15 Jobs That Pay $30 Per Hour Without a College Degree

Trying to make the most of jobs that pay per? You are in the right place. Below we break it down in plain English, with practical tips you can actually use.

Key Takeaways

• Share This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, advisory, or brokerage services.
• We may earn compensation from some links on this page.
• While college is generally a sound investment, it isn’t a requirement for landing a good-paying job.

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This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, advisory, or brokerage services. We may earn compensation from some links on this page. Learn more.

While college is generally a sound investment, it isn’t a requirement for landing a good-paying job. You can have an excellent career without a university degree. 

To prove the point, we’ve compiled a list of jobs that pay $30 an hour without a degree across a variety of fields. Some of these are trade positions, which means training or certification may be required , but there are numerous options that are desk jobs too. 

Job (click to learn more)Average PayEducation requiredTransportation, storage and distribution manager$45.46 per hourExperience in field.Power distributor and dispatcher$43.61 per hourOn-the-job training.Commercial pilot$41.38 per hourFAA license, flight training.Elevator installer and repairer$40.86 per hourApprenticeship training.Lighting technician$35.32 per hourExperience in field.Subway and streetcar operator$32.63 per hourCDL and formal training program.Power line installer and repairer$31.83 per hourApprenticeship and certification.Police officer, detective$31.33 per hourAcademy.Construction and building inspector$30.00 per hourUnion sponsored apprenticeship and experience.SalespersonVariesNone.Growth marketer$50,000 to $98,000 per yearSelf-taught.Web developer$35.00 per hourSelf-taught.Graphic designer$54,320 per yearSelf-taught.Writer, editor$50 per hour (with experience)None.Real estate agent$48,390 per yearRealtor’s license.

Traditional Jobs That Pay $30 an Hour or More Without a Degree

For the purposes of this article, we’ve included jobs that require a certification that takes no more than one year to obtain. If you’re willing to put in more time than that, check out our “What about…” section below.

Note that we’ve taken the median wage data listed throughout this article from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, and we’ve ranked the jobs starting with the highest median wage first. 

This doesn’t necessarily mean that the jobs are ranked in order of the best or most realistic opportunity; each field has pros and cons, so check the description of each job (including its future prospects) to determine if it’s right for you.

#1. Transportation, Storage and Distribution Managers

Median wage: $45.46 per hour.

About the job: This job oversees the transportation, storage, distribution and other logistics for companies. Managers are responsible for complying with government regulations, coordinating with various facilities and departments, maintaining budgets and optimizing systems that move goods from Point A to Point B in a safe and efficient manner.

How to get started: A college degree in business or a related area will put you on a fast-track for this career, but you can get there with a high school diploma and five years of relevant experience as well. Look for a warehouse or distribution center job (temp agencies are a excellent way to find these) to get your foot in the door. 

Transportation, storage and distribution managers need a variety of skills, so aim for positions like forklift operator, inventory controller or receiving clerk that will expand your knowledge and responsibilities. 

Any management or communication training you can get will be helpful, since this job requires you to not only manage processes but people as well. 

Where it leads: There’s quite a bit of upward potential for transportation, storage and distribution managers, with earners at the high end topping $75 an hour. 

Transportation, storage and distribution managers are also prime candidates for management promotions, due to their intricate knowledge of company systems and how they interrelate. If you set your sights high, the sky’s the limit as there is a growing trend of supply chain employees rising to CEO status. 

Further reading: Transportation, storage and distribution (collectively called supply chain or logistics) is no longer viewed as just a blue-collar sector of the company but a huge competitive differentiator for businesses.

Check out the stories of these people who made the switch from high-profile fields like politics and engineering to supply chain logistics. 

#2. Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Median wage: $43.61 per hour.

About the job: Power distributors and dispatchers monitor and operate the equipment that delivers the flow of energy to end-users. These jobs aren’t just in power plants; industries like railways, transportation and government employ power distributors and dispatchers as well. 

Distributors and dispatchers reroute electricity during disasters or maintenance to protect linemen from shock. They also start up extra power generators at times of peak energy needs.

How to get started: Employers look for high school graduates with math and technology skills to engage in the on-the-job training program that qualifies them to become power distributors or dispatchers. Workers that have vocational degrees or an associate degree may have more advancement opportunities.

Nuclear power plant operators require much more training and they have to pass a licensing exam.

Where it leads: While power distributors and dispatchers enjoy a high median wage, their growth outlook is rather poor , it’s slated to decrease 8% by 2029. 

With experience and training, this career can lead to a shift supervisor, trainer or consultant position. Skills acquired in this position may lead to other similar, high-paying professions such as nuclear power plant operator.

Further reading: Want a more in-depth look at what a power distributor or dispatcher does every day? This website is a excellent resource. It includes a video on the workings of a power company in Seattle, as well as a detailed list of day-to-day activities a power distributor or dispatcher can expect to perform.

#3. Commercial Pilot

Median wage: $41.38 per hour.

About the job: Not to be confused with an airline pilot (which typically requires a bachelor’s degree), a commercial pilot cannot fly planes for airlines but can fly charter planes, jump planes, air ambulances, banner-towing flights and agricultural flights.

How to get started: All pilots have to be licensed through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including commercial pilots. Licensure comes after flight training and at least 250 hours of flight time. This training can be quite expensive (Final Thoughts

The bottom line: a little research on jobs that pay per goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is one click away.

Originally published at thewaystowealth.com.