12 High-Demand Jobs That Pay More Than $55 an Hour

From spring 2023 to spring 2024, there was a 0.6% jump in average hourly earnings across the board. But that doesn’t mean that your job is compensating you fairly.

It may be time to look into other career tracks or job trajectories, especially if you want to eliminate some money stress. While this may seem daunting, many positions require exactly the experience you have, and even changing industries could be much easier than you think.

We’ve gathered information on a few high-demand jobs that pay above $55 hourly to help adjust your career path or even negotiate a better rate with your current employer.

Pay: $60.12/hour (median)
Requirements: A bachelor’s degree is preferred. Relevant experience is highly valued
Demand: Expected to grow 7% by 2033

Training and Development Managers possess the skills of a professor. They are hired to immerse themselves in every facet of the business in order to prepare its employees for optimal workflow. They often teach and provide continued education and resources to make the work easier — and the environment better — for everyone.

Pay: $56.24/hour (median)
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and a few years of related experience
Demand: Expected to grow by 3% by 2033

If you already have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain management, business management, or a related field, then you can pivot right into Industrial Production Management. Since management tends to spend time on factory floors, make sure to go into this role with added safety measures like masks, eyewear, and pollutant exposure information.

Pay: $55.95/hour (75%)
Requirements: A degree is not required, but helpful. Applied skills and a portfolio.
Demand: Expected to grow 8% by 2033.

Web developers create and implement websites and applications, with a focus on coding, infrastructure, and website performance. There are so many amazing, free resource to help build your web development skills, that it is rare an employer will rely on formal education when hiring a web developer.

Pay: $57.87/hour (median)
Requirements: Employers prefer a degree in computer science or a related field and some applied experience.
Demand: Expected to grow 33% by 2033.

Information Security Analysts use their tech knowledge to learn the ins and outs of computer networks and information. They analyze security and create security measures to reduce risk. This often involves trying to hack the company’s computer systems.

Pay: $66.05/hour (median)
Requirements: U.S. citizenship, passing a background check and medical exam, taking the FAA Academy training course, and obtaining a 2 to 4-year degree
Demand: Expected to grow 3% by 2033.

There is always work for knowledgable, observant, communicative air traffic controllers. This role helps to manage the flow of aircraft traffic and support the safety of crew and passengers. This job involves observing weather, being a problem-solver, handling emergencies calmly, and directing takeoffs and landings, among other tasks.

Pay: $57.31/hour (median)
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and about five years of experience in a related occupation.
Demand: Expected to grow 7% by 2033.

The need for Fundraising Managers is rising across the board as brands and public figures navigate high-dollar donations and fundraising events. Since these efforts are often paired with tax refunds and heartwarming community moments, the demand for people who specialize in fundraising is rising.

Pay: $57.26 (median)
Requirements: An undergraduate degree, veterinary school, and licensing exam. Often takes 6-8 years.
Demand: Expected to grow 19% by 2033.

While becoming a veterinarian does take more time than some of the other career moves, it is rewarding and growing in demand. After all, who didn’t imagine working with animals growing up? This role covers veterinarians for house domesticated animals, as well as those who specialize in wildlife, farm and livestock, and underwater creatures.

Pay: $62.33/hour (median)
Requirements: The main ones are completing a BSN, passing the NCLEX, completing an MSN program, and passing the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) exam.
Demand: Expected to grow 40% by 2033.

Another position you can pivot into with a little more difficulty, perhaps, is a nurse midwife. This is a much easier process if you have already passed your NCLEX exam to become a registered nurse and have a few years of experience under your belt. Otherwise, it could take between 6 and 8 years to qualify.

Pay: $75.28/hour (median)
Requirements: Top positions require a BA or BS in communications, marketing, business, or related field.
Demand: Expected to grow 8% by 2033.

The term “Marketing Manager” covers a wide range of roles within a company and often requires working with both creative and numbers. This role plans and and implements campaigns, analyzes their success, and adjusts for future work.

Some marketing managers handle the entire creative process, while others manage a department. Be sure to check with potential employers about the specifics of the role.

Pay: $67.82 (90%)
Requirements: No degree required, though preferred. Makeup training takes about six months, while cosmetology takes one to two years of schooling.
Demand: Expected to grow 16.86% in the next 5 years.

If you would like to take your art skills to a new medium, makeup artistry is experiencing a boom. Performance and television artists are more necessary now than ever, and are super in demand in states that serve the entertainment community, such as California, New York, and Georgia.

Pay: $57.49 (90%)
Requirements: Prelicensing course and licensing exam.
Demand: Expected to grow 2% by 2033.

Real Estate Sales Agents have their finger on the pulse of every up-and-coming property listing in the area. They are incredibly social, observant, and mindful, and willing to apply that to helping buyers find their dream homes.

Pay: $55.29/hour (90%)
Requirements: No degree is needed; short voice coaching or acting classes can help.
Demand: Rising due to demand for audiobooks, commercials, animation, and YouTube videos.

While voiceover acting is gig work that is often taken around other jobs, it can be very lucrative. So many voiceover artists are simply recording their everyday, conversational voices. 60% of part-time voice actors have entered the market over the last three years.

It’s time to move beyond living paycheck to paycheck. These jobs are only a few of the rising-demand careers you could pivot to in the next few years.

Keep up with Bureau of Labor Statistics reports to see if any jobs of interest may be trending upward, and look into educational opportunities to nurture your skills.