Looking for jobs that pay $80 an hour or more? Whether you’re exploring new career paths or aiming to increase your earning potential, hitting this income benchmark is possible if you have the right skills or are willing to develop them.

In 2024, the average hourly wage in the U.S. is around $35, according to Statista. To reach $80 an hour, you need to offer specialized skills that are in demand. While professions like doctors, surgeons, and lawyers often command these rates, they require years of education and experience. The good news? You don’t need an advanced degree to earn $80 an hour—you can achieve it by leveraging or learning skills that pay well.

In this article, we’ll explore 30+ jobs across creative, remote, manual, and professional industries that can help you hit your income goals. Many of these opportunities can be pursued with little to no prior experience, especially if you’re willing to learn using tools like YouTube, Udemy, or other online platforms. Let’s dive in!

1. Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is one of the most flexible and profitable careers. Businesses, blogs, and publications constantly need content, and skilled writers are in demand.

• Getting Started: Build a portfolio by offering free samples or pitching smaller clients.
• Income Potential: Beginners can charge $50 per article, while experienced writers earn $300–$500+ per article. Some top freelancers even make $1,000+ per project.

2. Blogging

Blogging is a long-term game that can pay off significantly. By monetizing your blog with ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing, you can generate passive income.

• Start-Up Cost: Less than $50 (domain, hosting, and a free WordPress theme).
• Income Potential: Established blogs can generate thousands per month, often equating to $80+ per hour for time invested.

3. Proofreading

Proofreading is the perfect job for detail-oriented individuals. As more businesses publish content online, the demand for skilled proofreaders continues to grow.

• Getting Started: Take a free proofreading course, such as Caitlin Pyle’s workshop.
• Income Potential: Experienced proofreaders earn $50–$100 per hour.

4. Voice Acting

Have a unique or adaptable voice? Voice-over work is a lucrative option. From commercials to audiobooks, this field is diverse and rewarding.

• Getting Started: Invest in a microphone and basic training.
• Income Potential: Entry-level voice actors earn $50–$100 per project, with experienced professionals earning much more.

5. Photography

Professional photography remains a high-paying creative field. If you have an eye for capturing moments, this can be a fulfilling way to make money.

• Requirements: A good DSLR or mirrorless camera and knowledge of lighting/composition.
• Earnings: Photographers earn $80+ per hour shooting events, portraits, or selling stock photos online.

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Remote Jobs That Pay $80 an Hour

6. Virtual Assistant (VA)

Virtual assistants handle tasks like email management, scheduling, and research for businesses and entrepreneurs.

• Skills Needed: Organization, communication, and tech proficiency.
• Income Potential: Experienced VAs can earn $80–$100 per hour.

7. Online Bookkeeping

If you have a knack for numbers, virtual bookkeeping can be a lucrative side hustle or full-time career.

• Requirements: Familiarity with software like QuickBooks.
• Earnings: Freelance bookkeepers charge $50–$100 per hour.

8. Social Media Management

Managing social media accounts for brands is a high-demand skill in today’s digital-first world.

• Skills Needed: Understanding of social platforms, analytics, and trends.
• Income Potential: Freelancers earn $80–$100 per hour for managing accounts.

9. Online Teaching or Tutoring

Teaching has gone virtual, and online tutoring platforms offer lucrative opportunities for educators.

• Requirements: A degree in your subject and certifications like TEFL for teaching English.
• Earnings: Tutors earn $50–$80+ per hour, with specialized tutors making even more.

10. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and earning a commission for each sale.

• Getting Started: Build a blog, social media following, or YouTube channel to drive traffic.
• Income Potential: Skilled affiliate marketers make $100+ per hour.

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Manual Jobs That Pay $80 an Hour

11. Tattoo Artist

Tattooing is an art form that pays well, especially for skilled artists.

• Requirements: Artistic talent and a steady hand.
• Earnings: Top tattoo artists charge over $1,000 per session, often working at $100+ per hour.

12. Massage Therapist

Massage therapists are in high demand, and private practitioners can charge premium rates.

• Requirements: Certification and training (usually 500 hours or more).
• Earnings: $80–$100+ per session.

13. Flipping Items

Buying low-cost items and reselling them at a profit is a tried-and-true way to make money.

• Getting Started: Source items from clearance sales, thrift stores, or online marketplaces.
• Income Potential: Experienced flippers earn $80+ per hour by leveraging platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

14. Interior Design

Interior design is a lucrative career for creative individuals with an eye for aesthetics.

• Requirements: A degree or certification in design.
• Earnings: Top designers earn $100+ per hour on major projects.

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Other High-Paying Jobs

15. Web Design and Development

Web designers and developers are essential for businesses looking to establish an online presence.

• Skills Needed: Coding, UI/UX design, and server management.
• Income Potential: Freelancers can charge $80–$150 per hour.

