News & Trending Jobs & Career News

12 Jobs Over $40 an Hour You Can Start With Minimal Experience

Boost your income by trying a job that can earn you $40 with little previous work.

By Jenny Cohen

Edited by Laura Ratliff

Updated May 30, 2025

Finding a job that pays well is hard when you don't have much previous experience in the field.

But there are positions where you can jump in with little previous work in the industry and still manage to get ahead financially. Some positions may require your proficiency in specific areas.

Here are some jobs that pay at least $40 an hour with minimal experience, according to salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.¹ <p>Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 46% before fees, or 25% including our fees, over 12 to 48 months. All claims are based on enrolled debts. Not all debts are eligible for enrollment. Not all clients complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Estimates based on prior results, which will vary based on specific circumstances. We do not guarantee that your debts will be lowered by a specific amount or percentage or that you will be debt-free within a specific period of time. We do not assume consumer debt, make monthly payments to creditors or provide tax, bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice or credit repair services. Not available in all states. Please contact a tax professional to discuss tax consequences of settlement. Please consult with a bankruptcy attorney for more information on bankruptcy. Depending on your state, we may be available to recommend a local tax professional and/or bankruptcy attorney. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment, including potential adverse impact on credit rating.</p>

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

Web developer

Median hourly wage: $44.85

A web developer is one of many jobs that can help lower your financial stress. This role entails creating and maintaining a website. You can work for a company or organization, or be a freelance web developer who can set their hours and work for various clients.

You may need previous experience or education in website development, but many web developers succeed without a college degree by being self-taught.

Who really has the cheapest auto insurance in your area? Check your zip code here.

Elevator and escalator repairer

Median hourly wage: $51.24

An elevator or escalator repairer is responsible for understanding how to repair and maintain elevators, escalators, and even moving walkways. You usually need a high school diploma, but you can get additional on-the-job training while making more than $40 an hour in this specialized position.

Registered nurse

Median hourly wage: $45

A registered nurse treats patients who need a variety of care. You might be responsible for coordinating patient care with doctors or teaching the public about health conditions and issues. A nurse usually needs training in a nursing program, such as a bachelor's degree, and a license.

Smart Drivers, Smarter Savings

Compare car insurance rates in Ohio

See if you qualify for a lower rate in less than 2 minutes

Check Rates

By clicking the button above, I understand and agree that this site uses site visit recording technology (provided by Trusted Form, Jornaya, and Microsoft Clarity) Privacy Policy

Actuary

Median hourly wage: $60.47

Actuaries use data and statistics to determine the likelihood of certain events. Most actuaries work for insurance companies, setting the costs of insurance policies to cover various issues. An actuary usually needs a bachelor's degree with some experience in math and statistics for this position.

Information security analyst

Median hourly wage: $60.05

An information security analyst is responsible for planning and maintaining security measures for a company or organization. This position usually requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field.

Project manager

Median hourly wage: $48.44

A project manager is responsible for all aspects of a project, including the budget, schedule, staffing issues, and other aspects from its inception to completion. This job usually requires a bachelor's degree in business or project management to get a job in this field.

Make Money: 8 things to do if you're barely scraping by financially

Electrical power-line installer

Median hourly wage: $44.50

Electrical power-line installers are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing power lines, cables, and wires. You can get on-the-job training with an apprenticeship and some additional training to get a job working on power lines.

Power plant operator

Median hourly wage: $49.81

Power plant operators control and maintain the systems that generate and distribute power to homes and businesses. You can work at a plant that produces energy through different means, but working in a nuclear power plant requires a license. Power plant operators can get on-the-job training and usually need at least a high school diploma for the position.

Data scientist

Median hourly wage: $54.13

A data scientist is responsible for using different tools and techniques to get meaningful information from data. To become a data scientist, you usually need a bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, or a related field.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover^®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!² <p>See website for details.</p>

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Special effects artist

Median hourly wage: $47.98

A special effects artist creates images and visual effects for various visual media such as movies, television shows, and advertisements. You usually need a bachelor's degree in computer graphics or art and a portfolio of your work to show potential employers.

Computer network architect

Median hourly wage: $62.69

Computer network architects design and build data communications networks and update communications systems to fit changing technology. To become a computer network architect, you usually need a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field.

Software quality assurance analyst

Median hourly wage: $63.20

A software quality assurance analyst tests and identifies computer program and application problems. You usually need a bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology, or a related field.

Break the Cycle: 8 moves to escape the paycheck to paycheck grind

Bottom line

There are ways to secure a position with a good hourly wage, but even if you don't have much experience, these positions can teach you on the job

If you can get a well-paying job, you'll also want to review your budget to see how you can save or spend that additional cash to maximize your retirement savings. To do this, pay down debt or open a high-yield savings account to earn extra interest on your money.

More from FinanceBuzz: