Best Jobs That Pay $15 an Hour

If you’re looking for a list of jobs that pay $15 an hour, you have come to the right place. Many jobs out there offer more than the federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 per hour since 2009. Companies like Costco and Target even offer more than double the minimum pay rate.

Salaries are indeed an important factor for many when it comes to job satisfaction. Recently, many hourly workers quit their jobs, a trend now described as the Great Resignation. They cited better pay and working conditions as the main driving force behind this move. 

Fortunately, there are many jobs paying $15 an hour that you should consider if a good salary is what you seek. To help you make the next career move, check out this list to see what job pays $15 an hour. Our list serves as a guide for those looking to change careers or find entry-level positions. 

What Is a Good Hourly Wage?

Jobs with high minimum wage can help you maintain a decent standard of living while keeping you motivated to work. However, you may be wondering, “What is a good minimum wage?” or “What is a good hourly wage for a first job?” 

The answer is dependent on the value of the service you provide and what it takes to live comfortably in any given location, even in high-cost areas. In other words, a good living wage varies across industries and locations.

Why Earning $15 Per Hour Is Important

Earning a minimum of $15 per hour is important because it provides you with greater spending power and a livable wage, especially if you are moving away from a job as a low-wage worker. 

Assuming that you work standard hours for 52 weeks in a year, you will be making around $31,200. This is significantly higher than the federal poverty threshold for individuals at $14,097. When you generate extra income, you would be able to afford basic necessities like healthy food and health care.

What Types of Jobs Pay $15 Per Hour?

Different types of jobs offer different hourly wages in the labor market. Not only that, but hourly wages for the same job might vary depending on the location. However, there are many types of jobs that pay $15 an hour and include fairly low entry requirements, including the ones listed below.

• Cashier jobs
• Home health aide jobs
• Fast-food workers
• Administrative assistant jobs 
• Construction workers

What Do You Need to Land a Job that Pays $15 an Hour?

Many jobs that pay $15 per hour have few job requirements. Additionally, these jobs don’t require a lot of formal education. Most of these jobs are in retail, health care, security, childcare, and manufacturing industries. 

For this reason, you should consider working on your soft skills as most of these jobs will require candidates to have excellent communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. Adding computer skills to the list is also a great way to improve your marketability.

What Companies Pay $15 an Hour?

Despite the economic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, many larger companies decided to revisit their payment structures. This is a part of their numerous initiatives to attract top talent across the US. Such move greatly benefits people looking for an increase in wage or those making a career shift. Examples of companies that pay $15 an hour and more are listed below.

• Amazon: Amazon recently increased its starting hourly rates to $18. This means that you’ll be able to get a job at Amazon and earn a liveable wage even as an entry-level worker.
• Target: Target is one of the stores that pay $15 an hour. The minimum wage for Target employees is expected to reach $24 as a part of its $300 million investment in pay and benefits.
• Fifth Third Bancorp: This commercial and industrial loans lender raised its minimum wage from $18 to $20 per hour earlier this year. This corporation also revised employee benefits to include parental bonding leave and maternity concierge programs. 
• Wayfair: The furniture retailer has announced it will be raising its minimum wage to $15 per hour starting January 2021.
• Starbucks: Starbucks recently revealed its plans to improve working conditions and pay structure to allow all of its hourly wage workers to earn a minimum of $15 to $23 an hour, depending on the store location. 
• Under Armour: All employees at Under Armour earn at least $15 per hour, as the company increased its minimum wage on June 6, 2021. 
• Chipotle: Chipotle is a top company with lots of positive reviews on Glassdoor. The company recently announced that it had revised its minimum wage to an average of $15 per hour. 
• Google: Google is one of the largest companies in the world, offering many high-paying jobs. Recent data shows that the tech giant pays temporary workers in the US a minimum of $15 an hour.
• Bank of America: As a part of its mission to become a responsive employer, Bank of America has recently announced an increase in its minimum wage to $22 per hour. By 2025, Bank of America’s minimum wage is expected to reach $25 an hour.
• Best Buy: Best Buy is one of the first companies to pay $15 an hour for all employees after revising its pay structure in 2020. 

Jobs That Pay $15 an Hour With No Experience

If you’re worried about meeting the requirements for the companies listed above, rest assured that you can still find jobs that pay $15 an hour with no experience. Most of these jobs are entry-level which means no extensive education or advanced certifications are needed. They are also typically versatile, providing you the opportunity to work across industries. 

