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9 Jobs Paying $35+ an Hour That Will Train You as You Go

These hands-on careers let you skip the student loans and start earning real money while you master a trade.

By Chris Lewis, CEPF , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Nov. 3, 2026

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Not everyone wants to spend four years and a pile of tuition before they can start earning real money. Plenty of hands-on careers let you start working, start learning, and start getting paid all at once.

These paths lean on apprenticeships, technical instruction, and structured on-the-job learning instead of a lecture hall. If you want to get ahead financially without years of schooling upfront, earning while you train can be a smart move.

Editor's note: All salary data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 2025.

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Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Median hourly wage: $52.84

These workers assemble, install, and maintain elevators, escalators, chairlifts, and moving walkways, reading blueprints and wiring control panels before troubleshooting and inspecting the equipment.

A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry point, nearly everyone learns through a four-year apprenticeship, and most states require a license to work in the trade.

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Power plant operators

Median hourly wage: $49.06

Power plant operators monitor the systems that generate and move electricity, watching charts, meters, and gauges and adjusting controls to keep voltage and power flow steady.

A high school diploma or equivalent gets you in the door, followed by extensive long-term on-the-job training, though nuclear reactor operators also need a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Median hourly wage: $45.83

Line installers string and maintain the cables and wires that carry power between poles, towers, and buildings, often working from truck-mounted buckets or climbing the structures themselves.

Entry typically starts with a high school diploma or equivalent plus technical instruction, followed by long-term on-the-job training, often through a multi-year apprenticeship that pairs classroom work with fieldwork.

Signal and track switch repairers

Median hourly wage: $44.45

These repairers install, inspect, test, and fix gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, and track switches that keep railroad traffic moving safely, along with the intercommunications systems that support them.

A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical requirement, no prior related experience is needed, and workers learn the equipment and safety procedures through moderate-term on-the-job training.

Transit and railroad police

Median hourly wage: $43.38

Transit and railroad police patrol train yards and transportation hubs such as subway stations, protecting passengers, employees, and property while checking IDs at secure areas and removing trespassers.

Candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, must graduate from their agency's training academy, and complete on-the-job training while meeting age, physical, and background requirements.

Subway and streetcar operators

Median hourly wage: $41.53

Subway and streetcar operators run urban rail along fixed routes, handling doors, signals, and schedules and sometimes collecting fares as passengers board.

A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical requirement, no prior related experience is needed, and transit agencies provide moderate-term on-the-job training on equipment and safety.

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Locomotive engineers and operators

Median hourly wage: $38.43

Locomotive engineers drive freight or passenger trains between stations, working throttles and air brakes while monitoring speed, air pressure, and track conditions.

Most start with a high school diploma or equivalent and time as a conductor or yardmaster, then complete at least three months of on-the-job training and pass Federal Railroad Administration certification tests.

Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Median hourly wage: $38.40

Aircraft mechanics diagnose and repair mechanical and electrical problems in wings, brakes, and other components, performing scheduled maintenance and inspections that keep planes flying safely.

Entry generally calls for a postsecondary nondegree award from an FAA-approved maintenance program, or equivalent on-the-job or military training, with workers typically earning FAA certification.

Boilermakers

Median hourly wage: $36.74

Boilermakers assemble, install, maintain, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large vessels that hold liquids and gases, reading blueprints and testing finished systems for leaks or defects.

A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry point, most learn through a four-year apprenticeship, and some states require a license that involves work experience and an exam.

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Bottom line

A four-year degree is not the only route to steady, respectable pay. Apprenticeships and employer-run training let you build real skills while a paycheck is already coming in.

The common thread here is patience. Put in the training years, earn the right credentials, and these fields tend to reward you well over a long career.

If a career change is on your mind, hands-on work deserves a serious look. Pair that income with smart habits, like finding ways to grow your wealth as you go, and you can build a stable future without ever setting foot in a lecture hall.

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