Ranked list · updated 2026-10-09
Highest-paying project management & business credentials
22 project management & business credentials are ranked below by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. Every figure is quoted from the source named inside that credential's own guide, and the exam fee shown beside it comes from the awarding body.
- Credentials ranked
- 22
- Exam fees
- $100–$495
- Field
- Project Management & Business
Which project management & business credentials lead to the highest published pay?
The 22 credentials below are ordered by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. The order is computed from the researched guides; the sentence printed for each credential is that guide's own sourced headline, reproduced verbatim so its attribution stays attached to the number.
| # | Credential | Published median for the occupation it unlocks (quoted) | Exam fee | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HubSpot Content Marketing Certification | $161,030 median for marketing managers (BLS, May 2024) | Free | 2026-08 |
| 2 | HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification | $161,030 median for marketing managers (BLS, May 2024) | Free | 2026-08 |
| 3 | Senior Professional in Human Resources | $141,690 median for human resources managers (BLS, May 2024) | $495 exam + $100 application = $595 total | 2026-08 |
| 4 | SHRM Senior Certified Professional | $141,690 median for human resources managers (BLS, May 2024) | ~$355 member / ~$475 non-member (check current pricing) | 2026-08 |
| 5 | SAFe Agile Product Manager | $133,080 median for software developers (BLS, May 2024) — the closest occupation to the product-management-adjacent roles APM holders work in | Varies by location and currency — confirm on the official registration page | 2026-08 |
| 6 | SAFe Architect | $133,080 median for software developers (BLS, May 2024) — the closest occupation to the architecture-adjacent roles SAFe Architects work in | Varies by location and currency — confirm on the official registration page | 2026-08 |
| 7 | ASQ Certified Quality Engineer | $101,140 median for industrial engineers (BLS, May 2024) | ~$450 member / ~$550 non-member (check current pricing) | 2026-08 |
| 8 | ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt | $101,140 median for industrial engineers (BLS, May 2024) | ~$450 member / ~$550 non-member (check current pricing) | 2026-08 |
| 9 | ASQ Certified Six Sigma Green Belt | $101,140 median for industrial engineers (BLS, May 2024) | ~$400 member / ~$500 non-member (check current pricing) | 2026-08 |
| 10 | Certified Associate in Project Management | $100,750 median for project management specialists (BLS, May 2024) | PMP: $405 USD (PMI member) / $555 (non-member). Other PMI exams vary (e.g., CAPM ~$225–$300). Confirm the current fee on PMI.org at booking. | 2026-08 |
| 11 | Certified ScrumMaster | $100,750 median for project management specialists (BLS, May 2024) | Included with the CSM course ($250-$2,495 depending on provider) | 2026-08 |
| 12 | PMI Agile Certified Practitioner | $100,750 median for project management specialists (BLS, May 2024) | PMP: $405 USD (PMI member) / $555 (non-member). Other PMI exams vary (e.g., CAPM ~$225–$300). Confirm the current fee on PMI.org at booking. | 2026-08 |
| 13 | PRINCE2 Foundation | $100,750 median for project management specialists (BLS, May 2024) | ITIL 4 Foundation ~$425 USD (US direct); region-tiered $235–$425. Advanced modules require accredited training (no exam-only fee). PRINCE2 Foundation ~$700. Confirm live pricing on PeopleCert. | 2026-08 |
| 14 | PRINCE2 Practitioner | PRINCE2 Practitioner certifies project-management method mastery: project management specialists earned a $100,750 median in May 2024 (BLS) | ~$300-$500 | 2026-08 |
| 15 | Professional Scrum Master I | $100,750 median for project management specialists (BLS, May 2024) | PSM I / PSPO I / PSD I / PAL I / PSK I: $200 USD; PSM II / PSPO II / SPS: $250; PSM III / PSPO III: $500. Per-attempt password; passwords never expire. | 2026-08 |
| 16 | Professional Scrum Product Owner I | $100,750 median for project management specialists (BLS, May 2024) | PSM I / PSPO I / PSD I / PAL I / PSK I: $200 USD; PSM II / PSPO II / SPS: $250; PSM III / PSPO III: $500. Per-attempt password; passwords never expire. | 2026-08 |
