Drone pilot<\/h2>\n
Cost:<\/strong> $225<\/p>\n
Potential salary:<\/strong> $98,249<\/p>\n
Drone pilot careers seem like a glitch in the matrix. Chances are, if you\u2019re somewhat good at video games you could probably be a good drone pilot, and yet this career path averages<\/a> close to six figures<\/a> in terms of income. Even more amazing, to become a certified drone pilot you just need your Part 107 certificate<\/a>, which costs just $175<\/a>. If you need some help to pass the exam, a drone pilot course will run you about $50<\/a>, making your total cost $225 (although you\u2019ll probably need a drone to practice with, which might run you a bit more). Even if you find a job for a lot less than six figures, that\u2019s a pretty great deal.<\/p>\n
You might wonder who hires drone pilots\u2014the main industries looking for these skills include photography businesses<\/a> (including real estate photographers), film and television production companies, and surveying companies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Home inspector<\/h2>\n
Cost:<\/strong> $500 – $800<\/p>\n
Potential salary: <\/strong>$48,000 to $78,000<\/p>\n
Home inspectors are always in demand, because people are still buying houses and still worried about buying a money pit. While a background in construction or home maintenance might give you a leg up, it\u2019s not required\u2014if you can meet your state\u2019s requirements (and some states<\/a> don\u2019t even require a high school diploma to certify you as a home inspector), you’re good to go. All you generally need to do is take a Home Inspector Education Course that costs anywhere from $500 to $800, pass your state\u2019s exam, and start up your business. How much you make depends entirely on you; while the range is generally between $48,000 and $78,000<\/a> per year, it depends on how many inspections you can schedule every day.<\/p>\n
Real estate agent<\/h2>\n
Cost:<\/strong> $1,325<\/p>\n
Potential salary: <\/strong>$139,286<\/p>\n
Real estate<\/a> often seems like everyone\u2019s fallback career. Lose a job? Retire? Get into real estate! Well, there\u2019s a reason for that: It\u2019s not hard to get licensed, and there\u2019s potential for a lot <\/em>of money. The operative word there is potential<\/em>, because real estate is not a magical journey where money rains out of the sky\u2014most newbie real estate agents work for brokers<\/a> who sponsor them, and they often start off working the lowest-paying listings and paying part of their commissions up to their broker.<\/p>\n
But getting licensed as a real estate agent isn\u2019t too expensive\u2014 about $1,325<\/a>, including fees\u2014and the average income is just under $140,000<\/a> if you stick with it. The only catch is that it takes a lot of knowledge to pass that exam, so be prepared to study your butt off.<\/p>\n
EMT<\/h2>\n
Cost:<\/strong> $1,000 to $2,000<\/p>\n
Potential salary: <\/strong>$98,000<\/p>\n
Emergency Medical Technicians<\/a> (EMTs) are an essential part of our emergency medical system\u2014these are the folks who show up in an ambulance and offer emergency stabilizing treatment while getting you to a hospital. It\u2019s a high-pressure, high-stress job, but it can pay close to six figures<\/a>. Getting certified as an EMT isn\u2019t a high barrier, either, as long as you can master the skills and knowledge required. Most courses cost between $1,000 and $2,000<\/a> (equipment and exam fees might be extra). If you have a passion for serving your community and saving lives, this certificate offers an excellent ROI.<\/p>\n
Funeral director<\/h2>\n
Cost:<\/strong> $4,000 to $21,000<\/p>\n
Potential salary: <\/strong>$64,617<\/p>\n
Being a funeral director<\/a> isn\u2019t for everyone, obviously, and getting licensed can cost a bit more than some of the other certifications on this list (up to $21,000<\/a> depending on the program). And it won\u2019t get you into six figures easily, averaging just under $65,000<\/a> a year. But if you find a program under $5,000, it\u2019s a career that offers something invaluable: Job security.<\/p>\n
Medical coder<\/h2>\n
Cost:<\/strong> $3,564<\/p>\n
Potential salary: <\/strong>$48,780<\/p>\n
Medical billing involves knowing how to appropriately code medical services so insurers and healthcare systems can bill properly for them. It\u2019s precise work, but it\u2019s work that anyone can do if they apply themselves and complete the appropriate training. While the average salary is just under $50,000<\/a>, it\u2019s a growing industry, and getting a two-year certification to work in it usually costs under $4,000<\/a> (although you can spend much more), making it a solid investment.<\/p>\n
Massage therapist<\/h2>\n
Cost:<\/strong> $10,000+<\/p>\n
Potential salary: $57,060<\/strong><\/p>\n
Just because your friends tell you that you have \u201cmagic hands\u201d doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re ready to just open up a massage therapy business. To get certified as a massage therapist in most states, you\u2019ll need to complete 500 hours (or more) of training. And that training isn\u2019t as cheap as some of the other programs listed here, costing about $10,000 or more<\/a>. But that\u2019s still a lot less than the average cost of a four-year degree (about $38,270<\/a>). If you complete that training, you can look forward to a career earning an average of about $57,600<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Air traffic controller<\/h2>\n
Cost:<\/strong> $10,000 to $35,000<\/p>\n
Potential salary: <\/strong>$129,750<\/p>\n
You might assume you need all kinds of arcane experience to become an air traffic controller, responsible for preventing air disasters and keeping your flights from ramming into each other. You\u2019d be wrong: It\u2019s relatively easy to become an air traffic controller<\/a> (ATC). You don\u2019t need a degree, although getting one is often helpful. All you absolutely need is to complete a training course<\/a> offered by the Federal Aviation Administration and passing an exam.<\/p>\n
Technically, you can become an air traffic controller without any degree as long as you pass the exam, but it\u2019s usually necessary to either have training (from military service, for example) or to complete at least a two-year Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) school. The FAA has a list of approved CTI schools on its website<\/a>. Total costs can go as high as $35,000, but can be as low as $10,000\u2014and ATCs enjoy a median salary of $129,750.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n