20 Jobs That Pay $20 an Hour With No Experience or Degree

Do you find yourself in a situation where you need to make money, but don’t have the experience or degree required for most high-paying jobs?

If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people are in the same boat.

The good news is that there are still plenty of jobs that pay $20 an hour or more, even if you don’t have any experience or a degree. So don’t give up yet!

Check out this list of jobs that fit the bill.

Jobs That Pay $20 an Hour Without a Degree

Here are some excellent jobs and careers, along with the average wages, that are attainable even without a degree. However, keep in mind that “no degree” doesn’t mean “no skills”. Some of these career opportunities require specific skills that can be learned on your own without formal education. Maybe you already have some valuable skills, and if not, we’ll point you towards resources that will help.

1. Freelance Writer

One of the most practical ways to start earning $20 an hour or more is by becoming a freelance writer. If you have decent grammar and writing skills, you can start landing gigs on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.

Freelance writing jobs are available for just about any topic you can imagine, so regardless of your interests or background, you should be able to find some opportunities.

The rates for freelance writing gigs vary drastically. While there are some low-paying writing jobs, there are also a lot of jobs with very reasonable pay, and some very high-paying writing gigs. Earning an average of $20 per hour is very realistic, even for a beginner.

One of the most attractive aspects of freelance writing is that many of your clients will need ongoing work. For example, many websites and blogs hire writers, and they need new articles monthly, weekly, or even daily. If you land some recurring gigs, you won’t need to spend time looking for new clients. You can use all of your working time doing the writing that generates revenue.

Average salary: The average freelance writer makes $32 per hour or $65,676 per year.

Getting started: Freelance Writing 101 by Brad Merrill provides an outstanding overview that will get you started on a solid foundation.

2. Proofreader

Do you have a keen eye for detail? If so, you might want to consider becoming a proofreader. Proofreading is a service that businesses and individuals use to ensure their writing is free of grammatical errors.

You don’t need a degree or years of experience to work as a proofreader, as long as you have the skills and attention to detail required. And like freelance writing, there’s a lot of potential to make good money.

While the pay for proofreading can vary, there are many opportunities to earn $20 per hour or more. In addition, as with freelance writing, many proofreading clients will need ongoing work, which can provide you with a consistent income stream.

You could work as an employee, or you could freelance and find your own clients. Freelancing offers better income potential, but it also comes with less stability and you’ll be responsible for keeping your workload up.

Average salary: The average proofreader makes $22 per hour or $45,852 per year.

Getting started: If you’re interested in learning more about proofreading be sure to check out this free workshop from Proofread Anywhere.

3. Graphic Designer

If you’re artistic or have some design skills, you could start earning $20 per hour or more by offering your services to businesses and other clients.

Graphic designers work on a wide variety of projects like creating logos, designing websites, and developing marketing materials. The scope of work is broad, which means there are many opportunities to find clients and projects that fit your skillset.

While some graphic designers work as employees, the majority freelance. This gives you the flexibility to choose your own projects and work hours, but it also comes with more responsibility. Still, if you’re good at what you do, the income potential is high.

There are many ways to get started as a graphic designer. You could find work on freelancing sites like the ones mentioned above, or reach out to businesses directly and offer your services.

Average salary: The average graphic designer makes $29 per hour or $59,442 per year.

Getting started: To learn more, see Freelance Graphic Designers Masterclass.

4. Web Designer

Like graphic design, there’s a lot of potential to make good money as a web designer. However, it’s also a very competitive field, so you’ll need to be good at what you do in order to stand out.

Contrary to what you might think, you don’t need HTML or CSS coding skills to provide web design services, although it doesn’t hurt if you do know how to code. Thanks to WordPress builders like Divi, you can create custom drag-and-drop websites for your clients without the need to code. You can even build fully-functioning e-commerce websites by using Shopify.

Even though it’s possible for business owners and entrepreneurs to create their own websites with these platforms, many of them don’t have the time or the desire to learn how to do it. As a result, they’ll gladly pay someone with the know-how to handle the job for them.

If you have some experience working with WordPress, like managing your own blog perhaps, this could be a good opportunity for you to explore.

There are many ways to get started as a web designer. You could find work on freelancing sites like the ones mentioned above, or reach out to businesses directly and offer your services.

Average salary: The average web designer makes $29 per hour or $60,202 per year.

Getting started: To learn more, see our article How to Make Money as a Web Designer.

