5. Project Management Professional

Holders of the Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate, the survey said, bring in an average salary of $119,349, up from $116,094 last year.

The PMP certification exam tests five areas relating to the life cycle of a project: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. It is intended for running any type of project and is not specialized by industry.

To become certified, 35 hours of PMP-related training is required, along with 7,500 hours of project management experience without a bachelor's degree or 4,500 hours of project management experience with a bachelor's degree or higher.

It is the most recognized project management certification available, with nearly 730,000 PMPs in 210 countries and territories around the globe.