| 17 | Project Management Professional | $100,750 median for project management specialists (BLS, May 2024) | PMP: $405 USD (PMI member) / $555 (non-member). Other PMI exams vary (e.g., CAPM ~$225–$300). Confirm the current fee on PMI.org at booking. | 2026-08 |
| 18 | SAFe Agilist | $100,750 median for project management specialists (BLS, May 2024) | Varies by location and currency — confirm on the official registration page | 2026-08 |
| 19 | SAFe Scrum Master | $100,750 median for project management specialists (BLS, May 2024) | $100 exam (included with the SSM course) | 2026-08 |
| 20 | Professional in Human Resources | $71,320 median for human resources specialists (BLS, May 2024) | $395 exam + $100 application = $495 total | 2026-08 |
| 21 | SHRM Certified Professional | $71,320 median for human resources specialists (BLS, May 2024) | ~$355 member / ~$475 non-member (check current pricing) | 2026-08 |
| 22 | Google Analytics Certification | Google Analytics certification signals hands-on measurement skills: market research analysts earned a $68,230 median in May 2024 (BLS) | Free | 2026-08 |
What does this ranking actually measure?
Ranked by the median annual wage published for the occupation each credential unlocks, most recent figure per occupation, quoted from the source named in the guide (usually the BLS occupational series). A credential is the entry ticket to an occupation, not a pay guarantee: these are occupation medians, not starting salaries.
Each row also carries the month its guide was last checked against the primary source, so you can see how current the figure is before you rely on it. Fees and pass rules change; the guide linked from every row carries the authoritative reference.
Where does this field sit in the site-wide ranking?
The main ranking pools all 424 credential-with-median pairs across 15 fields, so a credential that leads this page may still sit outside the site-wide top 25 — and a credential outside this page's top few may rank highly overall. Use whichever view matches the question you are answering.
- All fields, site-wide ranking 424 ranked
- Accounting & Tax 8 ranked
- Admissions & Academic Testing 33 ranked
- Allied Health & Medical Support 43 ranked
- Finance & Securities 20 ranked
- Fitness, Wellness & Personal Care 27 ranked
- Food Safety & Hospitality 17 ranked
- Government & Public Safety 18 ranked
- Healthcare & Clinical Licensure 10 ranked
- Insurance & Risk 7 ranked
- IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity 122 ranked
- Teaching & Education 42 ranked
- Trades, Construction & Engineering 24 ranked
- Transportation & Aviation 16 ranked
- Workplace Safety 15 ranked
Frequently asked questions
How many project management & business credentials are ranked here?
22 of this field's published guides carry a citable occupation median and are ranked below. Site-wide, 424 credentials across 15 fields are ranked, so this page is a subset of the main list rather than an alternative to it.
What does a project management & business credential cost to attempt?
Exam fees across this field's ranked credentials run from about $100 to $495. Fee is what the exam costs to sit; the median quoted for each row is what the occupation pays once you hold the credential, and the two do not move together.
Is the highest-paying project management & business credential the right one to start with?
Not necessarily. The ranking orders by the median for the occupation each credential unlocks, and several of the credentials here are sequential steps in the same career path rather than competing alternatives — one may be the prerequisite for another on this list. Read the guide for a credential's eligibility rules before treating its position here as a starting recommendation.
Why is a credential I expected to see missing?
Only credentials with a published occupation median appear. A credential whose guide does not carry a citable median is left out rather than estimated, and any credential whose researched text marks its exam as retired, withdrawn or no longer obtainable is removed — pointing at a dead exam in a recommendation list would be actively misleading.