Employers and employees alike are focusing more on work-life balance. Eliminating unproductive parts of a workday, such as long commutes, can increase productivity and employee satisfaction. While many employees desire flexibility in their roles, they also rely on financial security. In this article, we discuss the top paying work from home jobs, including average salaries and primary duties for each.
What are work from home jobs?
Work from home jobs, also called telecommuting jobs, are jobs that do not require employees to report to an office or physical location. Some work from home jobs may include out-of-office work, such as field work or client visits, but all other tasks can be completed from home.
Top paying work from home jobs that offer more than $20 per hour
If you’re an aspiring professional without a degree, it may be challenging to find a job that pays $20 per hour or more. It’s a common misconception that you have to earn a college degree to find a well-compensated role. In fact, there are many roles available to candidates without degrees that pay well in a variety of industries.
In this article, we outline 30 job titles that pay $20 per hour or more that don’t require a degree.
30 jobs that pay $20+ per hour without a degree
Depending on your skills and experience, you may be able to pursue a lucrative and rewarding career without attending a four-year college. It’s important to note that while some candidates may have degrees, the following professionals typically don’t require one. A job’s specific requirements will depend on an employer’s preferences and specifications. Here are 30 jobs that pay $20 per hour or more that don’t usually require candidates to earn a degree:
1. Physical therapy assistant
National average salary: $22.35 per hour
Primary duties: Physical therapy assistants work under the supervision of physical therapists and assist them in helping patients recover from injuries and illness.
Read more: Learn About Being a Physical Therapy Assistant
2. Route driver
National average salary: $22.70 per hour
Primary duties: Route drivers transport supplies and materials safely and in compliance with organizational policies. They may work for mail companies or other entities that make regular deliveries.
3. Truck driver
National average salary: $23.32 per hour
Primary duties: Truck drivers transport goods across state and country lines in large commercial vehicles. They are responsible for properly navigating their routes and delivering loads as instructed.
4. Hotel manager
National average salary: $23.51 per hour
Primary duties: Hotel managers supervise all activities in a hotel or resort facility. They direct the hotel staff, communicate with customers and address any issues that arise with the hotel guests. Hotel managers generally work their way up from an entry-level position.
5. Maintenance mechanic
National average salary: $23.61 per hour
Primary duties: Maintenance mechanics are responsible for monitoring a business’ equipment and ensuring that it’s operating effectively. They assemble, install and test equipment regularly.
6. Solar installer
National average salary: $23.65 per hour
Primary duties: Solar installers create the infrastructure for photovoltaic solar panels and install them on houses, buildings and other structures by connecting them to electrical grids.
7. Medical coder
National average salary: $23.87 per hour
Primary duties: Medical coders translate patient treatments into alphanumeric codes that are used to organize medical documentation and file insurance claims.
8. Carpenter
National average salary: $23.92 per hour
Primary duties: Carpenters construct, install and repair wooden frameworks and buildings, such as door frames, rafters, cabinets, stairways and more.
9. Paralegal
National average salary: $24.17 per hour
Primary duties: Paralegals assist lawyers and other legal professionals with clerical and supportive duties, such as calling witnesses and performing research.
10. Full charge bookkeeper
National average salary: $24.24 per hour
Primary duties: Full charge bookkeepers are financial professionals responsible for issuing invoices, calculating pay, issuing payments, filing taxes and creating financial statements.
11. Multimedia designer
National average salary: $24.30 per hour
Primary duties: Multimedia designers create and plan advertising materials found in television commercials or online, such as animation, photography, text and audio.
12. Audio visual technician
National average salary: $24.73 per hour
Primary duties: Audio visual (AV) technicians install, maintain and monitor sound and video equipment used when filming or conducting live events, such as concerts, sports games and conventions.
13. Police officer
National average salary: $24.89 per hour
Primary duties: Police officers patrol areas to keep them safe from crime. They intervene when crime occurs and investigate crimes after they are committed.
14. Proofreader
National average salary: $24.95 per hour
Primary duties: Proofreaders review books, magazines, pamphlets and other materials to ensure their text is error-free, grammatically sound and compelling.
