6 Easy Jobs That Pay $100 An Hour [How to Apply]

Are you on the lookout for jobs that pay $100 an hour? Check out 6 jobs that you could consider, with some of them not requiring any degree.

  • Jobs like life coaching, photography, and writing can reach $100/hour over time.
  • Degrees boost earning potential, with fields like medicine and computer science paying high wages.
  • Specialized skills and experience are key to reaching the $100/hour pay threshold.
  • Non-degree careers with certifications offer flexible, lucrative options for motivated individuals.

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Are you looking for jobs that will pay $100 an hour?

Making $100 per hour typically requires extensive formal education or many years of experience in your field.

As you look for a position, keep in mind that you’ll likely start out making less than $100 an hour at the entry level but can get there within a few years.

There are positions for both creatives and academics that pay this well.

Think about your interests, skills, and life plan as you check out these 6 jobs that pay $100 an hour.

At a Glance

  • Life coach
  • Freelance photographer 
  • Freelance writer 
  • Computer scientist 
  • Doctor 
  • Interior designer 

Jobs That Pay $100 An Hour Without a Degree

It’s a misconception that you need to pursue extensive education to make a great hourly wage.

There are plenty of other jobs that don’t require formal schooling. You can get by with enrolling in short-term programs that offer certification or training courses for the career you want to take.  

Life Coach

Life coaches provide help for their clients by advising on life direction. While they’re similar to therapists, the specialized training is different.

Life coaches focus specifically on where clients want to go with their future, while therapists focus on a broader range of topics with their clients.

While it’s not a legal requirement to be certified, it will make it easier to get clients and gain credibility.

You can research in-person or online programs and find mentors that interest you. Keep in mind that it may cost you anywhere from $1,200 to $13,000.

Once certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), you can make around $100-$150 an hour.

When starting, you may want to work for a company to help you build a network of clients. Eventually, you can start your own LLC and charge more.

Freelance Photographer 

Freelance photographers can earn a decent hourly wage, but it takes time and experience to build up to more than $100 per hour.

The best route to start making more is to specialize in a certain type of photography.

You may want to consider wedding and portrait photography, as they’re the highest paid on average.

Over time, you’ll build a network and portfolio and start landing more gigs.

As this happens, you become more valuable and can charge a higher rate for your services.

Most professional freelance photographers can charge hourly rates easily over $100 per hour.

There are no educational requirements for becoming a freelance photographer.

You’ll only need to have the passion and love for the craft and the tenacity to attract and retain more and more clients.  

Freelance Writer

Freelance writing is a flexible way to make money. Websites and businesses are always looking for more content and will pay skilled writers to create it for them.

You’ll want to pick an industry you’re interested in and focus on building skills like SEO and sales writing so you can charge more.

While you don’t technically need a formal education, it may help get your foot in the door for certain writing gigs.

Clients also need to trust your work, so they’ll want to see a portfolio. To create a portfolio, you can write topics for your chosen niche and share previously written articles for clients.

To start, consider working for an agency to get experience before freelancing. Doing so may help build your credibility.

As you gain experience, you may charge around $25 per hour; then, before long, you’ll become a specialized and experienced writer who can charge more than $100 per hour.

Jobs That Pay $100 An Hour With a Degree

It’s no surprise that having a degree results in a higher wage. It helps to have the latest information for an industry and prepares you to enter a career in that field. 

Computer Scientist 

Computer science roles are some of the highest-paying jobs with a variety of work available.

Computer scientists can work in data science, software development, computer programming, information science, or other sub-industries.

Most computer science jobs will require a bachelor’s degree at the minimum, but some people self-teach themselves coding and land jobs with an impressive self-taught skill set.

If you have an interest in coding, you may either go to a school or enroll in self-teaching online courses to gain these skills.

You can make an average of $59 per hour in full-time roles. But if you’re already an experienced and specialized computer scientist, you can easily charge more than $100+ per hour.  

Doctor 

It’s no surprise that doctors make high incomes. Although it’s a long journey to become a doctor, it’s a fulfilling path to help people get better from their illnesses.

To become a doctor, you’ll need to complete medical school, get a bachelor's degree, and then undergo residency training.

You're easily looking at 10+ years of schooling. Specializing after medical school is the best way to make more money.  

As a doctor working in an entry-level, unspecialized position, you can earn, on average, an hourly wage of $103.

But if you have a specialization, such as being a neurosurgeon, you can easily make an average hourly wage of $320.

Interior Designers  

Interior designers have an eye for design to decorate indoor spaces for clients.

Both homeowners and businesses hire you to help create a desired ambiance in their living space. You’ll often work with builders and architects to achieve this.

Most states will require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to get licensed as an interior designer. You’ll need to look into your state’s requirements to be certain.

If you want to work as an independent interior designer, you can charge clients between $100 to $200 per hour. You may charge as high as $500 if you have the industry experience and reputation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make $100 an Hour in an Entry-Level Job?

It depends on your chosen job. Some computer science or specialized medicine jobs will pay you $100, but those positions require extensive schooling.

Almost every job will require you to put in the time and effort to build up to that high of a wage.

What Kinds of Specialized Services Can I Offer to Charge $100 per Hour?

There are so many options. You’ll need to be quite experienced in your field to charge $100 per hour.

If you’re creative, consider photography, writing, or other forms of art. If you’re an academic, consider offering personal services in your field, like consulting or web development.

Wrapping Up

Many of these jobs require time and experience to get paid $100 per hour.

No one can start making that much in the beginning; you’ll need to put in time and effort to build your skills.

The trick to building up experience is to enjoy what you’re doing.

You may choose the academic route and pursue professional careers that pay well after getting a degree, or you may want to invest in your creative endeavors and build a network of clients.

There’s no right option—it’s up to you to decide what you want to do.

If this article inspired you to start building towards a career, leave a comment and let us know. You can also share with friends who may need to know this!

Brett Helling
Founder, Gigworker.com

Brett Helling is the founder and owner of Gigworker.com. Having worked in the gig economy for nearly a decade, he has mastered freelance, remote, and app-based work. You can learn more about his journey in his book, "Gigworker: Independent Work and the State of the Gig Economy", now available on Amazon.

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