---
title: "Jobs That Pay $25 an Hour Without a Degree | CareerDirecting"
description: "Jobs with a May 2025 median of $25 to $30 an hour that do not need a bachelor's degree, with training type and openings."
url: https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/jobs-that-pay-25-an-hour/
updated: 2026-10-09
site: CareerDirecting
---

Lists · $25 an hour

# Jobs that pay $25 an hour without a degree The next rung up.

Middle-income jobs

Twenty-five dollars an hour is about $52,000 a year at full time. Many jobs at that level ask for a certificate, an apprenticeship or some on-the-job training, but not a four-year degree.

In short

Jobs that pay about $25 an hour without a degree include tractor-trailer truck drivers, carpenters, HVAC technicians, welders and machinists. In May 2025 BLS data, these jobs have medians between about $52,000 and $62,400 a year. Most need a certificate, an apprenticeship or months of on-the-job training.

**Job numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics** Updated October 9, 2026. Pay figures are national medians and are not a promise of what you will earn.

## Jobs with a median of $25 to $30 an hour

Sort by

Jobs with a median near $25 to $30 an hour, by openings

| # | Job | Median pay | Typical way in | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/truck-driving/) | $58,640 | Certificate | 3.8% | 214,500 |
| 2 | Carpenters [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/carpenters.htm) | $60,580 | High school or GED | 3.9% | 62,800 |
| 3 | Insurance sales agents [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/insurance-sales-agents.htm) | $62,280 | High school or GED | 3.3% | 43,100 |
| 4 | [Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/hvac/) | $61,010 | Certificate | 10.9% | 40,600 |
| 5 | [Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/welding/) | $53,750 | High school or GED | 2.4% | 40,300 |
| 6 | [Computer user support specialists](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/it-support-specialist/) | $61,860 | Some college | a decline of 3.5% | 39,700 |
| 7 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/construction-equipment-operators.htm) | $59,850 | High school or GED | 4.6% | 39,200 |
| 8 | [Real estate sales agents](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/real-estate-agent/) | $52,830 | High school or GED | 1.7% | 32,600 |
| 9 | Production, planning, and expediting clerks [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/material-recording-clerks.htm) | $59,650 | High school or GED | a decline of 1.3% | 32,600 |
| 10 | Correctional officers and jailers [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/correctional-officers.htm) | $58,940 | High school or GED | a decline of 7.4% | 28,400 |
| 11 | [Firefighters](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/firefighter/) | $59,280 | Certificate | 3.7% | 26,800 |
| 12 | Machinists [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/machinists-and-tool-and-die-makers.htm) | $58,750 | High school or GED | 1% | 26,100 |
| 13 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/diesel-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm) | $61,770 | High school or GED | 3.6% | 24,400 |
| 14 | Bus drivers, transit and intercity [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/bus-drivers.htm) | $59,050 | High school or GED | 4.1% | 21,100 |
| 15 | [Massage therapists](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/massage-therapist/) | $58,450 | Certificate | 15.3% | 20,400 |
| 16 | Postal service mail carriers [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/postal-service-workers.htm) | $60,550 | No diploma needed | a decline of 0.3% | 19,600 |
| 17 | Legal secretaries and administrative assistants [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm) | $55,570 | High school or GED | a decline of 5.2% | 18,100 |
| 18 | Chemical equipment operators and tenders | $58,040 | High school or GED | 3.6% | 13,900 |
| 19 | Cement masons and concrete finishers [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/brickmasons-blockmasons-and-stonemasons.htm) | $57,020 | No diploma needed | 1.6% | 13,600 |
| 20 | Eligibility interviewers, government programs [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/information-clerks.htm) | $54,210 | High school or GED | 1.6% | 12,700 |
| 21 | Automotive body and related repairers [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-body-and-glass-repairers.htm) | $54,890 | High school or GED | 3.7% | 12,600 |
| 22 | Roofers [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/roofers.htm) | $55,440 | No diploma needed | 5.3% | 12,000 |
| 23 | Payroll and timekeeping clerks [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/financial-clerks.htm) | $58,260 | High school or GED | a decline of 15.9% | 11,400 |
| 24 | Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/water-and-wastewater-treatment-plant-and-system-operators.htm) | $60,020 | High school or GED | a decline of 5.7% | 10,000 |
| 25 | Sheet metal workers [(BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/sheet-metal-workers.htm) | $61,800 | High school or GED | 2.5% | 9,800 |

Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm) (Table 1.2), May 2025 median wages, retrieved 2026-10-09. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or switch fields.

## What usually stands between $20 and $25

Looking across these lists, the step up is usually a credential: a CDL, a trade certificate, an apprenticeship card. Short training often pays back quickly at this level. Try it in the [payback calculator](https://careerdirecting.com/career-quiz/training-payback-calculator/).

## Questions people ask

### How much is $25 an hour a year?

About $52,000 before taxes at full time.

### What is the fastest way to $25 an hour?

A short credential in a job with lots of openings, such as a CDL, is one of the quickest routes.

### Do I need experience?

Some jobs here start lower and reach $25 with experience.

## Sources

- [BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035, Table 1.2 (occupational projections and worker characteristics)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)

## Where to go next

- [$20 an hour](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/jobs-that-pay-20-an-hour/)
- [High-paying](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/high-paying/)
- [Payback calculator](https://careerdirecting.com/career-quiz/training-payback-calculator/)
- [Jobs without a degree](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/)
- [6-month certificates](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/6-month-certificate-programs/)
- [AI-proof jobs](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/ai-proof-jobs/)
- [Associate degree jobs](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/associate-degree-jobs/)
- [Trades for women](https://careerdirecting.com/jobs-without-a-degree/best-trades-for-women/)

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