Call Center Representative

Average hourly salary: $17.75
Average yearly salary: $36,920
Job growth: -1%*

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates there were about 2.9 million jobs in this field in 2020. Professionals working call center jobs that pay well manage inbound and outbound calls in a timely manner. They listen to customers’ questions, queries, and concerns and offer appropriate responses. This job has minimum requirements aside from communication skills.

Data Entry Keyers

Average hourly salary: $18.01
Average yearly salary: $37,450
Job growth: 2%**

The primary duties of a data entry keyer include collecting, processing, or organizing data using data entry devices such as computers, typewriters, or scanners. Depending on your skills level and proficiency, you may be required to use optical character recognition system to convert images of text into machine-encoded text. 

Stocker

Average hourly salary: $15.87
Average yearly salary: $33,020
Job growth: 7%***

Stockers’ common duties include filling retail shelves, racks, and tables. They take products from stock rooms, warehouses, and storage yards and bring them to display areas. Although the national average rate is displayed as $15.87, you can find private companies offering more when browsing through job post details online. 

Housekeeper

Average hourly salary: $14.22
Average yearly salary: $29,580
Job growth: 6%****

Housekeepers perform a number of tasks to maintain a private household or business establishment. Some of their primary duties include changing bedding, vacuuming, cleaning floors, and replenishing linens. Some housekeeping jobs might require employees to go through training before they can start working as a precautionary measure. 

Receptionist

Average hourly salary: $14.40
Average yearly salary: $29,950
Job growth: 4%

Receptionists are in charge of receiving visitors, taking phone calls, providing information to potential customers about an organization’s products or services, and performing a variety of other administrative tasks. This is a job that is available in a variety of industries and usually requires no prior experience.

Jobs That Pay $15 an Hour Online

If you prefer working remotely, there are also a ton of online jobs that pay $15 an hour. These jobs are great to consider because you can save on commute. Our top five recommendations for $15 an hour online jobs are the following. 

Bookkeeper or Accountant 

Average hourly salary: $21.90
Average yearly salary: $45,560
Job growth: -3%

Accountants and bookkeepers prepare, maintain, and produce financial records such as balance sheet statements, cash flow statements, and income statements for corporations or private clients. They work in retail, wholesale trade, health care, and insurance industries. Most of their common duties are tied to a computer so these professionals can work remotely.

Customer Support Specialist

Average hourly salary: $17.75*
Average yearly salary: $36,920*
Job growth: -1%*

These professionals perform support tasks that involve handling customer queries to ensure smooth transactions. You can work from anywhere provided you have a good computer with office software and remote support tools. You’ll need to have excellent customer service skills and understand how various CRM technologies work before applying for this job.

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Customer Service Representative

Average hourly salary: $17.75*
Average yearly salary: $36,920*
Job growth: -1%*

Customer service representatives’ primary duties include reviewing customer accounts, handling returns, and processing customer orders. Most of their tasks can be done with a computer so this job is ideal for those looking to work from home. Customer service jobs pay well and have a low barrier to entry, usually only requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.

Administrative Assistant 

Average hourly salary: $19.08
Average yearly salary: $39,680
Job growth: -7%

Administrative assistants offer support to the administrative department in coordinating the day-to-day activities of an organization. Some of their duties and responsibilities include answering corporate calls, responding to emails, taking notes or minutes during meetings, and scheduling meetings and appointments.

Virtual Tutor

Average hourly salary: $19.65
Average yearly salary: $31,000- $42,000
Job growth: 12%

Also known as online tutors, virtual tutors work similarly to private tutors except all lessons are delivered online. They use email and virtual classrooms to offer tutoring sessions while interacting with their students. Other primary duties include reviewing curricula and helping students with assignments and academic projects. 

Jobs That Pay $15 an Hour Part-Time

Freelancers or people juggling multiple commitments may also be interested in part-time jobs paying $15 an hour. There are a lot of options available across industries. Part-timers are typically hourly employees, which means they are only paid in exchange for their services for a specific amount of time. Below are our top picks for part-time jobs that pay $15 an hour.

Forklift Operator

Average hourly salary: $18.45
Average yearly salary: $39,548
Job growth: 7%

Forklift operators are warehouse positions and they typically work in shipment facilities. They perform a wide variety of tasks using a forklift. Although this job requires some experience handling moving machines, it pays significantly more than the federal minimum wage. According to Payscale, the minimum starting wage for forklift operators is around $15.   