5. Mobile App Developer

With over more than 6 billion active smartphones in use worldwide, there’s a lot of potential for making money as a mobile app developer.

Of course, developing a high-quality app requires some skills, but you don’t necessarily need a degree or specific work experience. It’s definitely a skill that many people have learned on their own.

While we’re talking about jobs that make at least $20 an hour, it’s important to point out that app developers make far more. In fact, many app developers make well over $100,000 of annual income.

There are three ways to make money as an app developer:

1. Developing your own apps and selling them in the app store.
2. Working as an employee, either as an in-house developer or for an agency.
3. Working as a freelancer for companies that need someone to develop an app for them.

Developing your own apps is a great way to get started and build your portfolio, but you won’t make much money unless your app is a hit. As a result, you may want to look for freelance work to start producing more income quickly.

Average salary: The average mobile app developer makes $49 per hour or $101,899 per year.

Getting started: See How to Make Awesome Mobile Apps for an introduction.

6. Virtual Assistant

If you’re good at staying organized and managing your time, you could make a lot of money as a virtual assistant.

Virtual assistants provide administrative support to businesses, entrepreneurs, and busy people. This can include tasks like managing schedules, booking appointments, handling customer inquiries, and even doing research.

The income potential for this job is high with hourly rates that can range from $20 to $50 per hour or more. And the best part is that virtual assistants can work from home, which gives you a lot of flexibility in terms of where and when you work.

You could either find virtual assistant jobs through companies like Fancy Hands and Zirtual (where you’ll earn a lower starting wage), or freelance and find your own clients. Freelancing provides much higher income potential, but it does require more time and effort to build up the business. You might prefer to work a part-time job through an agency for a while to get some experience and have a steady income while building your own business on the side.

Average salary: The average remote virtual assistant makes $31 per hour or $63,501 per year.

Getting started: Kayla Sloan offers a free workshop called 5 Steps to Become a Virtual Assistant.

7. Social Media Marketer

As a social media marketer, you’ll be responsible for managing and growing the social media presence of businesses and brands. This can include tasks like creating and posting content, running social media ads, and engaging with customers.

The income potential in this job is high, with some social media marketers making over $50 an hour. And as more businesses start to realize the importance of social media, the demand for these services will only continue to grow.

Creating and managing ad campaigns on platforms like Google, Facebook, and Pinterest is especially lucrative. Most small business owners recognize the importance of online advertising but they don’t know how to do it on their own, or they don’t have the time to do it. As a social advertising expert, you can make an excellent income by helping businesses with their ad campaigns.

There are many ways to get started in social media marketing. You could find work on freelancing sites like Fiverr or Upwork, or reach out to businesses directly and offer your services. You could also start your own social media marketing agency and build a team to handle the work for you.

Average salary: The average social media marketer makes $24 per hour or $50,834 per year.

Getting started: To learn more, see Run Your Social Media Marketing Business.

8. Trash Cleanup Entrepreneur

Here’s a business opportunity that offers excellent income potential and requires no specific skills, education, or experience.

Brian Winch started a trash cleanup side hustle in the 1980s and within just a few months his business was making more than he earned at his full-time job. For the past 30 years, Brian has been making six figures per year running a simple trash cleanup business. Now, he teaches others how to duplicate his success through Cleanlots.

The concept is very basic. Businesses like strip malls, office complexes, and retail stores need trash cleanup services for their parking lots, and they’re willing to pay someone to do the work. Cleanlots shows hows to get in touch with property managers and offer these services.

You don’t need much money to get started. All you need is an inexpensive trash pickup tool and a vehicle to get around. The business can be run part-time or full-time, and you can even hire workers if you prefer.

Brian calls it “America’s simplest business.”

This could be the perfect opportunity for anyone who has an interest in starting and running a profitable small business. There aren’t many jobs or businesses that are this simple and still offer the potential for a six-figure income.

Average salary: As a one-person operation, you can make $50,000 – $100,000 per year.

Getting started: Brian Winch’s Cleanlots serves as a guide or manual that teaches everything you need to know to run your own trash cleanup business.

9. Voice Actor

There’s a huge demand for voice actors, with businesses needing people to provide voiceovers for commercials, video games, apps, and more. And contrary to what you might think, there are opportunities for people with all types of voices and of all ages.

