Ranking · original analysis of BLS and O*NET data
Jobs that pay $25 an hour without a degree
The most common occupations with a median wage of at least $25 an hour where most workers report no college degree is required, ranked by how many people do the job.
Quick answer
The largest no-degree occupation paying a median of at least $25 an hour is Operations Manager ($50.85, 3,503,020 employed, BLS May 2025).
The ranking
50 occupations
Data Every figure is from BLS OEWS May 2025 or O*NET 31.0; the selection rule is below.
| # | Occupation | Median hourly | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Operations Manager | $50.85 | $105,770 | 3,503,020 |
| 2 | Truck Driver | $28.19 | $58,640 | 2,062,040 |
| 3 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $38.42 | $79,920 | 812,210 |
| 4 | Electrician | $30.38 | $63,190 | 757,220 |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $35.79 | $74,450 | 673,430 |
| 6 | Carpenter | $29.12 | $60,580 | 670,090 |
| 7 | LPN | $30.96 | $64,400 | 648,410 |
| 8 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $38.39 | $79,860 | 617,500 |
| 9 | Plumber | $30.67 | $63,800 | 465,840 |
| 10 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | $31.02 | $64,520 | 439,640 |
| 11 | Welder | $25.84 | $53,750 | 416,210 |
| 12 | Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $28.68 | $59,650 | 390,160 |
| 13 | Correctional Officer | $28.34 | $58,940 | 380,500 |
| 14 | Mail Carrier | $29.11 | $60,550 | 328,820 |
| 15 | Diesel Mechanic | $29.70 | $61,770 | 289,960 |
| 16 | Machinist | $28.24 | $58,750 | 287,050 |
| 17 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $50.44 | $104,920 | 284,800 |
| 18 | Administrative Services Managers | $54.87 | $114,130 | 263,960 |
| 19 | Industrial Production Manager | $60.61 | $126,060 | 246,250 |
| 20 | Food Service Manager | $33.36 | $69,390 | 238,430 |
| 21 | Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $27.41 | $57,020 | 206,170 |
| 22 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $31.50 | $65,510 | 176,600 |
| 23 | Bus Driver | $28.39 | $59,050 | 159,240 |
| 24 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $50.98 | $106,040 | 154,610 |
| 25 | Automotive Body and Related Repairers | $26.39 | $54,890 | 149,310 |
| 26 | Home Inspector | $35.91 | $74,690 | 146,720 |
| 27 | Aircraft Mechanic | $38.40 | $79,870 | 138,090 |
| 28 | Lineman | $45.83 | $95,320 | 131,070 |
| 29 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $28.86 | $60,020 | 128,490 |
| 30 | Sheet Metal Worker | $29.71 | $61,800 | 119,770 |
| 31 | Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $28.11 | $58,470 | 105,200 |
| 32 | Dispatcher | $25.50 | $53,040 | 102,500 |
| 33 | Cargo and Freight Agents | $25.13 | $52,260 | 97,670 |
| 34 | Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers | $28.88 | $60,070 | 86,340 |
| 35 | Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $28.33 | $58,930 | 83,080 |
| 36 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $26.90 | $55,940 | 81,480 |
| 37 | Tax Preparer | $26.40 | $54,920 | 76,480 |
| 38 | Postal Service Clerks | $29.87 | $62,130 | 73,720 |
| 39 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $31.23 | $64,950 | 68,520 |
| 40 | Medical Equipment Repairers | $29.64 | $61,660 | 65,990 |
| 41 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | $35.62 | $74,090 | 65,010 |
| 42 | Maintenance Worker | $29.25 | $60,850 | 60,020 |
| 43 | Glazier | $27.44 | $57,080 | 58,480 |
| 44 | Chemical Technician | $29.03 | $60,390 | 57,540 |
| 45 | Tool and Die Makers | $30.79 | $64,050 | 56,930 |
| 46 | First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $37.49 | $77,970 | 53,380 |
| 47 | Mason | $29.87 | $62,120 | 52,550 |
| 48 | Transportation Security Screeners | $32.10 | $66,770 | 50,290 |
| 49 | Title Examiner | $28.20 | $58,650 | 48,580 |
| 50 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | $35.74 | $74,340 | 48,240 |
Method
How this page is built
Occupations with a BLS national median hourly wage of at least $25 (May 2025) where at least 50% of O*NET respondents report no college degree is required, ranked by employment.
What this page can't tell you
Sources- Pay at a specific employer or for self-employed workers.
- Openings in your area: these are national figures.
- Whether a job suits you personally.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.