The job market is a competitive place, and companies are doing everything they can to attract top talent.

Competitive benefits like working from home, dog-friendly offices and stocked fridges are just a few of the things that businesses can implement to help them stand out in a crowded marketplace. While it can be easy for a company to set itself apart from the competition, what can employees and candidates do to stand out in the crowd?

Learn about what earning potential is, seven ways to boost your potential earnings to make more money, and nine skills you can take on to help increase your earning potential.

• What is earning potential?
• 7 ways to boost your potential earnings
• 9 skills that can increase your potential earnings

What is earning potential?

Earning potential is the amount of money that is possible to earn based on your …

• Skills
• Work history
• Employment
• Qualifications
• Job market
• Location

Maximizing your potential earnings will allow you not only more financial freedom but also more opportunity to budget your money and save for big life expenses, such as a home or a child’s college tuition, or to build up an emergency fund.

7 ways to boost your potential earnings

It can be challenging to make your résumé shine brightly in a sea of applicants. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to not only rise above the rest but also help increase your earning potential. Learn about some ways to boost your potential earnings below.

1. Go back to school

Consider going back to school to boost your potential earnings. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the median earnings of 25- to 34-year-olds with a bachelor’s degree were 59% higher in 2022 than the earnings of those who completed high school alone.

Although this is one of the more challenging options, it’s an investment in your future that will likely pay off over time. Going back to school can also prepare you to switch to a career path that offers higher income.

For example, if you currently work in a low-paying field, such as retail or hospitality, going back to school to gain skills in a higher-paying field, such as healthcare or technology, could lead to an increase in your income.

2. Earn new certifications

Earning a new certification is also a great way to increase your potential income. Certifications are a great way to gain new experience or strengthen your skills in a specific area. It also shows that you’ve met a standard of competence — this can give you an edge in your industry and make you more well-rounded.

3. Attend conferences and seminars

You can also consider attending conferences and seminars. These events can provide great networking opportunities to allow you to connect with others in your field with common interests and goals, and discover new job leads. Changing jobs could also potentially lead to a salary increase.

4. Learn a new language

Understanding and being able to talk to others in a different language is especially beneficial in an international industry. And some careers, such as interpretation, translation or teaching a second language, require fluency in a second language in addition to specific training. By learning a new language, you could potentially pursue these language-specific careers that come with earning potential.

5. Find a trusted adviser

Look for a mentor or trusted adviser when looking to boost your potential income. This is especially helpful if you’re feeling stuck on what to do and you need some extra advice and support. A good adviser or mentorship experience can yield higher compensation, more career satisfaction, and additional opportunities for growth in the workplace.

6. Relocate

If you’re looking for a salary boost, consider relocating. Some cities offer higher salaries for the same job than others. However, it’s important to consider several factors before making such a decision.

You’ll want to consider cost of living in the new location before making a move — our cost of living calculator can help you figure out if the higher salary will cover your expenses and leave you with a comfortable standard of living. Be sure to also consider the job market and availability of jobs in the new location.

7. Study abroad

Studying abroad is another way to broaden your experiences that can be transferred into the workplace. Studying abroad can improve your language skills, which can make you more valuable to employers who work in international markets or who have clients that speak other languages.

Additionally, studying abroad could increase cultural awareness and adaptability — helping you better understand different cultures and navigate different environments. This can make you a more attractive candidate for global companies and help you stand out in a competitive job market.

9 skills that can increase your potential earnings

There are certain hard and soft skills you can learn that are in high demand, and some general ways you can be proactive that will help you in the long run. Below are skills that you can acquire to increase your potential earnings.

1. Project management

Project management is an important skill because it involves the ability to plan, organize and oversee the execution of projects from start to finish. According to the Project Management Institute, employers will need nearly 30 million individuals globally in project-management-oriented roles by 2035.

A skilled project manager is able to coordinate resources, manage timelines, allocate budgets and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.

2. Search engine optimization

Search engine optimization, or SEO, involves improving a website’s discoverability by search engines such as Google. SEO professionals are in high demand — the market size is projected to reach $176.16 billion in 2033.

It’s also a highly competitive field, so it’s important to continually improve your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest SEO trends and strategies. Consider trying online SEO courses through Semrush Academy or Moz if you’re just starting with SEO.

3. Coding

As the world becomes more tech-dependent, the demand for coders and developers is rising. Coders use computer languages to create different kinds of programs across various technological platforms. To learn to code, you can try out different boot camps online. Graduates from coding boot camps could see a median salary increase of $22,000 with their first job after graduation.

4. Public speaking

Public speaking is a great skill to learn, as it helps improve your verbal communication abilities, which can help in sales and in job interviews. To improve your public speaking skills, practice is key.