Dishwasher

Average hourly salary: $13.15
Average yearly salary: $27,350
Job growth: 6%***

Dishwashing has a bad reputation for being a demanding and poorly rewarded job. However, there has been a minimum wage increase across many companies to ensure employees such as dishwashers are well compensated. There are tons of dishwashing jobs that pay significantly more than the federal minimum wage, making it an ideal part-time job.

Warehouse Associate 

Average hourly salary: $14.58
Average yearly salary: $30,320
Job growth: 7%***

Warehouse associates work in the warehouse or fulfillment center to receive, unpack and pack shipments. They also track inventory, oversee deliveries, and supervise other workers. These jobs typically have a low barrier to entry, making them perfect for people looking for entry-level roles. However, you do have to be physically fit and have strong communication skills.

Assistant Cashier 

Average hourly salary: $12.45
Average yearly salary: $27,260
Job growth: -10%**

Assistant cashiers work in retail, stores, and restaurants to provide support services to sales departments. Their primary duties include processing debit, credit, and cash transactions using cash registers. They also help customers with any queries or requests. Minimum education requirements for cashiers include a high-school diploma and computer proficiency. 

Personal Trainer

Average hourly salary: $19.57
Average yearly salary: $40,700
Job growth: 39%

Personal trainers design fitness meals and training plans to help individual clients meet their fitness needs. The job demand for personal trainers has increased over the past few years, as more people look to improve their physical health. To become a successful trainer, you’ll need postsecondary training in physical education or sports science. 

*Grouped under Customer Service Representatives on Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
**Grouped under Cashiers on BLS
***Grouped under Hand Laborers and Material Movers on BLS
****Grouped under Janitors and Building Cleaners on BLS

Other Jobs That Pay $15 an Hour You Should Consider

If the jobs above don’t align with your interest or bigger career goals, you can always consider other jobs that pay $15 an hour. Some of these jobs are more industry-specific and as such, may require some experience or completion of certification programs. Here are our five recommendations, each of which pays between $16 to $19 an hour.

• Medical assistant. Some of the primary duties of medical assistants include performing administrative tasks, maintaining health records, and providing support to medical professionals. The BLS reports an average salary of $17.88 an hour for this role.
• Painter. Painters are in charge of applying fresh paint, coatings, or stain to buildings and other structures. Not only do they paint walls but they also ensure that decorative finishes are clean and neat. Payscale cites a base hourly salary of $17.92 for painters. 
• Mail handler. Mail handlers sort and separate mails and parcels and ensure they go to the right post office boxes and delivery channels. Their role is key in helping the postal service deliver mail in a timely manner. The average hourly salary is $16.86.  
• Medical billing specialist. Medical billing specialists help manage and organize patient payments, health insurance claims, and invoices. They typically work at a health care facility, earning an average of $17.88. This role may require advanced certifications.
• Dental assistant. Dental assistants perform assistive procedures and make sure that dental patients have a pleasant experience. They also perform pre-treatment evaluations like taking a patient’s blood pressure. The BLS reports an average hourly pay of $18.59. 

Where to Find a Job That Pays $15 an Hour

One of the most common ways for job seekers to find employment opportunities is through online job sites. These job sites act as digital job boards that post thousands of open positions. Here are more details of where you can find jobs that pay $15 an hour.

Indeed

Indeed is one of the largest job search sites in the world. According to the company’s official website, Indeed receives over 250 million visitors every month. For this reason, the site features hundreds of thousands of jobs, including those that pay $15 an hour. 

Google Jobs

Google is one of the world’s largest companies that have recently ventured into the recruitment industry. Google compiles job postings from across the web regardless of the company size. This makes it easy for job seekers to find their next employment opportunity with a simple search.

LinkedIn Jobs

Although LinkedIn is a social media platform designed for working professionals to connect, the site also features a job search section. This section connects job seekers to employers looking for the best candidates for open positions. At the time of writing, there were over 90,000 open jobs that paid $15 an hour. What’s even better is that this site allows you to activate a job alert whenever a relevant job is posted. 

Is It Easy to Find a Job That Pays $15 an Hour?

Yes, it is not difficult to find easy jobs that pay $15 an hour. The Great Resignation forced many companies across the US to review their pay structure and overall working conditions. As a result, most corporations have adjusted their minimum wage to a minimum of $15 an hour. This means that it will be easier than before to find jobs that pay well.

Nonetheless, you will still have to work on your skills to increase your chances of landing these jobs. You might be met with stiff competition for such positions, making it challenging to secure such jobs. For this reason, you should consider highlighting your skills and abilities in your job application to increase your odds of landing a $15 per hour job.

Jobs That Pay $15 an Hour FAQ