15. Writer
National average salary: $25.09 per hour
Primary duties: Writers draft copy for a variety of different materials, such as books, journals, websites, newspapers, textbooks, manuals and more.
16. Ironworker
National average salary: $25.10 per hour
Primary duties: Ironworkers create and install iron building materials including girders, beams and sheet metal. They weld and cut the metal and may use concrete and bolts to secure it in place.
17. HVAC installer
National average salary: $25.22 per hour
Primary duties: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) installers are responsible for installing, repairing and maintaining building temperature control systems.
18. Tester
National average salary: $25.31 per hour
Primary duties: Testers work in a variety of industries, such as product testing and website testing. They try out products and report their experiences to help companies gather consumer data.
19. Electrician
National average salary: $25.82 per hour
Primary duties: Electricians design, plan, install and maintain electrical and lighting systems. They may also specialize in the repair of such systems.
20. Personal trainer
National average salary: $26.41 per hour
Primary duties: Personal trainers assess client strength and fitness. From here, they design personalized workout plans and monitor client exercise processes.
21. Wind turbine technician
National average salary: $26.85 per hour
Primary duties: Wind turbine technicians repair and install the technological components of wind turbines. They may perform mechanical, electric and hydraulic tests.
22. Industrial mechanic
National average salary: $27 per hour
Primary duties: Industrial mechanics install, repair and calibrate industrial machinery, such as conveyer belt systems, packing machinery and production systems.
23. Sonographer
National average salary: $27.47 per hour
Primary duties: Sonographers, who may earn professional certificates, operate ultrasound imaging equipment and take pictures of internal organs and tissues to help doctors diagnose medical conditions and monitor health.
24. Private investigator
National average salary: $27.83 per hour
Primary duties: Private investigators are hired by individuals to do research and find more information about specific people or entities.
25. Aircraft mechanic
National average salary: $27.90 per hour
Primary duties: Aircraft mechanics perform mechanical, hydraulic and structural inspections of aircraft such as planes and helicopters. They may install parts and repair damage.
26. Plumber
National average salary: $28.37 per hour
Primary duties: Plumbers plan, design, install, repair and maintain plumbing fixtures, such as pipes, valves, fittings, drainage systems and water systems.
27. Insurance agent
National average salary: $29.95 per hour
Primary duties: Insurance agents sell clients coverage through insurance policies to protect cars, homes, possessions, health, life and more.
28. Mobile application developer
National average salary: $33.04 per hour
Primary duties: Mobile application developers use programming languages to create the coding behind effective mobile application software.
29. Surgical technologist
National average salary: $34.32 per hour
Primary duties: Surgical technologists prepare operating rooms for surgical procedures by sterilizing equipment and arranging tools. They may also assist doctors as needed.
30. Videographer
National average salary: $35.17 per hour
Primary duties: Videographers film events using camera, lighting and audio systems. They may work in collaborative teams or as independent producers.
Frequently asked questions
What are educational alternatives for going to college?
You can advance your education and skills without attending college. For example, you can obtain certification online, which allows you to gain qualifications by completing short-term training. Often, you can finish a certification program within a few months, and these programs can cost less than college or university tuition.
Some industry certificates include:
Health care
Social media management
Information technology (IT)
Search engine optimization (SEO)
How can you explain why you don’t have a degree in a job interview?
During a job interview, a hiring manager or recruiter may ask why you don’t have a college degree. You can address this question by discussing how you have used your time instead.
For example, talk about skills you have developed through traveling, self-guided learning or completing independent projects. For example, if you have graphic design and sales skills, you can talk about how you learned these skills by designing and selling products at an online store you opened.
What are some in-demand skills you can learn to increase your job opportunities?
There are several soft and hard skills to develop that can help increase your job opportunities, such as:
Technological proficiencies
Problem-solving
Analytical reasoning
Leadership
Project management
Teamwork
Adaptability
Multitasking
Creativity
Interpersonal skills and relationship building
Written and oral communication
