You do not need to change roles or secure an advancement to raise your income level.

Nondegree credentials, including professional certifications and licenses, often increase pay, above all for employees lacking four-year degrees, based on findings from the U.S. Census Bureau.

People holding these credentials recorded median earnings 16 percent above those of comparable workers without them, according to the data.

Stacie Haller, chief career adviser at ResumeBuilder.com, noted she now directs more applicants toward such alternatives as companies ease degree requirements. These certificates or licenses highlight targeted abilities that distinguish candidates, she explained to CBS News.

Nondegree credentials consist of certificates or licenses proving a worker holds a defined qualification or skill set. They encompass vocational and educational certificates from technical colleges or trade schools centered on practical job abilities and career readiness.

Certificates are available across sectors ranging from food service to healthcare, per Census Bureau information. For some individuals these options serve as substitutes for traditional college paths.

Workers with specialized knowledge can pass exams for certifications and licenses, which typically require periodic renewal. Issuing bodies include associations such as the American Nurses Association along with companies like Google. Licenses remain mandatory in fields such as cosmetology and barbering.

About 40 percent of employees in healthcare support, food service, farming, fishing, forestry, construction and repair roles possess nondegree credentials.

This pattern aligns with heavy credential demands for healthcare staff and information technology certifications tied to software and equipment, Census researchers observed. Agricultural and craft trades like plumbing likewise mandate credentials for handling hazardous materials, machinery and intricate systems.

Nearly 40 percent of workers in professional fields, covering management, STEM positions, education, legal work and similar areas, hold nondegree credentials.

Haller added that identifying the most useful credential for a specific industry calls for careful study. She advises every job seeker to pursue at least one certificate or badge showing AI proficiency.

With businesses actively adopting AI tools, demonstrated experience applying them in professional contexts adds clear value, she stated.