20 Low- or No-Skill Jobs That Pay Way More Than Minimum Wage

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classifies jobs as unskilled if they don’t require a university diploma to begin. In actuality, these roles could also be bodily demanding, require excessive emotional intelligence, or contain working situations that most individuals keep away from. Due to these calls for, they generally pay a premium.

Many industries are determined for employees who possess grit, reliability, and the power to be taught on the job.

Keep in mind, a $50,000 wage goes a lot additional within the Midwest than in coastal cities corresponding to New York or San Francisco. It’s best to cross-reference these wages with the price of residing in your particular area.

1. Energy plant operator

This function typically tops the checklist of earnings potential with out a diploma because of the important obligations concerned. Operators management the techniques that generate and distribute electrical energy, and the excessive pay immediately displays the technical complexity and 24/7 nature of the work.

Whereas nuclear roles typically require particular licensing or army expertise, many fossil-fuel and hydroelectric vegetation rent entry-level employees with sturdy mechanical aptitude and practice them on the job.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is a powerful $103,600.
• Necessities: Highschool diploma. Anticipate rigorous long-term on-the-job coaching and background checks.

2. Railroad conductor

Conductors handle the cargo, crew, and security protocols on freight trains. It is likely one of the most profitable entry-level positions within the nation, particularly as a result of it requires a troublesome way of life dedication.

The railway unions have negotiated sturdy pay scales to compensate employees for being on name, spending days away from residence, and managing the protection dangers inherent in shifting large freight.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $75,680.
• Necessities: Highschool diploma. Railroads present intensive coaching applications.

3. Claims adjuster, examiner, and investigator

When a hurricane hits or a automobile crashes, insurance coverage corporations want boots on the bottom to evaluate the harm. Corporations pay a premium for this function as a result of it combines technical experience with emotional resilience.

It’s essential to journey to catastrophe zones and preserve professionalism whereas coping with upset shoppers who’ve simply misplaced property.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $76,790.
• Necessities: Highschool diploma. Some states require a licensing examination.

4. Flight attendant

Demand for flight attendants has stabilized, providing a travel-centric profession for individuals who can deal with the general public. The compensation is greater than for traditional service roles as a result of you aren’t primarily there to serve drinks; you might be paid to function the first security officer within the cabin, able to managing medical emergencies and troublesome passengers at 30,000 toes.

• Typical pay: The median annual pay is $67,130.
• Necessities: Highschool diploma, potential to move a background test, and suppleness.

5. Wholesale and manufacturing gross sales consultant

Promoting merchandise to companies (B2B) is usually way more profitable than retail gross sales since you are immediately producing important income for the corporate. Whether or not you might be promoting HVAC gear to contractors or meals provides to grocery chains, compensation is commonly performance-based. When you’ve got the interpersonal expertise to shut offers, your incomes potential is uncapped.

• Typical pay: The median pay for non-technical gross sales reps is $74,100.
• Necessities: A highschool diploma and powerful interpersonal expertise.

6. Water and wastewater remedy operator

These operators handle the equipment that transfers and treats water for municipalities. It’s secure, government-backed work that pays properly as a result of it’s an important public well being service requiring technical consideration to element. Operators should monitor gauges and chemical ranges exactly to make sure the protection of a neighborhood’s water provide.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $58,260.
• Necessities: Highschool diploma. You usually be taught on the job and earn state certifications over time.

7. Postal service mail service

The USA Postal Service (USPS) stays a constant employer for these looking for federal advantages with out a diploma. The compensation bundle — which incorporates sturdy union protections, common step will increase, and a pension plan — is designed to retain employees keen to endure the bodily calls for of strolling lengthy routes in all climate situations.

• Typical pay: The median pay is $57,870.
• Necessities: Highschool diploma, a protected driving report, and passing a background test.

8. Photo voltaic photovoltaic installer

This stays one of many fastest-growing green-collar jobs. The function instructions a premium as a result of the demand for inexperienced power outstrips the provision of employees keen to carry out the job, which entails working at heights, important out of doors publicity, and journey to numerous set up websites.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $51,860.
• Necessities: Often a highschool diploma. Most studying occurs on the job.

9. Oil and gasoline employees

Roustabouts and different entry-level laborers on oil rigs are accountable for assembling gear, cleansing up spills, and retaining the rig protected. Power corporations pay excessive wages for this function to compensate for the grueling bodily labor, the inherent job-site hazards, and the requirement to reside on-site for weeks at a time.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $52,610, with extra time typically pushing this a lot greater.
• Necessities: Bodily stamina and grit.

10. Hazardous supplies elimination employee

When you can observe strict security protocols, this area of interest discipline gives greater compensation than normal building. You’re paid a premium to wash up asbestos, lead, or nuclear waste due to the well being dangers concerned and absolutely the precision required to deal with harmful supplies safely.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $48,490.
• Necessities: Highschool diploma. It’s essential to full OSHA-mandated coaching, which employers usually present.

