đ usncan Note: 9 Free Courses And Certificates That Can Pay $100,000+ In 2025
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Skills like AI, digital marketing, and design thinking instantly raise your value in the workplace
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Anyone can say they want to advance their career and make more money. But few dare to put their actions where their mouth is.
Thatâs what separates you, reading this article, from the next professional whoâs satisfied and comfortable with staying mediocre while complaining about the cost of living. Youâre not just talking about change, or wishing for the day when you could boost your salary or make more money from your skills with an online business.
Youâre actively making it happen by researching:
- What skills you need to learn to make more money
- How you can learn them
- What providers teach them for free
And this article will show you the courses and certificates you can take for free that teach six-figure skills which instantly raise your value in the workplace and in your business if youâre freelancing:
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 by Semrush Academy
- 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?
However youâve gained your certificate or completed your course does not matter. What matters most to employers is:
- Proof of your skills (evidenced through practice projects while studying the course, and your portfolio)
- Your passion for continuous learning and development
- How recent your certifications/online trainings are
- Real-world results from the skills youâve acquired
In fact, according to Coursera, obtaining a microcredential (short course or certificate) boosts your chances of getting hired by 96%, and employers are willing to pay as much as 15% on top of your salary estimate.
The same goes for you as a freelancer.
Clients donât stop to consider whether or not you have a degree. What they care more about is that youâre an expert in solving their pain point, and you can get the job done for them with minimal hassle.
Employers will pay up to 15% more for candidates with certifications
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If you can achieve prove this, youâll see yourself earning salaries of six figures and above.