The best part is that you can work from home and set your own hours. You could even get started as a freelance voice actor and build up your client base over time. The income potential in this job is very high, with many voice actors making $50 to $100 per hour or more.

Getting started is easy enough, you just need to record a demo reel and start submitting it to businesses that are in need of voice actors. It’s also a good idea to create a profile on a freelancing site like Fiverr or Upwork, as this will make it easier for businesses to find you.

Average salary: The average voice actor makes $37 per hour or $76,297 per year.

Getting started: To learn more, see Voice Over Masterclass.

10. Videographer

With businesses increasingly relying on video content, there’s a growing demand for videographers to create videos for websites, social media, and advertisements.

Videography is a great option for anyone with an interest in photography or filmmaking. And while it does require some equipment and skills, it’s relatively easy to get started. You may already have the basic equipment that you could use for your first project, and then you could upgrade to higher-quality gear once you start making some money.

Maybe you have some experience creating YouTube videos or just doing videography for fun. With a little bit of work, you might be able to turn this into a lucrative career.

Average salary: The average videographer makes $23 per hour or $48,660 per year.

Getting started: For a detailed guide, check out Advanced Videography.

11. Video Editor

If you have a creative eye and some experience with video editing, then this could be the perfect job for you.

As a video editor, your role will include taking raw footage and creating videos that tell a story or promote a product/service. This can be done for businesses, websites, social media, YouTube channels, or just about anything else.

To get started, you’ll need some basic video editing software (like iMovie or Adobe Premiere) and a strong understanding of how to use it. Once you’ve got that down, you can start reaching out to businesses or individuals who need help creating videos.

Average salary: The average video editor makes $24 per hour or $50,439 per year.

Getting started: To gain the skills you need, see Advanced Video Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro.

12. Podcast Editor

Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular, with people of all ages tuning in to listen to their favorite shows. And as the demand for podcasts grows, so does the demand for podcast editors. Editing and processing the audio files takes a lot of time and effort, and most podcast hosts prefer to hire an editor so they can focus on other things.

If you have experience editing audio, then this could be a great job for you. You’ll be responsible for cleaning up the audio, adding music and sound effects, and making sure the final product is high quality.

To get started, you’ll find some podcasts that need editing and reach out to them about your services. Once you’ve built up a few clients, you can start charging more for your services.

Average salary: The average podcast editor makes $27 per hour or $55,817 per year.

Getting started: To learn more, see How to Edit Podcasts with Audacity.

13. Delivery Driver

As a delivery driver, you’ll be responsible for picking up restaurant orders and delivering them to the customer. And since you can set your own hours, this is a great job for workers who wants to make extra cash on the side.

If you choose to work peak hours, it’s likely that your income will be at the higher end of the scale. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to pay for gas and use your own vehicle to make the deliveries.

DoorDash is our top recommendation for anyone who’s interested in a delivery side hustle. We recommend DoorDash because they’re in more than 7,000 cities, so it’s a realistic option for most people. Also, unlike some competitors, DoorDash allows drivers to use any vehicle for deliveries, so you don’t need a new or expensive vehicle.

One of the best details about this opportunity is that you can start making money almost immediately. If you sign up today, you’ll be able to start working as soon as you pass a background check. Most people start making money within just a few days. Even if it’s just something you want to do temporarily, it’s always good to have the option to make decent money any time you need to.

Average salary: According to DoorDash, drivers earn $25 per hour on average, including 100% of tips.

Getting started: Apply with DoorDash and you can start making money just a few days from now.

14. Photographer

If you have a good eye for photography, then this could be the perfect job for you. Photographers are responsible for taking pictures of people, places, events, and products. And while it does require some equipment and skills, many people have what it takes. You may already have the basic equipment that you need to get started, and then you can upgrade to higher-quality gear once you start making some money.

There are all sorts of different types of photographers out there. You could be a wedding photographer, product photographer, event photographer, or anything else. There are also different ways to make money as a photographer. You could work for a company, start your own business, or even sell your photos online.

If you’re interested in getting started, we recommend taking some courses to learn the basics of photography.

To get started, you’ll need to create a portfolio of your work and start reaching out to businesses or individuals who need photography services. Once you’ve built up a few clients, you can start charging more for your services.

Average salary: The average photographer makes $22 per hour or $76,416 per year.

Getting started: If you’ve already got some basic photography skills, refer to Start Your Photography Business.

