14 High-Paying Jobs That Don’t Require 40 Hours per Week

Earn more while working less — that’s the dream for many workers who are sick of clocking in 40 or more hours per week.

Working fewer hours can lead to lower job stress and better work-life balance, or a part-time job can allow you to get ahead financially. If you’re interested in part-time work, however, finding the right job can be tricky.

To kickstart your search, FinanceBuzz crunched the data to find less-than-40-hour-a-week jobs that pay well. Here are what we found to be the highest-paying jobs for 35 hours or less per week.

Dietitians and nutritionists can work in many settings, offering nutritional advice and designing meal plans to help people achieve their health goals.

Most will earn a bachelor’s degree to work in this field, and they might also complete additional training or apply for a state license. It can be a rewarding job that helps you earn extra income. 

Working part-time is definitely an option for these professionals, with 26% of dietitians keeping average weekly work hours under 35. The average annual wage of dietitians and nutritionists is $69,680.

If you’re aiming at part-time hours with six-figure pay, consider the dental profession. Among dentists, 27% work 34 or fewer hours in a week, and the average annual income is more than $170,910.

It’s also fairly common for dentists to own their own practices, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 11% are self-employed.

Becoming a dentist isn’t fast, easy, or cheap, however. Dentists must spend four years training in dental school and must pass a test to earn a license to practice.

Dental programs are also expensive, resulting in an average student loan debt of just under $300,000, per the American Dental Education Association.

Psychologists may conduct research or work directly with clients and patients, and they all have flexible schedules — 28% work fewer than 35 hours per week.

Psychologists who own their own practice or work as independent consultants, in particular, are likely to have the freedom to set their own schedules and hours. They’re also compensated well, with an average annual pay of $92,740.

Most psychologist positions require at least a master’s degree, and many require a doctorate. You’d likely need to earn a professional license, as well.

Just over 32% of chiropractors work part-time, keeping their work hours to less than 35 per week. On average, chiropractors earn $36.79 per hour or an average annual salary of $76,530.

You’ll need special training to become a chiropractor, a health professional who treats the neuromusculoskeletal system, most commonly through spinal adjustments.

Chiropractors must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, typically a four-year postgraduate program. They must also earn and maintain a state license to practice their trade.

The starving artist might be a myth. The average artist or related worker earns $25.44 per hour, and the average annual wage for this profession is $52,910. Overall, 33% work fewer than 35 hours a week.

Plus, this broad occupation includes several more specialized artistic jobs with varying pay levels. The best-compensated are art directors, who earn an average of $51.20 per hour but typically need at least a bachelor’s degree and often experience working in their field.

More than two in five musicians, or 43%, work less than 35 hours per week. But musicians, singers, and “related workers” earn an average of $39.14 per hour. If a musician works about 35 hours per week, that could result in about $71,234.8 per year.

Though many complete a bachelor's degree, there are no specific education requirements to become a musician or singer.

However, musicians and singers must train and practice to gain the skills to perform music professionally.

Around 35% of writers and authors work less than full-time, yet they still make decent pay. The median hourly wage for writers is $35.43, while the median annual wage is $73,690.

Education, including a bachelor’s degree and hands-on experience writing, is helpful to qualify for jobs as a writer.

However, writers and authors may also be self-employed as freelancers, authors, or other content creators.

Real estate agents and brokers work to help their clients in selling, buying, or renting properties, earning commissions for their work. 

Most real estate agents are self-employed or work independently, though they might also work for a real estate firm or other business.

Part-time work is fairly common in this profession, with 25% of real estate agents averaging less than 35 hours of work per week. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual earnings are $56,620.

To become a real estate agent, you must complete a licensing program with your state. 

More than half of actors (55%) work part-time schedules that average less than 35 hours per week. Median pay is $20.50 per hour, which at 35 hours per week comes to about $37,310 per year.

Professional actors have to build and maintain the level of skill needed to get paid for their performances.

They may have earned college degrees in acting, enrolled in acting classes, or hired acting coaches, for example.

Another career field in which more than half of workers clock less than 35 hours per week is dancing. Half (50%) of dancers and choreographers work part-time, with a median pay of $24.95 per hour. 

Like other performers featured here, dancers and choreographers spend many years training and building professional skills and experience.

Some types of dance, such as ballet, require more rigorous or formal training. To train, dancers and choreographers might attend a dance school or a college dance program.

Driving buses may not be the most lucrative career, but it can offer a flexible schedule that many workers are looking for. Among bus drivers, 37% work fewer than 35 hours per week.

The average pay for transit and intercity bus drivers is $23.19 per hour — or $48,230 per year.

To qualify as bus drivers, workers must earn and hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL). They also need to have a clean driving record and meet vision and hearing requirements to continue safe driving. 

Just under 40% of photographers work less than 35 hours per week. The average pay for a photographer is $19.60 per hour or $40,760 annually.

However, the education required for photography varies widely. Most photographers will take classes to gain technical and artistic skills in this trade.

They’re commonly self-employed as portrait photographers (think wedding or family photographers), though many also work as an in-house photographer for an employer.

Several types of jobs could fit into this group, from fitness instructors and personal trainers to workers at recreation facilities such as community centers, parks, or summer camps. 

About 47% of people with these jobs work part-time; the median pay is $22.35 per hour or $46,480 per year.

But what you earn depends on your specific focus and the type of facility you work for. 

Qualification and education requirements can also vary. Most jobs seek applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent and at least a few weeks of on-the-job training.

The last occupation on this list is making alterations or sewing custom clothing and costumes. Around 34% of tailors and sewers work less than 35 hours per week.

The average pay is $19.32 per hour or $40,190 annually, which can be a great way to boost your bank account.

This type of work doesn’t typically have any education requirements. However, workers may need to complete on-the-job training or demonstrate their sewing and textile construction proficiency.

These professions are just a start — there are many jobs out there that require less than 40 hours a week and offer decent pay.

Get creative and research more legit, outside-the-box ways to stop living paycheck to paycheck. Consider opportunities that would be a good fit for your education, training, and skills. 

Then, figure out how to put them to work to build a side hustle or your dream part-time job.