Best ROI Professional Licenses: Low Cost, High Salary
March 3, 2026 · HowToGetLicensed Team
Which professional license gives you the best bang for your buck? We calculated the return on investment for every licensed profession by dividing the median annual salary by the lowest available licensing cost across all 50 states.
The result: some licenses cost under $500 but lead to careers paying $50,000+ per year.
ROI Rankings at a Glance
| # | Profession | Median Salary | Lowest Cost | ROI | Cheapest State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notary Public | $47,330/yr | $58 | 816.0x | Virginia |
| 2 | Contractor | $74,720/yr | $125 | 597.8x | Idaho |
| 3 | Plumber | $61,550/yr | $125 | 492.4x | Wyoming |
| 4 | Electrician | $61,590/yr | $225 | 273.7x | Wyoming |
| 5 | Insurance Agent | $59,080/yr | $275 | 214.8x | Idaho |
| 6 | Acupuncturist | $72,520/yr | $500 | 145.0x | Kansas |
| 7 | Insurance Adjuster | $75,020/yr | $575 | 130.5x | Missouri |
| 8 | Funeral Director | $61,060/yr | $500 | 122.1x | Colorado |
| 9 | Optician | $42,420/yr | $500 | 84.8x | Texas |
| 10 | Dental Assistant | $46,540/yr | $600 | 77.6x | Georgia |
Detailed Breakdown
1. Notary Public — 816.0x Return
Invest as little as $58 in Virginia to earn a median of $47,330/year. View full guide →
2. Contractor — 597.8x Return
Invest as little as $125 in Idaho to earn a median of $74,720/year. View full guide →
3. Plumber — 492.4x Return
Invest as little as $125 in Wyoming to earn a median of $61,550/year. View full guide →
4. Electrician — 273.7x Return
Invest as little as $225 in Wyoming to earn a median of $61,590/year. View full guide →
5. Insurance Agent — 214.8x Return
Invest as little as $275 in Idaho to earn a median of $59,080/year. View full guide →
6. Acupuncturist — 145.0x Return
Invest as little as $500 in Kansas to earn a median of $72,520/year. View full guide →
7. Insurance Adjuster — 130.5x Return
Invest as little as $575 in Missouri to earn a median of $75,020/year. View full guide →
8. Funeral Director — 122.1x Return
Invest as little as $500 in Colorado to earn a median of $61,060/year. View full guide →
9. Optician — 84.8x Return
Invest as little as $500 in Texas to earn a median of $42,420/year. View full guide →
10. Dental Assistant — 77.6x Return
Invest as little as $600 in Georgia to earn a median of $46,540/year. View full guide →
How We Calculated ROI
ROI = Median Annual Salary ÷ Lowest Total Licensing Cost. We used the cheapest state for each profession to find the minimum investment needed. Salary data is from the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (May 2024). Licensing costs include education, application fees, and exam fees.
Explore by State
ROI varies by state — see which states offer the cheapest licensing paths:
- Cheapest States for Professional Licensing
- Best States for Real Estate Broker License
- Top Licensed Careers in Texas
- Top Licensed Careers in California
Important Notes
ROI doesn't account for time spent on education or exam difficulty. A license with fewer hours and a high salary might be a better practical choice than one with slightly higher ROI but years of required study. Browse our profession guides for full state-by-state details, or see the fastest licenses if time is your priority. Many top ROI licenses also don't require a college degree.