Consider taking a video of yourself speaking and watching for areas of improvement. You can also join speaking programs like Toastmasters to learn how to become an effective speaker. 

5. Paid advertising

If digital marketing is something you’re skilled at, consider adding paid advertising to your skillset. Paid advertising is a digital marketing skill that is sought after by companies that are looking to advertise their services and products. Paid advertising is usually associated with pay-per-click.

PPC is a strategy that allows businesses to pay a fee to have the website link at the top of the search results. Businesses will hire PPC experts to design and execute these campaigns to help drive results.

6. UX design

User experience (or UX) designers are talented at utilizing web design skills to create digital products that are centered around usability, branding and design to help ensure a top-notch user experience. If you’re already in the marketing field and you have experience with web design, this can be a great skill to add to your portfolio.

UX design can also be a great freelancing opportunity in addition to a full-time job to make some extra cash on the side — you can make around $45.85 per hour as a digital designer.

7. Artificial intelligence programming

Many businesses have been incorporating artificial intelligence into their sales and marketing strategies. AI typically combines skills in …

• Math
• Engineering
• Computer science
• Other related fields

Jobs are anticipated to be in high demand, with 11 million new jobs expected to be created in the AI industry by 2030, so this is a skill worth adding to your résumé.

8. Data analysis

Data analysis is another important skill to consider adding to your résumé to boost your potential earnings. Analytical thinking/innovation is one of the top skills forecasted for 2025 according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report.

Consider taking a Google Analytics course to strengthen this skill. Google Analytics is a popular tool involved in data analysis that can help businesses across industries make informed decisions.

9. Time management

Time management is an important soft skill to learn. When you manage your time effectively, you can focus on producing higher-quality work, because you have more time to devote to the task at hand. This can lead to increased client satisfaction and more opportunities for repeat business or referrals.

Acquire skills to boost your potential earning

Job requirements are constantly evolving to keep up with modern technologies and platforms. In order to stay relevant in the workforce and to give yourself better growth opportunities, stay on top of emerging skills that are important in your field. Not only does learning new skills help keep your mind sharp, but it also gives you a better chance at increasing your potential earning.

Once you’ve decided on your plan to increase your earning potential, be sure to also set some savings goals and a budget to maximize your income. After you create a budget, save your earnings in a high-yield savings account like Credit Karma Money™ Save.

Sourcing

• The median earnings of those with a bachelor’s degree were 59% higher than the earnings of those who completed high school. Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment (May 2024)
• Earning a certification can result in a raise upwards of $12,000 a year. Global Knowledge (2020)
• A good advisor or mentorship experience can yield higher compensation, increased career satisfaction and more opportunities for promotions and advancements. University of Massachusetts Global (October 2022)
• Graduates from coding bootcamps see a median salary increase of $22,000 with their first job after graduation. Westcliff University (July 2021)
• Employers will need nearly 30 million individuals in project management-oriented roles by 2035. Project Management Institute (May 2025)
• Jobs are anticipated to be in high demand with 11 million specialists needed in the AI industry by 2025. World Economic Forum (January 2025)
• Analytical thinking and innovation is one of the top skills forecasted for 2025. World Economic Forum (January 2025)
• The SEO market is projected to reach $176.16 billion in 2033. Global Newswire (October 2025)
• You can make around $45.85 per hour as a digital designer. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024)

Federal law makes it illegal for a lender to deny you credit, or offer different terms, based on protected traits like your race, color or religion.

So that means there’s no credit and lending discrimination in the U.S., right?

Well … it’s complicated.

Even with federal protections in place, credit and lending discrimination can still happen in ways that are difficult to detect or prosecute. Lenders often make decisions behind closed doors, making it hard to spot signs of discrimination — even if you know what to look for.

That’s why it’s important to know your rights as a borrower. This awareness can help you protect yourself from potential cases of credit discrimination, yes — but it can also help you feel more comfortable and in control when shopping around for credit.

Let’s go over some key points about credit and lending discrimination, including what to look out for and actions you can take if you suspect a lender is discriminating against you.

• What is credit and lending discrimination?
• Different types of credit and lending discrimination
• 5 ways to help protect yourself from credit and lending discrimination
• Next steps: What to do if you think you’re being discriminated against

What is credit and lending discrimination?

Credit and lending discrimination occurs when a lender allows protected traits, such as race, color or sexual orientation, to influence its decision to offer you credit or a loan. It’s also considered discrimination if you’re offered different credit or loan terms based on those protected traits.

Not all personal traits or factors are off-limits for a lender to consider though. Within limits, lenders can consider relevant information like your credit history, debt and income — all of which may help them determine how likely you are to pay back any money they lend you.