11. Basic upkeep and restore employee

Property managers pay for reliability and flexibility; they want somebody who can troubleshoot a leaky faucet, patch drywall, and repair a damaged lock instantly to maintain tenants pleased. You’re paid properly since you act because the “Swiss Military Knife” of the constructing, saving the proprietor from hiring costly specialists for each small problem.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $48,620.
• Necessities: A basic aptitude for mechanics. Particular expertise are sometimes discovered by way of shadowing.

12. Refuse and recyclable materials collector

This job seems on virtually each high-pay, low-skill checklist as a result of the yuck issue and bodily calls for power municipalities to supply a premium to draw employees. It’s vital, troublesome work that many individuals refuse to do, which drives up wages for these keen to do it.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $47,810.
• Necessities: Bodily stamina. Drivers want a CDL, however rear-loaders typically simply want a legitimate normal license.

13. Bus driver (transit and college)

Districts and transit authorities nationwide proceed to face driver shortages, notably on faculty bus routes, which frequently contain break up shifts. Employers should pay greater wages to draw dependable drivers who can function heavy autos and handle passengers concurrently.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage for all bus drivers is $48,370.
• Necessities: CDL with passenger endorsement (coaching is sort of all the time offered by the district).

14. Invoice and account collector

This can be a high-stress function targeted on recovering income for corporations, and employers pay for the emotional resilience required to have troublesome monetary conversations all day. It isn’t a job for the thin-skinned, however in case you can deal with rejection and negotiate firmly, it gives stable compensation.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $46,040.
• Necessities: Highschool diploma.

15. Building laborer

Know-how has not changed the necessity for human arms on a job website. Laborers carry out the bodily duties that hold initiatives shifting, from website prep to clutter elimination. The pay displays the bodily exhausting nature of the work, which will also be seasonal or harmful.

• Typical pay: The median annual pay is $46,050.
• Necessities: No formal schooling credential is usually required; you be taught on the job.

16. Pest management employee

This can be a recession-proof business that pays extra as a result of it entails dealing with chemical substances and dealing in uncomfortable environments. Employees should be keen to crawl into sizzling attics or tight crawl areas to deal with for bugs and rodents, a situation that instructions greater wages.

• Typical pay: The median annual pay is $44,730.
• Necessities: Highschool diploma and state licensure (which the employer often helps you get hold of).

17. Gentle truck driver

The “final mile” of the provision chain depends on drivers for parcel corporations (UPS, FedEx) or native distributors. The pay is aggressive as a result of the strain to satisfy strict supply home windows is excessive, requiring sturdy time administration, navigation expertise, and the power to hustle all through the shift.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $42,770.
• Necessities: Legitimate driver’s license and a clear driving report.

18. Pharmacy technician

Technicians help pharmacists in shelling out drugs and managing affected person information. In contrast to basic retail work, this function instructions greater pay as a result of it requires precision and a focus to element to make sure affected person security whereas dealing with delicate medical information and managed substances.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $43,460.
• Necessities: Highschool diploma. Many states require a certification, however massive chains typically pay on your coaching.

19. Safety guard

Whereas fundamental mall safety pays close to minimal wage, specialised safety roles — corresponding to these in authorities services, hospitals, or armored transport — pay a lot better. These positions provide premiums as a result of they typically require firearms coaching, greater clearance ranges, and elevated accountability.

• Typical pay: The median annual wage is $38,390.
• Necessities: Highschool diploma and state registration/licensing.

20. Bartender

When you’ve got the stamina to work nights and weekends, bartending stays a profitable commerce. Whereas the bottom hourly wage is commonly low, the function pays properly because of the tipping tradition within the U.S. In busy venues, excessive buyer quantity can considerably improve hourly earnings in contrast with most entry-level workplace jobs.

• Typical pay: The median base wage is $33,550, however whole take-home pay is commonly considerably greater.
• Necessities: No diploma; usually 21 or older; might require a neighborhood alcohol security certificates.

What these jobs have in frequent

The roles on this checklist share three traits: bodily calls for that display screen out many candidates, work that may’t be automated, and labor shortages that drive wages up.

When you’re keen to work irregular hours, deal with uncomfortable situations, or develop hands-on expertise, you possibly can earn properly above minimal wage with out taking up pupil debt. FlexJobs allows you to browse and apply to verified jobs across the nook and world wide.

Alternatively, keep residence and earn $1,370 per 30 days whereas watching TV. A number of corporations allow you to earn cash for testing apps, enjoying video games and taking surveys, however Freecash is in a league of its personal. Take a sec and check it out.