16. Public Speaking

Public speaking is a rewarding profession for those who can inspire or educate audiences.

• Getting Started: Build a portfolio by speaking at local events.
• Income Potential: Established speakers earn thousands per event, equating to $80+ per hour.

17. Consulting

Whether in business, real estate, or career planning, consulting is a high-paying profession.

• Requirements: Industry expertise and experience.
• Earnings: Consultants typically charge $100–$150 per hour.

18. Freelancing

Freelancing allows you to monetize almost any skill, from graphic design to copywriting.

• Platforms: Fiverr, Upwork, and Toptal are excellent starting points.
• Income Potential: $80–$100 per hour, depending on your expertise.

19. Online Surveys Nothing can be as easy and rewarding at the same time as participating in online surveys. You don’t need any particular degree or a background in any field. Instead, you need just a smartphone or a laptop to get going. There are several websites available where you can get high-paying online surveys. And among those, Survey Junkie is definitely the frontrunner. You can easily make more than $3/survey, which takes just a few minutes. Besides, you can also try legit Survey Junkie hacks to earn much more. You can also try Swagbucks, which claims to pay more than $50/survey on average. And if you want a continuous flow of available surveys, you should better try your hands on InboxDollars. Both these companies now offer a $5 signup bonus for new members.

20. Flipping Business If you are looking for trade jobs that pay 80 an hour, you better pursue your career in the flipping business. In simple terms, flipping is when you purchase anything at a lower price and then resell it on online platforms at a much higher price. You can easily get salable items on clearance sales at Walmart and Target. Besides, you can also make use of the clearance segments of Amazon. And once you make your inventory, you can list those and start the bidding procedure on eBay. But flipping is not as easy as it sounds! There is much inside knowledge that you need to have if you want to make this business successful. So, it is better to get yourself enrolled in the money-making flipping course especially curated by Rob and Melissa Stephenson from Flipper University.

21. Tattoo Artist We all love to have meaningful tattoos on our bodies, isn’t it? The tattoo is more of a trend for the Gen-Y that they are willing to pay big money just to get inked by famous tattoo artists. And that’s why tattooing has already become one of the best jobs that pay $80 an hour. There are many tattoo artists available who are charging more than a grand per sitting. And to get inked from them, you need multiple sittings. So, it’s better you also start your career early in this industry. Besides a brilliant drawing and sketching sense, you need excellent tracing skills to make your tattoos perfect. Besides, you also need to use high-quality inks and special needles to make the tattooing experience perfect.

22. Massage Therapist We all love to have a relaxing massage after an exhausting day, isn’t it? But do you know that qualified massage therapists now charge more than $100/hour on average? Yes, this rate can even increase if you private practice. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, all qualified massage therapists who practice independently charge more than $100 per session. However, you do need to have some certification programs completed to claim such an amount. There are several institutions available globally that provide a 500-hour training program to become a certified massage therapist. Besides, you can visit the AMTA website to try your hands on freelance massage assignments.

23. Interior Designing We all love to have our houses well decorated. But, do you know that a credible interior decorator even charges more than $10k per assignment on any good day? Yes, interior designing is one of the best jobs that pay $80 an hour. You may not even believe it; the top 10% of interior designers earn way above the $100 per hour bracket. But yes, to be in that league, you need not just a good degree but also a very creative mind to make your design outstanding. It is now absolutely necessary to have at least a graduation degree or a vocational certification in interior design. Besides, you are also required to obtain a state-issued license to work as a full-time interior designer. Supportive Jobs That Pay $80 An Hour If you don’t want a labor-intensive job or want something not just to make money but also to quench your artistic thirst, you should go for a supportive job like a backstage artist. You can find many of these types of jobs that pay between 60 and 80 an hour all over the world.

24. Makeup Artist Believe it or not, several makeup artists in the Hollywood Industry are actually millionaires. Celebrity makeup artists also charge more than $1k per hour. According to recent reports by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, they are the highest-paid workers in the cosmetology industry. But, to become a top-of-the-line MUA, you need way more than just creativity. You should have a sound understanding of human skin. Besides, you should also have mastery in color picking and blending. Many makeup artists are now using airbrushes and other accessories to make it look perfect. So, it is also better to adapt to those instruments from the beginning if you want to make your name in this industry.

25. Life Coaching If you are a good advisor and looking for jobs that pay $80 an hour, you should become a life coach and guide people around you. Most of these life coaching jobs are appointment-based. And you can do it independently, either full-time or part-time. Samsung Upgrade to a true AI companion Sponsored By Samsung See More Credible life coaches now charge around $100/hour on average in the cities of the USA. However, you can start with the $35 to $45/hour range to get some clients in your initial days. You need at least a graduation degree in psychology to enter this field. Besides, you can also opt for certification courses that specialize in life coaching and personal development.

