10 Jobs That Require Minimal Experience (But Still Pay Over $50 an Hour)

Without years and years of work experience, you might think you’re limited to entry-level positions in less-than-desirable career paths.

But if you know where to look, it’s possible to land a job that can lower your financial stress, even without an extensive background. While you may need some specific skills to do these jobs, you don’t need a long resume full of experience to land them.

Check out these jobs that pay over $50 an hour, and you can start with minimal experience. All income data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Median hourly wage: $51.93 per hour

A data scientist works in an office setting using analytical tools and techniques to pull specific insights from available data. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree to work here, but no work experience is typically necessary.

This job usually requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science, statistics, mathematics, or other relevant areas.

Median hourly wage: $56.23 per hour

Working as a sales engineer, you’ll help sell products or services that tend to require technical insights and support. That’s often a software product or a support-related service for technology.

To become a sales engineer, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field and good interpersonal skills. You don’t need specific job experience to enter this field if you have a strong tech background, and you can expect moderate on-the-job training once hired.

Median hourly wage: $62.58 per hour

If you have a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field, consider moving into software development. You may also qualify for quality assurance analysis and tester positions.

You’ll work to design new computer applications and programs. You’ll also analyze and test out these programs to find problems and create solutions. There’s no work experience necessary to enter this field.

Median hourly wage: $75.28 per hour

Do you have a knack for convincing people to make a purchase? Perhaps a bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or business? You could help advertise, promote, and market products and services.

Though some employers require proven skills, not all do. You could enter this job right after completing your degree.

Median hourly wage: $56.46 per hour

While you’ll need to have a degree in computer or information technology, working as a database administrator and architect doesn’t require any job experience — just an understanding of database languages.

This career path allows you to create and organize systems to store and secure data. You’ll likely work in an educational or insurance business with large databases of information to manage.

Median hourly wage: $66.38 per hour

Working as a computer hardware engineer means you’ll research, design, and then develop various computer systems and the components that make them up. You may work in a computer model design services company or in the manufacturing industry.

While you don’t need specific job experience in this field, most employers expect you to have a bachelor’s degree from a computer hardware-related accredited educational program.

Median hourly wage: $66.05 per hour

If you’re willing to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree from the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative program, you could enter the air traffic control field. Air traffic controllers are responsible for managing and coordinating the movements of thousands of aircrafts.

There’s a stepped training program that will increase your skills and responsibilities over time, but you don’t need experience to get started in this area.

Median hourly wage: $52.41 per hour

If you’re fascinated by electronic and electrical equipment and want to play a part in designing and developing it, you could do so without a lot of work experience.

To work in this field, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, and some employers provide internships or cooperative engineering program education to support you on this path.

Median hourly wage: $57.69 per hour

Those working as an actuary will use math, statistics, and financial theory to analyze economic conditions, risk, and uncertainty.

Employers in this field, typically within the insurance industry, do not require job experience. Still, you will need to have a bachelor’s degree in the occupation and pass certification for the state, depending on the position you select.

Median hourly wage: $64.98 per hour

A sales manager handles the planning, direction, and coordination of product and service delivery to the customer. They work in office or retail settings, and some will need to travel.

With a bachelor’s degree in a related field, you could move from a sales representative into a sales management position. These positions require less than five years of work experience.

According to a recent report, 58% of workers are looking to make a career change. If you’re among them, building wealth in a different career path is possible, even without extensive experience.

Think about the job skills you already have and then consider jobs that may share similar skills. You can also research how people use your degree in alternative paths to get started.