15+ Best Jobs That Pay $15 Dollars An Hour (Online & Offline Ideas!)
Finding a lucrative side hustle or job that pays $15 or more used to be really difficult.
After all, the average minimum wage in the U.S. is still sitting at around $7.25. The average has been this way for some time now, but certain states like California now have a $15 minimum wage.
However, many companies and gig apps now pay $15 per hour or more, which is great news if you want to boost your income.
Whether you’re looking for a more traditional job or something with a bit more freedom, you’ll be sure to find a job in this list that matches your preferences.
Let's dive into the best jobs that pay $15 an hour!
The Best Jobs That Pay $15 An Hour – Online Jobs & Gig Options
These next few jobs will include things like making money online, freelancing, and gig economy jobs.
You don’t need any sort of degree to qualify for these jobs, and many $15 an hour jobs in this category also let you set your own hours and are more flexible.
Decide if you prefer working from home or in-person and how many hours per week you want to work.
Once you decide on these two factors, you're ready to find jobs that make $15 an hour from this list of popular companies.
1. Amazon
Amazon is one of the largest companies in the world, which is why they can pay well and have a lot of positions to fill.
There are also numerous jobs that pay 15 dollars an hour or more at Amazon, so you have plenty of options depending on your skill set.
Here are a few popular ways to make money with Amazon:
- Try a driving gig like Amazon Flex where you can earn $18 to $25 per hour
- Completing short online micro tasks with Amazon mTurk
- Working from home as an Amazon customer care representative
- Working as a Contact Center Associate
- Working in an Amazon warehouse
There are tons of other Amazon jobs that pay $15 an hour or more, so this is just scratching the surface.
If you’re looking for more of a gig economy position, consider working for Amazon Flex, which lets you deliver Amazon packages to customers for money.
Some Flex Drivers have recorded making closer to $20 per hour. Plus, you get to create your own schedule, work with your phone, and get paid more often than a regular job.
Other positions like customer care representatives can work from home on their computer and handle customer orders.
Just from doing a quick search for “Amazon remote jobs”, you’ll find options that pay $16.50, $21, or even $35 per hour depending on the position!
Sites like Amazon MTurk are really the only jobs where you might make less than this amount, but generally, most Amazon gigs pay well.
2. Delivery Driver
Being a delivery driver is one of the best gig economy jobs that pay $15 an hour or more in many markets.
There are so many apps that are user friendly, give you freedom over your schedule, and pay you quickly.
And, the best part about delivery jobs is that you don't need prior experience or a degree to begin working.
Here are some popular delivery jobs that pay $15 an hour or more:
- DoorDash: Start delivering with the leading food delivery app in North America.
- Instacart: Deliver groceries to people's doors as an Instacart Shopper and get paid.
- Uber Eats: Another popular food delivery gig where you deliver fast food and restaurant meals to people.
Driving for DoorDash is ideal if you want to work for the leading food delivery service in North America and want a lot of flexibility.
Instacart is more for delivering groceries than restaurant food and still pays a similar amount.
You can also work for companies like UPS which has a more set schedule but pays more consistently than gig jobs.
Just make sure that you account for expenses with these driving gigs. Wear and tear, gas, car repairs, and more can eat into your earnings.
The bottom line is that jobs like DoorDash and other delivery gigs can easily make $15 per hour or more, and the sign up process is fast so you can start earning quickly.
3. Virtual Assistant
Online businesses are going through massive growth nowadays. So, unsurprisingly, many business owners need help running their business.
This means there's lots of opportunity to make money as a virtual assistant.
And, for experienced VAs, this is definitely a job that can pay $15 an hour or more.
Here are some common tasks virtual assistants help their clients with:
- Scheduling appointments
- Making phone calls
- Answering emails
- Handling travel for employer
- Managing digital company files
All of these tasks are pretty straightforward, pay well, and allow you to remain self-employed in most cases.
Plus, if one virtual assistant gig is only part-time, you can pitch to more businesses and work for 2 or 3 companies at once.
The average virtual assistant makes between $15-$30 per hour. Just the minimum hourly rate will make you at least $15 per hour!
List your services on freelance websites, start your own website, or work for a virtual assistant platform.
Just note that you really need attention to detail and great organization skills for this $15 an hour job to be a natural fit.
4. Freelance Writer
Freelance writing is one of the best jobs that pay $15 an hour because you get to work from home, have less hours, and get paid often.
