The technique is to increase educational backgrounds and degrees through continuous studies and masterals and even doctorate programs.
But there are programs that are looking for more experience than of these certifications. However with certifications, that only proves that you're competent and has got the fundamentals and foundation knowledge of the actual skillset you're learning.
I doubt there are
that many job positions looking for more qualifications than a doctorate - that basically proves you are an expert in that field.
Besides, academic success is not required to get a good income, you can get by without it - look at all of these Silicon Valley founders for example with a vision and a plan to act on it.
It's true about not requiring academic success to have more income, it's more of grit, resourcefulness and hustle.
While having that doctorate or masteral proves that you're good academically and that's a proof that you've finished that. There are some companies that are looking for those for their higher positions.
An educational degree is proof that someone has the ability and in my opinion it is quite influential in getting a job and also the relationships that academics have will be better than others so they have a greater chance of getting a decent job to increase their educational income.
So in my opinion, higher education has quite a big influence on the income you will get, and one thing we need to remember is that we cannot compare several people without successful education, we have to be realistic in looking at the average number for a conclusion.