A four-year degree with hefty student loans isn't mandatory to land many of America's fastest-growing jobs. Careers such as cloud engineer, project manager, business analyst, and cybersecurity analyst occupy high ranks on Indeed's 2026 Best Jobs list. Among these, the roles of data scientist and information security analyst are anticipated to see growth rates of 33% and 29% respectively through to 2034. These figures are six times the average across all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Skills obtained from certificate programs can bridge the gap between career demand and your resume. For instance, cloud practitioners, who design and manage an organization's cloud infrastructure, can certify themselves with AWS skills. This cloud practitioner certification, which costs $100 and takes two to four weeks of self-study, can lead to jobs with an average entry-level salary of $86,000.
Cybersecurity analysts, who safeguard systems from breaches, can benefit from Google's Cybersecurity Professional Certificate and CompTIA Security+ credential. These trainings cost $150-$300 and $404 respectively. The BLS projects 29% job growth in this field by 2034, with a median salary of $120,360.
Data analysts, who turn raw data into business strategies, can equip themselves with Google's Data Analytics Professional Certificate costing $150–$300. The projected job growth for data scientists is 33% by 2034, with a median pay of $112,590.
Project managers, responsible for coordinating team efforts and timelines, can pursue Google's Project Management Certificate costing $150–$300 and the Project Management Institute's PMP credential. The Indeed ranks project management among its top 50 jobs for 2026, with a median pay of $87,000.
Before enrolling in a certificate program, it is advisable to search job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn with your target job title. If the certificate or the skills it teaches don't frequently appear in the employers' requirements, consider a different program. Google's data underscores the relevance of its certificates: About 70% of U.S. graduates reported a positive career outcome within six months of completing one, as revealed by its 2025 Impact Report.