Credit and lending discrimination in the United States

Despite progress made in recent decades, the U.S. has a troubling legacy of discrimination to contend with. And our financial institutions, including the credit and lending system, are a part of that legacy. The federal government recognized the need to protect consumers, including people of color and other marginalized groups, from discriminatory lending practices with the passage of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act in 1974.

The ECOA, along with the federal Fair Housing Act and other legislation, outlines what is considered discrimination when it comes to credit and lending.

Who is protected from credit and lending discrimination?

Under federal law, anyone applying for any form of credit — including a mortgage, auto loan, student loan, credit card or small-business loan — cannot be legally discriminated against based on …

• Race or color
• Religion
• National origin
• Sex, gender or sexual orientation
• Marital or familial status
• Age
• Disability
• Public-assistance status

While the ECOA and FHA cover a lot of ground, other laws, regulations and executive orders have broadened credit discrimination protection to include more groups, including the disability and LGBTQ communities. In fact, the Equality Act, a bill that seeks to make LGBTQ protections explicit, was passed by the House of Representatives in 2019 and 2021 before meeting opposition in the Senate.

What lending practices are considered unfair or discriminatory?

Some unfair practices in lending are obvious — being denied a loan outright solely because you’re a person of color, for example. But there are plenty of other lending practices that could be considered unfair or discriminatory, some of which are much more subtle.

Courts have recognized the following methods of proving lending discrimination under the ECOA.

• Overt evidence of discrimination — A lender openly discriminates against an applicant based on a protected trait. For example, a loan officer tells an applicant that the lender doesn’t approve small-business loans for single women, so she wouldn’t qualify.
• Comparative evidence of disparate treatment — A lender treats an applicant differently from other applicants based on a protected trait. For example, a creditor asks a person of color for more and more documentation attesting to their “creditworthiness,” but doesn’t ask a non-POC applicant with a similar credit and financial background for the same.
• Evidence of disparate impact — A lender implements a policy that applies to all its applicants but is more likely to negatively affect members of a protected group, and there’s no business need for the policy. For example, a lender refuses to provide mortgages for less than $70,000 and the lender has no business justification to do so. (A policy like this could end up excluding a disproportionate number of a protected group due to lower average home values in these communities.)

The Federal Trade Commission, which enforces the ECOA, provides guidance on what is unfair and discriminatory in lending. If you suspect you’re not being treated fairly, the FTC’s list of what a lender can and can’t do isn’t a bad place to start. You can also read this article’s section on five ways to help protect yourself from credit and lending discrimination.

Different types of lending discrimination

U.S. financial institutions (and indeed, the federal government) have a checkered history with discrimination in credit and lending, especially when it comes to mortgages. Entire groups and communities have been segregated or targeted with unfair practices. Let’s take a look at some different types of discrimination in lending and who’s affected.

Redlining and mortgage lending discrimination

“Redlining” generally refers to a policy where lenders isolate neighborhoods based on group makeup and then refuse to extend credit access to those communities on the same terms as to others living elsewhere — even when their credit profiles or situations are similar. It’s a discriminatory practice that dates back to the 1930s, when, historians argue, government entities such as the Federal Housing Administration and the now-defunct Home Owners Loan Corporation used redlining to avoid insuring mortgages for applicants in neighborhoods that were predominantly Black or made up of other minority groups.

Lenders and federal mortgage agencies justified redlining as a means to avoid what they considered to be high-risk loans, but criteria to determine what areas were riskier than others took who lived there into account. Neighborhoods deemed to be the highest risk — often areas where Black, immigrant and other minority communities lived — were filled in red on lending maps to designate areas for mortgage lenders to avoid.

Today, redlining is a recognized violation of the Fair Housing Act. But the mortgage discrimination practices of the early 20th century left a legacy of racial inequality that continues to affect communities of color today. A 2020 study by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition revealed that economic inequalities persist in areas that were designated as “hazardous” on maps drawn by the HOLC in the 1930s.

Reverse redlining and higher interest rates

Reverse redlining is another type of targeted discrimination. Rather than deny credit to a specific community based on a protected trait, lenders instead actively target its members with unfair practices, like preassigning higher rates or other unfavorable loan terms.

This form of predatory lending, while illegal, can still happen. Mortgage lenders might engage in discriminatory practices that push risky, high-cost loans onto people of color — even if POC credit applicants qualify for better conventional mortgage loans. In recent years, the Department of Justice has brought legal action against a handful of lenders for just such predatory and discriminatory practices.

Discrimination when applying for credit or a loan

As you apply for credit or a loan, you should be aware of what a lender can and can’t do.

