14 Highest Paying Hourly Jobs (2024)

You may think that jobs that pay by the hour pay less than salaried jobs, but that is not always the case. Hourly jobs can pay very well. Below, learn which 14 jobs are the most popular, high-paying hourly jobs. All median pay is based on 2021 rates, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Key Takeaways

  • Hourly jobs can pay just as well as salaried jobs, if not better.
  • You can find a well-paying hourly job in the medical field, in service-based roles, and in corporate industries.
  • Some high-paying hourly roles require degrees or certifications and others don’t.

01of 14

Financial Clerk

Financial clerks perform various administrative duties for banks, insurance companies, and other organizations.

Specific financial clerk jobs range from bank tellers to bookkeepers to payroll clerks. Most clerks require a high school diploma and on-the-job training, although some specialized clerks require a college degree in business or economics.

Median Pay: $21.52 per hour

02of 14

Administrative Assistant or Secretary

Secretaries and administrative assistants perform clerical and organizational tasks for an organization. They work in nearly every industry, including law, medicine, and government.

Pay depends on the industry and the complexity of the secretary’s tasks. For example, executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants, who work for top executives, can earn up to $62,060 a year.

Median Pay: $19.08 per hour

03of 14

Dental Assistant

Dental assistants work in dental offices, performing a variety of tasks ranging from patient care to record keeping to some lab work.

Some states require that dental assistants graduate from an accredited program and pass a state certification or licensing exam, while other states only require on-the-job training.

Most dental assistants work full-time, but many choose to work part-time. Some dental assistants work evenings or weekends, depending on their office's hours.

Median Pay: $18.59 per hour

Construction Worker

Construction workers perform a number of tasks at construction sites, ranging from preparing construction sites to unloading materials to operating machinery. Construction workers may help build buildings, tear down buildings, construct roads, or dig tunnels or shafts.

Some construction laborers are self-employed, while others work for a construction contractor or company. Most construction workers require brief on-the-job training, although some construction workers engage in apprenticeship programs that offer technical instruction.

Some laborers earn certificates in special skills such as concrete finishing to learn to perform more specialized work, which can earn them more money.

Median Pay: $18.04 per hour

05of 14

Phlebotomist

Phlebotomists collect blood samples from patients. They are part of larger medical laboratory teams in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and diagnostic laboratories. Phlebotomists must have a high school diploma or GED.

Some states require that phlebotomists have a state license or certification as well. There are a number of other positions within a laboratory team, but phlebotomist positions tend to be in high demand.

Median Pay: $17.97 per hour

Note

High-paying hourly jobs may be a good fit for someone who is also in school or is taking care of a family member or children. That’s because they’re often part-time.

06of 14

Medical Assistant

Medical assistants perform a variety of clinical and administrative duties in health practitioners’ offices. Tasks may range from helping with patient examinations to scheduling patient appointments.

Medical assistants typically must have a high school diploma and on-the-job training, but there is no required licensure or certification.

Median Pay: $17.88 per hour

07of 14

Assembler

Assemblers and fabricators construct various products ranging from engines to aircrafts to toys. They may also be responsible for testing the quality of the finished products. Assemblers typically work in manufacturing plants.

Most assembler positions require a high school diploma and some on-the-job experience. However, some of the more specialized positions require more formal education through technical schools; these positions tend to pay more money. For example, aircraft assemblers (who require technical knowledge) can earn a median annual wage of $49,480, whereas the more general median wage for assemblers is just $37,170.

Median Pay: $17.87 per hour

08of 14

Customer Service Representative

Customer service representatives interact with customers of an organization, answering questions about the organization’s products and services, and handling customer orders, returns, and complaints.

They may interact with customers in person, or via phone or the internet. Reps can work in almost any industry, ranging from retail to finance to insurance.

Many reps work part time, and may work morning, evening, or late night shifts. These jobs are well suited for people who need a flexible work schedule.

Median Pay: $17.75 per hour

09of 14

Delivery Services Truck Driver

Delivery services truck drivers pick up, transport, and drop off goods within a small geographic area, such as a county or city. Some drivers, known as light truck drivers, bring goods from a distribution center to various delivery locations.

