10 Best Jobs That Pay $20 An Hour
JA
Summary:
Some of the best jobs that pay around $20 an hour include virtual assistant, bookkeeper, real estate agent, or customer service representative. While some of these positions require technical certifications or advanced degrees, others don’t have any education requirements.
According to a PYMNTS survey, as of November 2022, approximately 63% of Americans — 166 million people — were living paycheck to paycheck. If you’re one of the many who work low-paying or odd jobs and struggle to make ends meet, consider exploring career opportunities with higher pay.
Keep reading to learn more about a few different jobs that pay around $20 an hour on average and could offer you the financial stability you need.
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1. Bookkeeper
Bookkeeping might not sound like the most thrilling job, but it can actually be a rewarding line of work. Bookkeepers are in charge of managing a business’s financial transactions and recording them accurately for accounting purposes.
This job requires attention to detail, proficiency with accounting software, and top-notch organizational skills. You also must have solid computer and math skills since you’ll be working with numerical data on a regular basis.
- Education requirements: Most employers only require their bookkeepers to have a high school degree or GED.
- Average hourly pay: Around $20.50 per hour
2. Marketing associate
If you’re interested in a lucrative and rewarding career in the marketing field, a job as a marketing associate may be right up your alley. Depending on the company, marketing associates may also be responsible for conducting market research, creating marketing campaigns, planning events, communicating with customers or clients, and analyzing performance data to help companies come up with creative marketing strategies.
- Education requirements: Most employers require applicants to have at least a bachelor’s degree in sales, entrepreneurship, marketing, business, or a related field to qualify for the job.
- Average hourly pay: around $20 an hour
3. Customer service representative
Customer service representatives are responsible for handling customer inquiries, problem-solving, and helping customers with any problems or questions. Because you need to interact with customers on a daily basis, make sure your resume reflects relevant qualifications, such as excellent listening and problem-solving skills, to land a job as a customer service representative.
Because customer service is a high-turnover field, many job postings are for companies that are hiring immediately, including online work-from-home opportunities for those with little experience.
- Education requirements: Most customer service representative jobs only require a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Average hourly pay: Around $17.50 per hour (but could be higher depending on your skill level, location, and years of experience)
4. Paralegal
As a paralegal, you help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. You may also perform various other administrative and support tasks for attorneys.
Before you start job hunting for paralegal positions, brush up your resume and create strong cover letters that demonstrate your legal knowledge. Networking with other paralegals and attorneys can also help you find employment, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
- Education requirements: Paralegals and legal assistants typically have at least an associate’s degree or a certificate in paralegal studies.
- Average hourly pay: Around $27 an hour
5. Sales representative
If you’re interested in sales, becoming a sales representative could be a career worth exploring. As a sales representative, your daily tasks may involve cold-calling prospective customers and pitching product solutions. You’ll also need to understand their needs so that you can recommend the right services or products.
Good communication skills and interpersonal skills are crucial as a sales representative since you’ll interact with people from various backgrounds.
- Education requirements: If the product you’re selling is not scientific or technical, a high school diploma is generally sufficient for sales representative jobs. However, if you’re selling software for a tech company, you may need to have at least a bachelor’s degree.
- Average hourly pay: Around $23 an hour
Pro Tip
Take advantage of online job boards, such as Indeed and LinkedIn, to search for high-paying jobs that match your skill set and experience level.
6. Real estate agent
Real estate agents are licensed professionals that manage the entire process of buying and selling property, including marketing listings and finding homes that match their clients’ needs. Agents also help conduct inspections and negotiations, review offers and contracts, close deals, and more.
- Education requirements: To get started as a real estate agent, you’ll need to take the required pre-licensing coursework in your state to apply for your license. As long as you pass the licensing exam, you typically don’t need proof of higher education.
- Average hourly pay: Around $23 per hour
IMPORTANT! While this is the average hourly wage listed for real estate agents according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this wage depends a lot on your skill and location. For instance, an experienced agent in California is likely to earn a much higher wage than a fairly new agent working in Missouri.
7. Social media specialist
If you’re looking for a $20-per-hour job and are passionate about social media, consider becoming a social media specialist. These days, many companies have realized how important it is to have a strong social media presence on multiple platforms to reach their target audience and build a loyal customer base.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the expected growth of public relations specialists — including social media specialists — is projected to be 8% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. So, if you love managing Tiktok accounts or creating exciting Instagram campaigns, this career could be the perfect fit for you.
- Education requirements: Most employers require applicants to have at least a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, or a related field to qualify for the job.
