INCREDIBLE

OFFER!

$200 Bonus + Up to 5% Cash Back

Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Plus, enjoy 0% intro APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers (then 18.24% - 27.74% Variable APR).

APPLY NOW

Member FDIC

12 Jobs Paying Over $35 an Hour That Are Open to Applicants With Little to No Experience

Careers paying $35+ an hour that skip the four-year degree

By Josh Koebert , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated July 14, 2026

Add Us On Google

A four-year degree isn't the only path to a $35-an-hour income. Roles in the trades, health care, and technical fields open through apprenticeships, short certification programs, or paid on-the-job training, and they pay well from the start or within a few years of entry. The 12 jobs below all clear $35 an hour at the median and offer a way to earn extra money through a career shift.

Editor's note: All salary data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

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>Please note that all calls with the company may be recorded or monitored for quality assurance and training purposes. Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 45% before fees, or 20% including our fees, over 24 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. "Debt-Free" applies only to enrolled credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills. Not mortgages, car loans, or other debts. Results vary.</p>

Elevator and escalator installer

Median hourly wage: $51.24

Elevator mechanics assemble, install, and repair passenger and freight elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, troubleshooting complex electrical and hydraulic systems.

Entry is through a four- or five-year union apprenticeship, most often via the National Elevator Industry Educational Program, pairing classroom study with paid on-the-job work. Most states also require licensure.

Shopping for cheaper auto insurance? Enter your zip code here to get started.

Radiation therapist

Median hourly wage: $49.03

Radiation therapists deliver targeted radiation doses to cancer patients, operate linear accelerators, and monitor patient safety throughout each treatment.

Most enter with an associate's or bachelor's degree from a JRCERT-accredited radiation therapy program, plus certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Most states also require licensure.

Nuclear medicine technologist

Median hourly wage: $46.64

Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs, operate gamma cameras and PET scanners, and monitor patients during imaging or treatment.

An associate's degree from a JRCNMT-accredited program is the typical entry point, followed by certification through the NMTCB or ARRT. Some states also require licensure.

Dental hygienist

Median hourly wage: $45.32

Dental hygienists examine patients for signs of oral disease, clean teeth, apply preventive treatments, take X-rays, and coach patients on daily care.

Entry requires an associate's degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, plus a state license. Most programs take about three years, including prerequisites.

Diagnostic medical sonographer

Median hourly wage: $42.95

Sonographers operate ultrasound equipment to produce diagnostic images of the abdomen, cardiovascular system, reproductive organs, and other body areas for physicians.

Most enter with an associate's degree, though one-year certificate programs exist for those already holding health care credentials. Professional certification through ARDMS is standard.

Power plant operator, distributor, or dispatcher

Median hourly wage: $49.81

These workers control the equipment that generates and distributes electricity across the grid, monitor voltage and flow, and respond to abnormalities in real time.

Entry requires only a high school diploma. New hires typically complete several years of paid on-the-job training. Nuclear reactor operators also need NRC licensure.

Make Money: 8 dumb ways to make money (almost anyone can do this)

Electrical power-line installer

Median hourly wage: $44.50

Line workers install and repair the high-voltage transmission and distribution lines that carry electricity from power plants to homes, businesses, and utilities.

Most enter with a high school diploma and complete a three-year apprenticeship combining paid fieldwork with technical instruction, often through IBEW or a utility program. A CDL is typically required.

Respiratory therapist

Median hourly wage: $38.68

Respiratory therapists assess and treat patients with breathing disorders, operate ventilators, and support cardiac and pulmonary emergencies in hospitals and clinics.

An associate's degree from an accredited program is the standard entry route, followed by state licensure and CRT or RRT certification through the National Board for Respiratory Care.

Avionics technician

Median hourly wage: $38.05

Avionics technicians install, test, and repair aircraft electronic systems, including navigation, communication, radar, and flight-control instruments.

Most enter through an FAA-approved Part 147 aviation maintenance school, typically 18 to 24 months. An FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License is often required, and airlines commonly require additional type training.

Earn as much as $1K doing simple online tasks

A company called Freecash has compiled all sorts of quick cash tasks from about a dozen advertisers and market research companies thirsty for more data. Freecash has paid out over $13 million to users since 2019, and has over 50,000 five-star reviews on Trustpilot.

Radiologic technologist

Median hourly wage: $37.97

Rad techs perform X-rays, CT scans, and other diagnostic imaging exams, position patients for each shot, and work with radiologists to review results.

An associate's degree in radiologic technology from a JRCERT-accredited program is the standard entry route, followed by ARRT certification. Most states also require licensure.

Aircraft mechanic

Median hourly wage: $38.05

Aircraft mechanics inspect, diagnose, and repair airframes, engines, and hydraulic and pneumatic systems on commercial, cargo, and general aviation aircraft.

The primary entry path is an FAA-approved Part 147 program (18 to 24 months), which prepares graduates for the Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification tests.

Boilermaker

Median hourly wage: $35.26

Boilermakers assemble, install, maintain, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large pressure vessels used in power generation, refining, and industry.

Entry is through a four-year union apprenticeship, most often with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, that combines paid fieldwork with roughly 144 classroom hours a year.

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

Bottom line

These 12 careers all clear $35 an hour at the median and welcome applicants without prior work experience, thanks to apprenticeships, short certifications, or paid on-the-job training. A hands-on skill still offers one of the most reliable routes to a solid paycheck without four years of tuition. Some workers also add remote side gigs to make money from home as they build toward a new role.

More from FinanceBuzz: