In today’s career landscape, where AI is transforming industries at lightning speed, education is no longer a one-and-done proposition. The traditional four-year degree still has value, but for many workers, it’s no longer the only pathway to career advancement.

Enter stackable credentials; short, skills-based learning experiences that build on one another. When chosen strategically, these opportunities unlock real economic mobility.

But here’s the catch: we’re swimming in options—more than 1.1 million credentials are currently on offer in the U.S., according to the American Enterprise Institute, spanning everything from bootcamps to badges. So how do you know which ones are actually worth your time and money?

A new report from the Burning Glass Institute and American Enterprise Institute offers one of the clearest answers we’ve seen. Drawing on the career histories of 65 million U.S. workers, the researchers evaluated over 23,000 non-degree credentials to see which ones truly move the needle on wages, job changes, and upward mobility.

Their conclusion is sobering: only about 12% of credentials make a measurable difference in a learner’s first-year income. But there’s good news in the details. For those top-performing programs—the ones in the top decile—the average wage gain was nearly $5,000 in just the first year. And for credentials aligned with tech and AI-driven fields, that gain can climb well into five figures.

So, let’s talk about the credentials that are doing the most work in today’s economy. What follows are ten stackable credential pathways that show strong return on investment, practical skill-building, and clear momentum for career mobility.

Each of these offers a foundation you can build on—and fast.

The Serverless pathway is tailor-made for developers. Starting with the basics of AWS Lambda and event-driven functions, you’ll progress into designing full-fledged microservices architectures—a key backend skill in AI and real-time applications.

An impressive in first-year wage growth

As AI accelerates threat detection, automation in security operations is the next frontier. This pathway starts with core cybersecurity and leads to specialized training in Cortex XSOAR, a security orchestration tool used by leading enterprises.

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Containerization is the new normal for scalable AI systems. This pathway starts with Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) fundamentals and advances to the Certified Kubernetes Administrator, one of the most in-demand credentials for DevOps professionals.

Around first-year ROI

Data is the foundation of AI—and Google offers one of the most accessible entry points for aspiring data professionals. The Data Analytics Professional Certificate, designed for beginners, takes about 6 months and covers cleaning, analyzing, and visualizing data using tools like SQL and Tableau.

From there, learners can move into the Professional Data Engineer certification, which focuses on managing scalable data infrastructure and machine learning models.

Estimated wage increase in the first year

SAS may not be flashy, but it’s a powerhouse in regulated industries like healthcare, pharma, and finance. These certifications validate high-stakes analytical skills and meet strict compliance requirements—making them highly trusted by employers.

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IBM’s stackable credentials offer a clear path from data foundations to AI deployment. The Data Science certificate introduces Python, stats, and open-source tools like Jupyter Notebooks. Advancing to AI Engineering brings machine learning and deep learning into focus, with real-world applications built into the curriculum.

Around in first-year gains

Data is only as powerful as the story it tells. Tableau certs train you to transform raw data into dashboards that decision-makers can actually use. The Desktop Specialist is a fast entry point; the Data Analyst certification builds on it with more robust tools for visual analytics.

Approximately in first-year wage bump

This is a classic IT pathway that continues to yield dividends. The A+ certification gets you in the door with skills in computer hardware and troubleshooting. Add Network+ to demonstrate networking expertise, and Security+ for essential cybersecurity knowledge.

Together, these three certifications form a stack that’s not only employer-recognized but also credit-eligible at many community colleges.

Approximately combined wage increase

Microsoft’s answer to AWS is growing fast—especially in large enterprise environments. Start with Azure Fundamentals, which introduces basic cloud concepts, then level up to the AI Engineer Associate credential, which focuses on integrating machine learning and cognitive services into enterprise apps.

About in first-year wage gains

As companies race to modernize their infrastructure, cloud skills are in high demand. Amazon Web Services dominates the market, and these two credentials are considered essential building blocks for anyone entering the field.

The Cloud Practitioner certification requires a basic understanding of cloud concepts and about 20 hours of prep. The Solutions Architect Associate, a step up, dives deeper into designing scalable, secure systems and typically demands 80–100 hours of study.

Approximately $5,000 to $6,300 in first-year wage gain

For students, early-career professionals, and career changers, these ten credential pathways offer something highly valuable: immediate labor market value with clear, buildable steps.

And for policymakers debating initiatives like Workforce Pell, the data is clear. We should fund what works. Credentials that show measurable gains—on wages, job mobility, and advancement—deserve public investment. Those that don’t should be reconsidered.

Stackable credentials are future of learning in the AI era—modular, data-driven, and outcome-anchored. Choose well, stack wisely, and you’ll be prepared not just to survive AI’s disruption, but to lead through it.