15. DJ

If you love music, then you might want to consider becoming a DJ. DJs are responsible for playing music at events, parties, and clubs.

There are all sorts of different types of DJs out there. You could be a club DJ, wedding DJ, event DJ, or anything else. There are also different ways to make money as a DJ. You could work for a company, start your own business, or even sell your services online.

To get started, you’ll need to create a portfolio of your work and start reaching out to businesses or individuals who need DJ services.

Average salary: The average DJ makes $28 per hour or $58,267 per year.

Getting started: To learn more, see The Complete DJ Course for Beginners.

16. Bookkeeper

If you’re good with numbers, then bookkeeping might be the perfect job for you. Bookkeepers are responsible for maintaining financial records. This includes keeping track of income, expenses, and assets.

While it is a bit more of an administrative role, bookkeepers can often work remotely. And since it’s such an important job, bookkeepers can often command a high hourly wage.

Many people assume that you need specific experience, like working as an accountant, to serve as a bookkeeper, but that’s not the case. Most entry-level bookkeeping jobs require little or no experience, and you don’t need to be a CPA. If you choose to offer your services as a freelancer, knowledge of Quickbooks is the most important prerequisite, and you can take a course to learn that.

Average salary: The average bookkeeper makes $23 per hour or $46,918 per year.

Getting started: To learn more, please see How to Start a Bookkeeping Business.

17. Sales Representative

If you have sales ability, you can find a job and make money in any economic conditions. Quality sales reps are always needed, and they’re usually well compensated. If you have the skills, there are plenty of options.

There are all sorts of different types of sales jobs out there. You could be a real estate agent, insurance agent, car salesman, or anything else. And there are many different ways to make money as a sales representative. You could work for a company, start your own business, or even sell your services online.

Many entry-level sales jobs don’t require a degree or experience. It may take some effort to master the craft, but the rewards can be very high.

Average salary: The average sales rep makes $22 per hour or $46,020 per year.

Getting started: To learn more, see Sales Skills and Negotiation Skills Masterclass.

18. Home Stager

If you have an eye for design, then you might want to consider becoming a home stager. Home stagers are responsible for preparing homes for sale by helping them to look their best. This includes arranging furniture and decorating spaces throughout the home.

Home staging is a bit of an art form, but it’s something that anyone can learn with a little practice. And since it’s such an important job, home stagers can often command a high hourly rate.

Typically, you would be working as a freelancer and running your own business. To build up your client base, you’ll want to network with realtors in your local area and make as many strong connections as possible.

Average salary: The average home stager makes $23 per hour or $48,517 per year.

Getting started: To learn more, please read How to Become a Home Stager.

19. Home Organizer

If you’re good at organizing things, then you might want to consider becoming a home organizer. Home organizers are responsible for helping people to declutter and organize their homes. This includes everything from closets and cabinets to kitchens and garages.

Like home staging, home organizing is a bit of an art form, but it’s something that anyone can learn with a little practice. While it’s not the highest-paying opportunity discussed in this article, freelance home organizers are usually able to charge $20 per hour or more in this rewarding career.

Average salary: The average home organizer makes $20 per hour or $42,622 per year.

Getting started: To learn more, please read How to Become a Professional Organizer.

20. Truck Driver

When it comes to jobs that pay well and do not require a degree, driving a truck definitely belongs on the list. While it’s not the most glamorous job in the world, it’s an essential role that helps to keep the economy moving and provides a solid starting wage.

To become a truck driver, you’ll need to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). In most states, this requires passing a written exam and a skills test, but there are plenty of training programs and schools that will help you to do this very quickly. Once you have your CDL, you can start applying for jobs.

Many trucking companies offer paid training programs that will teach you everything you need to know about being a truck driver. And once you’re on the job, you can often earn overtime pay by working longer hours.

It’s not the easiest job and it may require you to be away from home overnight at times, but that’s part of why truck drivers tend to be well paid.

Average salary: The average truck driver makes $22 per hour or $45,930 per year.

Getting started: For more information, read How to Become a Truck Driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts on Jobs That Pay $20 an Hour

As you can see, there are many different types of jobs that pay $20 an hour or more and do not require a degree or experience. So if you’re looking to start a successful career without needing additional education or specific work experience, you’ve got some possibilities and you don’t need to settle for minimum wage.

Do keep in mind that some of these jobs may require you to have specific skills or abilities, but with all of the options here, you should be able to find something that suits you.