This occupation is how I make most of my monthly income, and with the right clients, you can easily make $15 per hour or much, much more.
Really, how much you earn with freelance writing depends on your number of clients, volume of assigned work, and rate.
Most clients pay freelance writers per word, and a starting rate is usually in the $0.05 to $0.07 per word ballpark.
However, you can work your way up to $0.10 to $0.25 per word or even more, meaning longer articles pay you hundreds of dollars.
On average, freelance writers make $23.44 per hour, so this is well above your goal of making $15 per hour.
The best way to gain experience as a writer is by networking with people to find clients who need articles written for their blog.
As you continue to write and gain experience, you can slowly increase your rates and land new clients. Plus, you’re not obligated to write for one blog; you can write for multiple blogs at a time.
It’s not the fastest method to make $15 per hour, but it is one of the best side hustles you can grow over time!
5. Graphic Designer
Graphic design is one of those jobs where you do need a bit of experience (either from school or learning by yourself) to land clients.
But, like writing, it is a freelance gig that you can do from home and get paid a lot per project.
According to the Bureau of Labor, even the lowest earning graphic designers make $15.25 an hour.
The average wage was actually closer to $25, with some graphic designers making nearly $45 per hour!
Plus, if you can get into more specialized skills like web design, this is definitely a job that pays $15 per hour or way more.
If you have experience with graphic design, definitely consider pursuing a freelance career for clients.
Like other methods of selling your skills online, just remember that it can take a bit of time to find regular work if you go the freelance route.
You can also work a salary for companies that need a hands-on graphic designer. Just keep in mind that you might have to go into the office.
6. Online Tutor
Another popular job that makes $15 an hour is online tutoring.
An online tutor gets paid for helping students in a variety of different subjects to help them pass a class.
The only difference between this and a regular tutoring job is that you don’t have to take one step out of your house.
The great part is that there's also numerous companies that hire online tutors.
For example, companies like QKids and VIPKid hire native English speakers to teach English to students around the world.
You can even find online tutoring jobs for teens or college students with the right company, and with some experience, you can even make more than $15 an hour.
Of course, you should have an extensive background on a specific subject in order to become a tutor. So, this isn’t for everyone.
However, you can apply for tutoring services for much younger students who need help with subjects that most people can teach.
The easiest way to find clients is by word of mouth or by signing up for online tutor networks like tutor.com.
The average online tutor makes $15-$20 per hour, and many companies also pay you bonuses for teaching a certain number of classes.
7. Remote Bookkeeper & Accountant
If you have any financial background, remote accounting and bookkeeping could be right up your alley.
You likely need education and certification if you want to find work as a remote accountant, so keep this in mind.
But, there are numerous online courses and certification programs for becoming a bookkeeper or accountant.
Becoming a bookkeeper is a little easier than becoming an accountant. Here's what the daily responsibilities of a bookkeeper can include:
- Tracking daily expenses
- Sending out invoices
- Preparing accounting book for the accountant
- Managing the accounts payable ledger
In other words, you’re essentially overseeing the company’s financial data.
According to PayScale, accountants earn $27 per hour on average. However, the more experience and specialization you have, the more you can charge.
As for bookkeepers, that's another job that pays 15 dollars an hour or even more, so both routes are viable options.
Extra Reading – 20+ Jobs That Pay $5,000 Per Month.
Other Jobs That Make $15 An Hour
Not into the whole online work thing? No problem!
You can easily find retail jobs or other traditional jobs in your area that pay $15 an hour.
These jobs are usually more consistent, offer more hours, and come with benefits in certain cases.
Let's take a look at another bunch of popular jobs paying $15 per hour.
8. Construction Worker
If you’ve got the strength, stamina, and communication that a construction worker needs, you’ll love this job.
The average construction worker makes about $15-$17 per hour and works pretty full days.
Keep in mind that you’re working outdoors most of the time. If you live in a scorching hot or freezing cold area, it might not be the easiest job in the world.
But hey, if you want to get paid to workout, this is definitely the $15 an hour job for you.
9. Starbucks
Starbucks is one of the best jobs that pay $15 an hour nearby because they are located everywhere and have a relatively simple day-to-day schedule.
Plus, Starbucks is known for giving lots of perks to part- and full-time employees, including perks like:
- Health coverage
- Paid time off
- Stock reinvestment programs
- Adoption reimbursement
- College education help
- Partner assistance
These perks, alongside a competitive wage, makes Starbucks a natural choice if you want to make $15 an hour.
