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

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.