Six Sigma Green Belt Salary Increase [2023]

Does a Lean Six Sigma Certification Affect Salary At All?

A Six Sigma Green Belt Certification is a great addition to your resume and will make you a more valuable asset to your current or future employer. The skills acquired with a Six Sigma Green Belt certification (problem-solving, process improvement, root cause analysis, project management) are skills that are needed in every type of organization and role. But will having a Green Belt actually increase salary?

To know how much of an impact your certification will have, we have to look at a few factors, the biggest ones being:

• Organizational Culture: How important is continuous improvement to your organization? Most (but not all) organizations are familiar with Lean Six Sigma. If they are, they will recognize the importance of your certification. If not, in addition to listing your certification on your resume, you’ll want to make sure to include your capabilities in the “Skills” portion. Problem-Solving, Data Analysis, Process Analysis, Change Management, Project Management are some examples of skills that would be valued in any organization.

• Role: Will you have any opportunity to use your LSS skills in your new role? WIll you have the opportunity to collaborate with co-workers to improve the way that work gets done? If you’re not sure, it’s a great question to ask when you are considering expanding or changing your role.

• Capability: Just like any other certification, it’s not the paper that’s important. It’s your capability to apply the methods and tools. If you had great instruction and you’ve had some good, solid experience in applying your knowledge, you should be able to hit the ground running no matter what role or organization. If you get the fastest, easiest or cheapest certification, then you better hope that the expectations set by your next role are not too high!

  
  

How Much Does a Six Sigma Green Belt Make?

The average salary in the US is about $56,000. By comparison,

the average salary of a six sigma green belt is $107,700 (as of September, 2021). The range falls between $87,400 and $113,900 according to salary.com.

The average black belt salary rises to $123,600! Of course, salary ranges vary widely depending on many important factors, including industry, other certifications and roles, and the number of years of experience.

What are the Lean Six Sigma Certification Levels?

There are different Lean Six Sigma certification “belt” levels that correspond to martial arts belts, drawing on the Japanese roots of these process improvement methods.

White belts have a basic understanding of Lean Six Sigma core concepts, and yellow belts have primary problem solving skills that they can use to address simple problems in the organization, as well as be on a process improvement team led by a green belt. Green belts lead continuous improvement projects with an extensive knowledge of Lean Six Sigma’s DMAIC process.

Black Belts are normally full-time continuous improvement employees who have a much more technical knowledge of Six Sigma, and can lead or support several teams or projects at the same time throughout the year. Traditionally, LSS Black Belts focus on the statistical aspects of root cause analysis. We’ve modernized our Black Belt skills to focus on more accessible and usable statistical concepts, using common tools like Excel for deeper analytics, in addition to the less-often-but-really-important-when-you-need-them tools. A certified Black Belt is an incredibly strong resource for any organization.

For more specialized Belt Levels (such as Sponsor and Change Management) see our ultimate guide to Lean Six Sigma Certifications.

What Job Does a Green Belt Do?

It is important to note that up until black belt, most practitioners have separate full-time jobs at their organizations, and use their Lean Six Sigma skills to take on only one or two major improvement projects a year. This means that there can be Lean Six Sigma green belt practitioners in quite literally any industry, any organization, and any role.

Is a Six Sigma Certification Worth It? Learning how to apply Lean Six Sigma tools and principles undoubtedly can positively impact your work-life and career opportunities. Adding Six Sigma Certified to your resume proves your commitment to improving your business acumen and analytical skills, as well as improving the business where you work. The principles of Six Sigma find applications across a wide range of industries worldwide, in all types of organizations including Business, Government and Nonprofits. A great return on your investment in so many ways!

Is a Six Sigma Certification Worth It?

Learning how to apply Lean Six Sigma tools and principles undoubtedly can positively impact your work-life and career opportunities. Adding Six Sigma Certified to your resume proves your commitment to improving your business acumen and analytical skills, as well as improving the business where you work. The principles of Six Sigma find applications across a wide range of industries worldwide, in all types of organizations including Business, Government and Nonprofits. A great return on your investment in so many ways!

Is a Six Sigma Certification Worth It?

Learning how to apply Lean Six Sigma tools and principles undoubtedly can positively impact your work-life and career opportunities. Adding Six Sigma Certified to your resume proves your commitment to improving your business acumen and analytical skills, as well as improving the business where you work. The principles of Six Sigma find applications across a wide range of industries worldwide, in all types of organizations including Business, Government and Nonprofits. A great return on your investment in so many ways!