The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently ran a piece claiming most certificates and digital badges don’t really pay off. Their data showed that only 1 in 8 non-degree credentials delivered a notable pay increase within a year.
That may be true for many credentials. But here’s the problem with painting them all the same: not all certifications are created equal. When a credential is industry-driven, recognized by employers, and tied to in-demand skills, the results look very different. That’s where SAFe® certifications stand out.
Credentials That Actually Matter to Employers
The WSJ is right about one thing: a lot of certificates lack strong employer input, which makes them hard to translate into promotions or pay raises.
SAFe isn’t one of them. It’s the most widely adopted framework for business agility worldwide, built on lean, agile, and systems thinking, and shaped through direct collaboration with enterprises that employ hundreds of thousands of practitioners. That’s why roles requiring SAFe certification show up consistently in job postings and hiring priorities across industries.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
This isn’t just theory—it’s backed by hard data:
- According to the 2025 SAFe Careers Snapshot, professionals with SAFe certifications earn, on average, $12,000 more annually than non-certified peers.
- Job postings that reference SAFe often advertise salaries $24,000 higher than national averages for comparable roles.
- Advanced SAFe-certified roles like SPC or RTE routinely command six-figure salaries, with senior practitioners earning $150,000+.
Compare that to the WSJ’s analysis, where most certificates showed little to no financial lift, and it’s clear: SAFe is an outlier.
A Smarter Way to Evaluate Credentials
The WSJ highlighted how hard it is for workers to know which certifications are worth it. That’s exactly what the Credential Value Index set out to solve—measuring certifications by wage gain, demand, and job mobility.
On all those dimensions, SAFe scores high because it’s employer-driven and outcome-focused. It’s the kind of credential the WSJ itself suggests workers should seek out—one that leads to real, measurable value.
Global Recognition and Long-Term ROI
SAFe certifications aren’t just about one job or one company. They’re recognized across technology, finance, government, healthcare, and more. With over 1 million practitioners worldwide and adoption by more than 70% of Fortune 100 companies, SAFe has staying power.
And while some certificates fade as trends shift, SAFe has evolved—most recently with SAFe 6.0—to stay current with digital transformation and AI-era demands. That makes it not just a short-term investment, but a career-long asset.
The Bottom Line
Yes, there are plenty of credentials that don’t deliver. But lumping them all together misses the bigger picture.
SAFe certifications are different. They consistently deliver higher salaries, stronger career mobility, and recognition in some of the world’s biggest enterprises. We have trained 2 million SAFe certified professionals and have helped 20,000 organizations reach their agile investment goals.
So if you’re investing in your future, choose a certification that employers not only recognize—but reward. Choose SAFe.