams4
- Format
- 90 minutes and up to 90 questions per exam
- Entry
- CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on IT support
Two exams covering hardware, operating systems, networking, security and troubleshooting. It's the credential most IT support job posts name, and CompTIA recommends a year of hands-on experience, though many pass with focused study and home labs.
Best forIT support job filters
Google IT Support Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan5
- Time
- 3–6 months at about 10 hours a week
Built for complete beginners: no degree or experience needed, hands-on labs throughout, and a clear path into help desk and IT support. It's the gentlest start on this list; add CompTIA A+ when applying.
Best forcomplete beginners into IT
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan6
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
A beginner-friendly route into data roles, ending with a portfolio project. Entry-level analyst pay is modest, but data skills compound: SQL, Power BI and Python open better-paid roles within a few years.
Best forentry-level analyst roles
ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
- Cost
- See ISC2 page7
- Entry
- No work experience required
From the body behind CISSP, designed for people with no security experience. It covers security principles, access control, networks and incident response. It's an easy, credible first step; Security+ is the next.
Best forstarting in security with no experience
CAPM – Certified Associate in Project Management
- Cost
- $225 PMI members / $300 non-members8
- Format
- 180 minutes, 150 questions
- Entry
- Secondary diploma plus 23 hours of project management education
Needs only a secondary diploma and 23 hours of project management education, which an online course provides. It qualifies you for project coordinator roles and sets up the PMP, one of the best-paid project credentials, later.
Best forproject coordinator roles
The ladder: easy first step, well-paid next step
| Start with (easy) | Next step (better paid) | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Cloud Practitioner | AWS Solutions Architect – Associate | 3–6 months later |
| ISC2 CC | CompTIA Security+, then CISSP | Security+ within a year |
| CompTIA A+ / Google IT Support | Network+, Azure Administrator | After 1 year in support |
| Google Data Analytics | Microsoft PL-300 | 3–6 months later |
| CAPM | PMP | After 3+ years leading projects |
| Salesforce Administrator | Salesforce Platform App Builder or AI Associate | 6–12 months later |
Table: Easy certifications and the better-paid next step on the same path
Why salary lists overstate easy certifications
Average-salary figures describe certification holders, not what the certification adds. Many holders of entry credentials are experienced professionals who took an easy exam on top of an established career. Read the numbers as a sign of where a path can lead, then plan the experience and the next credential that get you there.
How we ranked these picks
We included only certifications with no degree or experience requirement that can be prepared in weeks to a few months, then ranked them by the pay potential of the roles they lead into, using published salary data where available and noting its limits. Costs and formats come from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest certification that pays well?
AWS Cloud Practitioner is one of the easiest well-regarded certifications: a $100 exam most people prepare for in a few weeks. Salesforce Administrator takes more practice but leads to well-paid CRM roles without coding. Both open paths where pay rises with experience.
Which easy certifications don't need a degree?
All seven on this list: AWS Cloud Practitioner, Salesforce Administrator, CompTIA A+, Google IT Support, Google Data Analytics, ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity and CAPM. None requires a degree; CAPM needs only a secondary diploma and 23 hours of project education.
Can an easy certification get me a high salary straight away?
Usually not on its own. Entry certifications get you into a field; salaries rise with experience and with harder certifications later. The fastest pay growth comes from combining an entry credential with a first job, then adding the next certification on the same path.
How long do these certifications take?
AWS Cloud Practitioner and ISC2 CC typically take a few weeks of part-time study. CompTIA A+ and Salesforce Administrator take one to three months. Google's career certificates are designed for three to six months at seven to ten hours a week.
Which easy certification is best in India?
AWS Cloud Practitioner, Salesforce Administrator and Google Data Analytics are widely recognised by IT services firms, global capability centres and product companies in India. Check Naukri and LinkedIn for your city to see which appears most for the role you want.
Sources
- Skillsoft — The highest-paying AWS certifications (2025)
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Salesforce — Salesforce Certified Administrator, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- CompTIA — CompTIA A+, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google IT Support Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- ISC2 — ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PMI — CAPM – Certified Associate in Project Management, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Science of Apps free certification catalogue — 1,200+ free tests
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The easiest IT certifications to get in 2027: seven quick wins that still mean somethingThe 7 easiest IT certifications to get in 2027: AZ-900, AWS Cloud Practitioner, AI-900, AWS AI Practitioner, ISC2 CC, Google AI Essentials and ITIL 4.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best certifications without a degree in 2027: seven routes into well-paid work that don't ask for oneThe 7 best certifications without a degree for 2027: CompTIA A+, Google IT Support, Google Cybersecurity, AWS, Security+, Azure AZ-104 and Salesforce Admin.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Six-month certifications that pay well in 2027: seven you can finish in half a year7 certifications you can earn in about six months that lead to well-paid roles in 2027: AWS SAA, Security+, PL-300, Salesforce, Google Data Analytics and more.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best certifications to get a job fast in 2027: seven built around roles that hire beginners quicklyThe 7 best certifications to get a job fast in 2027: Google IT Support, CompTIA A+, AWS Cloud Practitioner, Salesforce Admin and more, plus a 90-day plan.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Cloud computing certifications for beginners: seven best for 2027 if you're starting from zeroThe 7 best cloud certifications for beginners in 2027: AWS Cloud Practitioner, Azure AZ-900, Google IT Support, CompTIA A+, AWS AI Practitioner and next steps.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications for people without a degree in 2027: skills-first routes into good jobsThe top 10 online certifications for people without a degree in 2027: Google career certificates, CompTIA A+ and Security+, AWS, Salesforce, CPC and more.
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