Some drivers also serve as sales workers; they recommend products to their customers as they make deliveries. Drivers require a driver’s license, and typically receive brief on-the-job training.

Median Pay: $17.62 per hour

10of 14

Grounds Maintenance Worker

Grounds maintenance workers take care of the health and beauty of various outdoor environments and indoor gardens. There are a number of types of grounds maintenance workers. Landscapers, for example, create or improve existing outdoor spaces, and groundskeepers maintain existing lands.

Some workers make more than others. For instance, tree trimmers and pruners can earn an average of $22.58 per hour. Most grounds maintenance jobs are seasonal, and are particularly busy during the spring, summer, and fall.

Median Pay: $17.05 per hour

11of 14

Janitor

Janitors clean and maintain order within a building or specified area. Also known as custodians, they may work in schools, office buildings, hospitals, or a number of other buildings.

Some janitors are also responsible for performing small repairs, such as fixing leaky faucets. Most janitor positions do not require formal education; janitors typically learn through on-the-job experience.

Median Pay: $14.31 per hour

Note

A high-paying hourly job that is part-time may be a great addition to your full-time job if you’re looking to bring in more money to help pay down debt or save for a car or house.

12of 14

Retail Salesperson

Retail sales workers sell merchandise such as clothing, furniture, and cars. Most salespersons do not require a formal education, but some employers prefer salespersons with a high school diploma or GED. Many salespersons work part time, and many work weekend and holiday shifts. Many salespeople receive a commission for selling goods, which increases their overall payment.

Median Pay: $14.03 per hour

13of 14

Bartender

Bartenders serve drinks in bars, restaurants, wineries, or breweries. Many bartenders work part time, and most work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Although bartenders are paid by the hour, with tips included, the number can amount to much more.

Median Pay: $12.67 per hour, plus tips

14of 14

Waiter or Server

Waiters or servers take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons. They may work in restaurants, bars, hotels, or other food service places. Waiters may work part time or full time, and many work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

A waiter earns an average of $12.50 per hour directly from their employer, but they can earn much more with tips.

Median Pay: $12.50 per hour, plus tips

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the highest paying part-time jobs?

The highest paying part-time jobs span a wide variety of industries, some of which require degrees and some that don’t. There are roles in the medical field such as dental assistant or medical assistant that pay well. You can also pursue service based roles such as working as a bartender or server. Corporate roles such as working as a financial clerk or administrative assistant can also be part-time, but pay well.

What are the highest paying jobs for students?

There are tons of great high paying jobs that students can qualify for without finishing their degree such as a bartender or server in a restaurant, retail salesperson, or customer service representative. Students can apply for a wide variety of jobs until they find one that offers an amount of pay they’re happy with.

14 Highest Paying Hourly Jobs (2024)

FAQs

What are the highest paid jobs per hour? ›

11 high-paying hourly jobs
  • Financial advisor.
  • Commercial pilot.
  • Massage therapist.
  • Air traffic controller.
  • Veterinarian.
  • Senior creative director.
  • Management consultant.
  • Tattoo artist.
Apr 18, 2024

Is $14 an hour good pay? ›

We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a 14 An Hour job is above the national average. Topping the list is Santa Clara, CA, with Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA close behind in the second and third positions.

What is the highest paid hourly rate? ›

Highest-Paying Careers
RankOccupation2022 Median Wages
Employment column one Hourly
1Pediatric Surgeons$115.00+
1Physicians, Pathologists$115.00+
1Radiologists$115.00+
7 more rows

How to make $20 every hour? ›

30 jobs that pay $20+ per hour without a degree
  1. Physical therapy assistant.
  2. Route driver.
  3. Truck driver.
  4. Hotel manager.
  5. Maintenance mechanic.
  6. Solar installer.
  7. Medical coder.
  8. Carpenter.
Apr 18, 2024

Is $1,000 an hour good? ›

No mater how you cut it, though, $1,000 an hour is impressive. Bill the annual average of 2,200 hours and that's a nice $2.2 million in gross pay.