I actually worked as a barista to make money in college, and the work environment was also a lot of fun.
If this sounds like a great fit, read up on Starbucks' employee benefit package to learn more about the potential perks.
10. Aetna
Aetna is a healthcare company that sells insurance plans for categories like dental, pharmaceutical, and medical devices.
You can get paid at least $15 an hour as a consultant, sales, representative, or account manager.
If you’re trying to get into the medical/insurance field, this could be a great start for your resume.
11. CVS
CVS is so popular that there’s almost always one within 5 minutes from you.
You can work as a retail store associate, pharmacy technician, or shift supervisor with relatively flexible hours.
The average hourly rate for CVS employees is $16.25, so this is another easily-accessible job that pays $15 an hour or more.
12. Aldi
Aldi is a supermarket chain that operates in over 20 different countries and has over 10,000 stores.
You can work as a store associate, shelf stocker, or a store manager with full-time and part-time positions.
Plus, the starting wage for Aldi employees in the U.S. is exactly $15 per hour!
13. Costco
A front-end cashier at Costco makes around $17 an hour to start.
You can also work as a stocker, food court employee, or as a greeter at most Costco locations.
A great reason to work at Costco is because of its generous employee benefits!
Like Starbucks, employees can get health care benefits, dental and optical coverage, and a variety of other perks for working at Costco.
14. Barbers
Barbers earn around $13-$19 per hour as an employee, and in some cases, you have to pay the barber shop to rent out a chair to cut hair in.
However, skilled barbers with loyal clients can make more than $15 per hour thanks to tips and repeat business.
You can also consider opening up your own at-home barbershop and keep the earnings from every haircut.
15. Target
Targets are located everywhere and they’re known for their friendly staff and quality products.
If that’s something you stand by, then Target is definitely one of the best jobs that pay $15 per hour.
The average hourly rate will quickly increase after working there for a bit as well which is a perk.
16. Wells Fargo
Looking to go into the finance industry soon? A great place to start is as a bank teller at Wells Fargo.
The average hourly rate in America is close to $14, but teller wages quickly increase after being a loyal employee.
Your daily tasks include completing customer transactions, selling checks, and providing account services to customers.
17. Fitness Instructor
A fitness instructor can either work as self-employed or at a gym as an employee. The most consistent way to make money is at a gym.
The average fitness instructor makes close to $21 an hour, but does need a bit of a background in fitness.
Branching into more private training or even online coaching are also two ways to make more money with this career path.
Some fitness trainers also experiment with making money on YouTube or becoming mini-influencers on social media, so there's a lot of potential here.
18. Southwest Airlines
Working for any airline can be fun and comes with benefits. Southwest Airlines pays approximately $15 an hour for customer service agents.
You can also work in maintenance, as a flight attendant (pays more), or as a luggage packer on the airplane.
Overall, this is a massive company that has numerous jobs that make 15 dollars an hour or more. It's also a great fit if you want to potentially get paid to travel!
Tips For Finding $15 An Hour Jobs
Now that you know what jobs pay $15 an hour, let's cover a few tips to help your job search and application process a little bit easier!
I've applied to tons of jobs over the course of college and after graduating, and these tips definitely saved a lot of time and effort for my job hunt.
- Spruce Up Your Resume: If it's been a while since you've updated your resume, take an afternoon and update your work experience, skills, and make sure all the info is relevant.
- Use Your Network: Sometimes, the best way to find a new job is to ask your network who's hiring. Get on LinkedIn or attend job fairs, and don't be afraid to reach out to personal connections.
- Be Consistent: Applying to jobs and landing them takes consistent work, so don't give up after sending out your first few job applications.
- Don't Be Afraid Of Freelancing: Thanks to the gig economy and Internet, you can definitely make $15 an hour or more on your own terms, so don't be afraid of freelancing.
Extra Reading – How To Make $150 Fast – The Best Methods.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully these jobs have given you a few ideas for your next full-time, part-time, or remote work!
Remember that a lot of these jobs pay more than $15 an hour. Plus, you can usually tackle multiple jobs like these at once if you want to.
At the very least, go for some sort of gig economy job so that you have a bit of freedom in your schedule while still getting paid enough.
Best of luck finding your next job!
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