A lender can ask you for personal information touching on some protected traits, but there are restrictions as to how the lender can use that information. In most cases, a lender can’t use that information to decide whether to offer you credit or at what terms. For example, a lender can ask your race on a credit application. And while you’re not obligated to answer, if you do, the lender can’t outright deny you credit solely based on your answer.

Here’s a list of some of the ECOA’s guidance on what a lender can and can’t do. While it’s not exhaustive, it’s a start at helping you ensure that you’re treated fairly.

• A lender can’t ask about marital status if you’re applying on your own for an unsecured loan (unless you live in a community-property state).
• A lender can ask about race, sex or national origin, though you can choose not to answer. (This information is intended for the federal government to help ensure the lender is not discriminating against you.)
• A lender can ask about your immigration status to determine whether you’ll be in the country long enough to pay the debt.
• A lender can’t ask if you’re planning to have children (but it can consider your current children when talking about expenses).
• A lender can’t require a co-signer if you meet its standard lending criteria on your own.
• A lender can’t turn you down without providing a specific reason within 60 days, if you ask for it (and it can’t be something vague like “you didn’t meet our criteria”).

It’s also illegal for a lender to take certain actions based on a protected trait or characteristic as defined by the federal government, including race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or public-assistance status.

Based on a protected trait, a lender can’t …

• Keep information from you about the process (the kind of information provided to other applicants)
• Deny you credit if you otherwise qualify
• Apply different approval criteria than used for other credit applicants
• Discourage you from applying
• Offer credit terms that are worse than what you qualify for (like a much higher interest rate)
• Service your credit or loan account differently
• Close your account

A lender is required to reply to your credit or loan application within 30 days. And if you’re denied credit, ask the lender why — a lender is legally obligated to provide an answer if you ask. If you’re only given a vague reason — or if you suspect discrimination — it’s time to dig deeper. Talk to the lender to get the specifics and ask to speak with management if you aren’t satisfied with the answers.

To learn more about racial justice in lending and initiatives seeking to create change, connect with civil rights groups and other organizations leading the fight, like the NAACP.

5 ways to help protect yourself from credit and lending discrimination

1. Understand your credit

Knowing the impact of your credit history as laid out by the three major credit bureaus is the first step to protecting yourself from credit discrimination.

While there are different variables when it comes to lending decisions, many lenders rely on credit reports and credit scores as important deciding factors. It’s a good idea to monitor your credit often if you’re working on building it, but even if your scores are high, keep an eye on your reports periodically to make sure they’re accurate.

2. Know your rights

We’ve given you a general rundown of your rights as a potential borrower. That’s a start. Your state’s attorney general can also get you up to speed on your rights as a loan applicant in your state. To find out more about mortgage-lending protections, visit the HUD State Information website. Each state’s page will have more information about resources in your area and the laws in your state.

3. Shop around and compare

Shopping around for the best offer available to you is always a good idea. But it can also help raise a flag on discriminatory practices.

Every bank has its own criteria for lending decisions, so you can probably expect to see some differences in offers when comparing between lenders. But if an offer seems way too good to be true when compared to other loan terms you’ve been seeing, ask questions and look for other warning signs. And it’s a good idea to get that offer in writing so that you can read through it and compare it to others.

4. Read the fine print

One good practice when it comes to big financial decisions? Read the fine print. You don’t want to be surprised by the terms of a loan or credit agreement after signing. And while you aren’t likely to see blatant discrimination outlined in the fine print, you’ll want to make sure your lender doesn’t say one thing but print another.

5. Recognize the red flags

There are plenty of obvious examples of what overt discrimination in lending looks like. But there are also smaller, subtler methods of credit discrimination. And while just one of these may not automatically signal a problem, you should be more alert and watchful if you experience any of the following:

• You’re being discouraged from applying.
• Your race, sex, disability or other protected trait is brought into the conversation.
• You’re denied credit, even though you’re qualified per the lender’s stated criteria.
• You’re denied credit without a reason.
• Your offer is for a much higher amount than expected, or it’s too good to be true.

Next steps: What to do if you think you’re being discriminated against

If you’ve seen some red flags and suspect you’re being discriminated against by a creditor or lender based on your race, sexual orientation, religion or other protected trait, there are some steps you can take.

• Document it. Write down names, dates and as many details as you can about the incidents you’ve experienced as soon as possible after they happen — and save any related emails or documents.
• Talk to a manager. Let them know what you’ve experienced and ask for transparency and fair treatment. Again, write down who you talk to, when, and what the conversation covers.
• File a complaint (and do it quickly).
  • For general credit, you can report discrimination to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal agency that works to keep bad actors from harming consumers.
  • For mortgage or rental discrimination, you can file a complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
• Reach out to an antidiscrimination or rights organization or agency, like the ACLU, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities or HUD LGBTQ.