What pays $1,000 dollars an hour? ›

A corporate attorney is a corporate lawyer who acts as an agent representing a corporation's legal matters. Corporate attorneys represent the business transactions and operations and help their clients prevent expensive litigation.

What is a livable hourly wage? ›

Living Wage Calculation for California
1 ADULT2 ADULTS (BOTH WORKING)
0 Children2 Children
Living Wage$27.32$33.26
Poverty Wage$7.24$7.50
Minimum Wage$16.00$16.00

Is 14 an hour enough for an apartment? ›

According to the report, the average Californian needs to earn an hourly wage of $39.01 and work full-time to afford a two-bedroom apartment. California's minimum wage is currently $15 an hour for most employees and $14 at businesses with 25 or fewer employees.

Is making 22 dollars an hour good? ›

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. median hourly wage for all workers is $22.26 with an average of 34.7 hours per week. That means earning $22 an hour puts your wages just slightly above the average.

How to make 100 dollars an hour? ›

Here is the list of some of the top jobs that pay over $100 an hour:
  1. Freelance photographer. ...
  2. Life coach. ...
  3. Underwater welder. ...
  4. Interior designer. ...
  5. Political speechwriter. ...
  6. Massage therapist. ...
  7. Tattoo artist. ...
  8. Commercial pilot.
Apr 18, 2024

Is $100 an hour good? ›

California ranks number 27 out of 50 states nationwide for $100 An Hour job salaries. To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for $100 An Hour jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

What job pays the most without a degree? ›

Here are the top 10 highest-paying jobs that don't require a degree.
  • Airline and commercial pilot. ...
  • Information security analyst. ...
  • Elevator and escalator installer and repairer. ...
  • Special effects artist and animator. ...
  • Transportation, storage, and distribution manager. ...
  • First-line supervisors of police and detective.
Jan 28, 2024

How can I make $300 in 24 hours? ›

With effort and planning, you can realistically make $300 extra income in a 24 hour period.
  1. Driving for a Rideshare Service.
  2. Doing Food Delivery. ...
  3. Monetizing a Skill on Fiverr.
  4. Flipping Items. ...
  5. Doing Handyman Tasks. ...
  6. Participating in Focus Groups. ...
  7. Moving Help. ...
  8. Other Options.
Jan 22, 2024

How can I earn $30 an hour? ›

Jobs paying $30 per hour
  1. Budget analyst. National average salary: $71,656 per year Primary duties: A budget analyst monitors the finances of public and private organizations. ...
  2. Business consultant. ...
  3. Paralegal. ...
  4. Web developer. ...
  5. Aircraft mechanic. ...
  6. Occupational therapy assistant. ...
  7. Sales executive. ...
  8. Claims adjuster.
Apr 18, 2024

How to make $50 an hour? ›

10 jobs that pay $50 an hour (or more)
  1. Administrative officer. Average salary: $55.60 per hour. ...
  2. Air traffic controller. Average salary: $62.90 per hour. ...
  3. Health services manager. Average salary: $61.55 per hour. ...
  4. Software developer. ...
  5. Mining engineer. ...
  6. Biological scientist. ...
  7. Geologist. ...
  8. Physician assistant.

What is the salary for $100 an hour? ›

$100 hourly is how much per year? If you make $100 per hour, your Yearly salary would be $208,957.

Is making $25 an hour good? ›

Earning $25 per hour puts you well above the poverty line, especially if you're single. With careful budgeting and financial planning, $25 is still a viable hourly wage. Even though it's not a particularly high hourly rate, it's still well above the minimum wage rate in most areas.

Is $17 an hour good pay? ›

We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a 17 An Hour job is above the national average. Topping the list is Santa Clara, CA, with Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA close behind in the second and third positions.

Is $12 an hour a good wage? ›

It depends on your age, location and education qualifications, the type of work and the number of hours worked per week. £12 an hour is a good to reasonably very good, much better than the UK minimum wage.

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