- Average hourly pay: Around $22 an hour
8. Virtual assistant
A virtual assistant job is perfect for those who want to work remotely and set their own working hours. A virtual assistant provides professional support — such as making phone calls, sending emails, and scheduling appointments — for companies or solopreneurs. The best part about being a virtual assistant is that you can do your job from anywhere with an internet connection.
Kerry Francis, the owner of Virtual Boss Mindset, is making over $5,000 a month as a virtual assistant. She says, “You don’t need any experience to start as a general VA; you can learn within the process of helping business owners with their workload.” Her advice for those getting started is to learn how to use VA tools like Canva and Google Calendar.
- Education requirements: Most employers only require their virtual assistants to have a high school degree or GED. Some might not have any education requirements at all.
- Average hourly pay: Around $25 an hour
9. Online English tutor
If you’re looking for a job that pays just over $20 an hour, consider working as an online English tutor. VIPKid, for example, offers English tutors up to $24 an hour and QKids also pays around $22 per hour. Plus, one of the major benefits of being an online English tutor is that you can create your own schedule to fit around other commitments. This flexibility makes it a great way to supplement your existing income and gain valuable teaching skills.
- Education requirements: To become an online English tutor, you’ll most likely need to get your TEFL certification. And though having a college degree is preferred, it’s often not mandatory.
- Average hourly pay: Around $21 an hour
10. Rideshare driver
Driving for a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft can be a great way to make extra money if you’re looking for flexible work. You can drive as much or as little as you want.
However, to become a rideshare driver, you must meet certain requirements. For example, Uber requires you to have at least one year of licensed driving experience in the U.S. (three years if you’re under 25 years old). You must also have a valid U.S. driver’s license and use an eligible four-door vehicle.
- Education requirements: None
- Average hourly pay: Around $22 an hour
Pro Tip
If you’re looking for a higher-paying job, networking is key. Put yourself out there by attending job fairs and joining professional organizations in your desired industry.
Increase your skill set
If you want a higher income, consider upskilling yourself. By acquiring new skills, you could open doors to higher-paying jobs such as software engineer, financial analyst, or UX designer that offer salaries far beyond $20 per hour. Plus, these positions often come with great benefits packages.
But remember, don’t just jump at the first higher-paying job offer you see. Be sure to research the company culture and job description to ensure it’s the right fit — so you don’t get stuck in a lucrative position that leaves you feeling unfulfilled.
You may also need to seek an additional degree or certification to get a better job. These student loan providers can help you pay for it.
FAQs
What job can I do from home with no qualifications?
Some entry-level jobs you can do from home with little to no qualifications include virtual assistant and customer service representative. However, just because these work-from-home jobs don’t typically require a four-year degree doesn’t mean you should go into the application process unprepared. Make sure to read the job description carefully so you can show the interviewer that you have the skills necessary to be successful in that specific role.
What job pays high hourly rates?
Healthcare workers such as physicians, surgeons, dentists, and nurses are some of the most in-demand professions around the world. Not only do they receive tremendous respect, but their hourly rates also put them in the top ranks when it comes to earning potential.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that healthcare is one of the highest-paying job industries in the U.S., with an estimated 13% growth rate by 2031.
How much is $100k a year hourly?
A salary of $100,000 is around $48.08 an hour (if you work a 40-hour weekly schedule). Of course, if your job pays time-and-a-half for overtime — sometimes up to double time — then your hourly pay can increase substantially.
Is $20 an hour good?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to whether $20 an hour is a good wage since many factors — such as your age and where you live — could come into play.
Living in an area with low costs of living and few financial commitments might make $20 per hour livable, depending on your spending habits. However, for those with higher expenses or more dependents, it may not be enough. Ultimately, no single answer can decide whether $20 an hour is good since income expectations could vary significantly from person to person.
Can I live off a job that pays $20 an hour?
Whether you could live off a job that pays $20 an hour will depend on the cost of living in your area. For example, if you live in Los Angeles, where the cost of living is high, it can be challenging to get by on $20 an hour. However, if you move to a much smaller city with a lower cost of living, then it might be more feasible. Ultimately, what matters most is how well you budget your money.
Key Takeaways
- If you’re looking for a job that pays more than $20 an hour, consider becoming a bookkeeper, social media specialist, or paralegal.
- For most of these jobs, it’s essential to have good communication skills since they involve interacting with others on daily basis.
- You may need a high school or college degree or a technical certification to get some of these jobs.
- Networking with other professionals in your chosen field is key when searching for higher-paying jobs. Be sure to attend job fairs and join professional organizations related to your desired industry.
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