80% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
30 Jobs That Pay $30 to $40 an Hour, Ranked by Annual Openings (2026)
First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers tops this list at $69,500 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with -0.3% projected employment change over 2024–2034. Below are 30 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
Occupations whose BLS median hourly wage is at least $30.00 and under $40.00, ranked by projected annual openings so the list leads with the work that exists in volume at this rate. The hourly figure is the one BLS publishes in the OEWS release, not an annual salary divided by 2,080; occupations OEWS reports on an annual basis only, which is most teaching and airline flight-crew work, carry no hourly wage to test and are left off rather than converted. The band has an upper end so that each rate gets its own list rather than four copies of the same one; jobs paying above $40 an hour are on the higher lists.
- Careers on this list
- 30
- Median pay on the list
- $73,265
- Projected to grow
- 28 of 30
- Openings a year
- 1,729,600
From 923 in the bank
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Combined, BLS EP
How we built this list
- Included when the BLS OEWS published median hourly wage is at least $30.00 and under $40.00.
- The hourly figure is the median hourly wage BLS itself publishes, never an annual salary divided by 2,080. Occupations BLS reports on an annual basis only are left out rather than converted.
- Ranked by projected annual openings from BLS Employment Projections, so the list leads with work that actually exists in volume at this pay rate rather than with the rare job that happens to clear the floor.
- BLS publishes one wage per occupation code, and several O*NET job titles can share a code. Only one title per code is listed, so the same wage does not appear over and over.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The top 30 jobs that pay $30 an hour
1. First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers
Office and Administrative Support
- Median pay
- $69,500
- Growth
- -0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 144,500
- Education
- High school
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
2. Sales Representative of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
Sales and Related
- Median pay
- $69,990
- Growth
- +3.1%
- Openings / yr
- 123,000
- Education
- High school
Sell services to individuals or businesses.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Sales and Related
- Median pay
- $72,080
- Growth
- +0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 114,800
- Education
- High school
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals.
4. Business Continuity Planner
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $83,050
- Growth
- +3.0%
- Openings / yr
- 108,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Develop, maintain, or implement business continuity and disaster recovery strategies and solutions, including risk assessments, business impact analyses, strategy selection, and documentation of business continuity an…
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $78,760
- Growth
- +6.7%
- Openings / yr
- 87,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets.
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $75,940
- Growth
- +6.2%
- Openings / yr
- 81,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization.
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $63,190
- Growth
- +9.5%
- Openings / yr
- 81,000
- Education
- High school
Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures.
8. First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $79,920
- Growth
- +5.3%
- Openings / yr
- 74,400
- Education
- High school
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
9. First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers
Production
- Median pay
- $74,450
- Growth
- +1.2%
- Openings / yr
- 67,700
- Education
- High school
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $64,400
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 54,400
- Education
- Certificate
Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions.
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $76,210
- Growth
- +3.1%
- Openings / yr
- 53,700
- Education
- High school
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances.
12. First-Line Supervisor of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $79,860
- Growth
- +3.1%
- Openings / yr
- 52,400
- Education
- High school
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $77,710
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 52,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Purchase farm products either for further processing or resale.
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $77,710
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 52,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods.
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $77,710
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 52,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment.
Office and Administrative Support
- Median pay
- $76,590
- Growth
- -1.6%
- Openings / yr
- 50,000
- Education
- High school
Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing corresponden…
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $64,520
- Growth
- +16.1%
- Openings / yr
- 45,700
- Education
- High school
Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems.
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $63,800
- Growth
- +4.5%
- Openings / yr
- 44,000
- Education
- High school
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases.
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $69,280
- Growth
- +10.8%
- Openings / yr
- 43,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance.
Management
- Median pay
- $69,390
- Growth
- +6.4%
- Openings / yr
- 42,000
- Education
- High school
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
Legal
- Median pay
- $62,890
- Growth
- +0.2%
- Openings / yr
- 39,300
- Education
- Associate's
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent.
- Median pay
- $69,990
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 39,000
- Education
- High school
Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties.
Sales and Related
- Median pay
- $78,660
- Growth
- +3.3%
- Openings / yr
- 38,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Buy and sell securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, or provide financial services to businesses and individuals.
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $80,730
- Growth
- +3.0%
- Openings / yr
- 33,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis ac…
Community and Social Service
- Median pay
- $64,330
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings / yr
- 31,000
- Education
- Master's
Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $74,750
- Growth
- +4.8%
- Openings / yr
- 27,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations.
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $82,320
- Growth
- +16.7%
- Openings / yr
- 26,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization.
Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Median pay
- $62,470
- Growth
- +7.1%
- Openings / yr
- 24,400
- Education
- High school
Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $62,930
- Growth
- +1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 22,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $62,930
- Growth
- +1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 22,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
Jobs That Pay $30 an Hour: FAQ
What is the top career on the jobs that pay $30 an hour list?
First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers leads the list with a median wage of $69,500 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of -0.3% over 2024–2034. Typical entry-level education is high school.
How was this list put together?
Occupations whose BLS median hourly wage is at least $30.00 and under $40.00, ranked by projected annual openings so the list leads with the work that exists in volume at this rate. The hourly figure is the one BLS publishes in the OEWS release, not an annual salary divided by 2,080; occupations OEWS reports on an annual basis only, which is most teaching and airline flight-crew work, carry no hourly wage to test and are left off rather than converted. The band has an upper end so that each rate gets its own list rather than four copies of the same one; jobs paying above $40 an hour are on the higher lists. Included when the BLS OEWS published median hourly wage is at least $30.00 and under $40.00. The hourly figure is the median hourly wage BLS itself publishes, never an annual salary divided by 2,080. Occupations BLS reports on an annual basis only are left out rather than converted. Ranked by projected annual openings from BLS Employment Projections, so the list leads with work that actually exists in volume at this pay rate rather than with the rare job that happens to clear the floor. BLS publishes one wage per occupation code, and several O*NET job titles can share a code. Only one title per code is listed, so the same wage does not appear over and over. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET 30.3 Database.
How much do jobs that pay $30 an hour pay?
Across the 30 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $73,265 a year, from $62,470 at the bottom to $83,050 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
15 of the 30 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034).