26. Fitness Instructor People are now becoming way more health conscious with each passing day. While almost half the population of the USA is now on the verge of obesity, more and more people are currently looking for a healthy lifestyle. And for that, they resort to fitness instructors. Get this straight; you don’t need a muscular physique or chiseled abs to become a fitness instructor. You can also try other avenues of fitness like yoga, Zumba, Aerobics, and even CrossFit. But yes, you do need to have expertise in your subject. While most instructors charge between $20 to $40 per hour on average, several top-end fitness instructors even charge more than $80 per hour.

27. Business Consultation If life coaching is for the general public, business coaching is for people having the sharpest minds in the industry. Many entrepreneurs and businesspeople now resort to good business consultants when they face a dilemma. But you need immense expertise to deal with these people. To start with, you need at least a graduate degree in any business-related discipline. An MBA, on top of that, will add more charm to your portfolio. Besides, you should also have at least 5 to 10 years of experience in the industry. Most business consultants charge around $100 to $150/hour on average. However, you can go beyond that if you are genuinely talented. You can also look for individual coaching assignments on platforms like Catalant.

28. Bartending You may consider it a high-paying part-time job. But, if you want to indulge on a full-time basis, your earnings will definitely go way beyond $80 a day. According to recent statistics, a good bartender now charges around $25/hour on average. This rate will even go higher if you have impressive bottle juggling skills and a bit of showmanship. But at the core, you do need to have a strong knowledge of mixology and concoctions. You need at least a graduation degree in hotel management or bartending to get an entry ticket to star-category hotels. Besides, you can also go for certification courses to further sharpen your skills. Other Jobs That Pay $80 An Hour If you are daring enough to try unconventional genres of work, then there are now several jobs that pay over 80 dollars an hour available around the world. And we have picked the most rewarding among those.

29. Executive Coaching Let’s get this fact first; executive coaching is not among the typical jobs that pay $80 an hour. Instead, you can earn more than $200k/year if you can make your name as a credible executive coach. Although it’s a niche profession, the ticket size is pretty steep. But remember, you’ll deal with the most highly skilled and highly paid executives of the company who are incredibly sharp. So, you need to be even more intelligent than them to coach them in the right way. A master’s degree with an MBA is a must to become an executive coach. Besides, you should have at least ten years of industry experience to start practicing independently.

30. Consultation From property consultation to asset consultation, from career consultation to holiday consultation, these genres cover a lot of different subsections. And you can easily find several jobs that pay $80 an hour in this genre. Consultation provides one of the best returns on investment ratios. You don’t really need anything other than having immense guiding and consultation skills. However, having a graduation degree or more in your subject can give you a little extra push. If you stay in the United States, you can easily charge more than $100/hour as a consultant. And if you select a niche subject like marriage or career consultation, you can charge way above that.

31. Public Speaking / Motivational Speaking A great orator not only mesmerizes a large group of the public at once but also earns millions. And, in the era of TED Talks and podcasts, public speaking or motivational speaking has already touched a new height. If you have excellent communication skills or can instantly start a chat with a large audience, public speaking is definitely your subject. You can either give life lessons or can just simply share your own stories. Try to arrange small gatherings in your local community center first. And don’t forget to make short clips of your speaking session and upload those to your social media handles.

32. Movie Production Assistance Movies are not only about the actors or the director; a huge unit continuously runs behind making a great film. From spot boys to boom mic operators, there are numerous positions in the film industry that you may not even hear of. And in many of these positions, you don’t need any special talent other than either manual work or just raw talent. Besides, you’ll get a steady supply of work if you can make your name in this industry, especially in Hollywood. You may not believe that assistant directors often charge way more than $200 per hour. And any department head in a film unit can easily bag more than $100/hour on average.

33. Become A Foot Model Yes, you may not even believe it, but you can comfortably earn way more than just $80 per hour while becoming a foot model. From modeling agencies to people with foot fetishes, a vast customer base is already in front of you to explore. You can start your foot modeling career with Instafeet. You can set your asking rate for each of your feet photos here. And the best part, they charge only 10% of the asking price as their commission. Don’t forget to check out our in-depth Instafeet review to get more insight. You can try FeetFinder, too! All you need is to be more than 18 years old to become a feet pics seller here. And we have also published the step-by-step guide to making money with FeetFinder that you should check. 31. Freelancing Nothing can be better than freelancing if you have free will! You’ll not only become your own boss as a freelancer but can also work according to your own convenience. And there are many best freelance job sites available that offer lucrative payments as well. You can find many jobs that pay $80 an hour on any freelancing platform. But to start with, you should stick to the Israeli company called Fiverr. It is the undoubted leader in the freelancing industry. You can set your own rate on this platform which can be anywhere between $5 to $999 per gig. However, this company charges around 10% to 15% commission from that gig price.