Hourly PayJobs that pay $25 to $30 an hour: 122 occupations, May 2025
Occupations in the United States whose median hourly wage was $25 to $30 an hour in May 2025, with the range from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. Together they hold 13,287,180 jobs, about 9% of all jobs counted.
No occupation in this pay band matches.
| Occupation | Median an hour | Lowest 10% below | Top 10% above | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $28.19 | $19.30 | $38.17 | 2,062,040 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $29.74 | $19.70 | $48.34 | 717,190 |
| Carpenters | $29.12 | $19.43 | $48.03 | 670,090 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $28.53 | $18.72 | $46.92 | 491,930 |
| Insurance Sales Agents | $29.94 | $17.95 | $66.41 | 479,100 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $28.78 | $20.28 | $48.60 | 478,090 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $25.84 | $18.87 | $37.28 | 416,210 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $29.33 | $19.25 | $45.78 | 409,670 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $28.63 | $20.33 | $45.93 | 392,550 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $28.68 | $19.27 | $41.34 | 390,160 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $28.34 | $20.56 | $44.82 | 380,500 |
| Firefighters | $28.50 | $16.79 | $48.58 | 345,990 |
| Postal Service Mail Carriers | $29.11 | $20.38 | $38.96 | 328,820 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | $29.70 | $21.41 | $42.66 | 289,960 |
| Machinists | $28.24 | $18.85 | $38.47 | 287,050 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $27.41 | $18.84 | $41.10 | 206,170 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $25.40 | $15.85 | $59.42 | 193,370 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $28.39 | $19.25 | $40.72 | 159,240 |
| Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $26.72 | $17.55 | $44.10 | 156,280 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $26.06 | $18.70 | $35.91 | 154,800 |
| Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks | $28.01 | $18.99 | $39.11 | 153,140 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairers | $26.39 | $17.74 | $42.28 | 149,310 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $29.41 | $17.71 | $48.90 | 142,860 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $27.90 | $18.00 | $44.35 | 139,630 |
| Roofers | $26.65 | $18.01 | $39.29 | 135,490 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $28.98 | $19.11 | $50.08 | 132,810 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $28.09 | $19.50 | $41.18 | 130,760 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $28.86 | $18.80 | $43.78 | 128,490 |
| Sheet Metal Workers | $29.71 | $18.57 | $50.79 | 119,770 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $27.28 | $17.94 | $40.49 | 107,730 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $28.11 | $21.89 | $36.19 | 105,200 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicators | $25.50 | $17.94 | $38.38 | 102,500 |
| Paramedics | $29.13 | $21.27 | $40.80 | 100,610 |
| Massage Therapists | $28.10 | $16.17 | $48.17 | 98,790 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $25.13 | $18.43 | $38.37 | 97,670 |
| Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers | $28.88 | $18.65 | $39.01 | 86,340 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $28.33 | $18.49 | $49.04 | 83,080 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $26.90 | $17.93 | $44.35 | 81,480 |
| Tax Preparers | $26.40 | $16.23 | $47.72 | 76,480 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $29.94 | $18.75 | $49.37 | 73,910 |
| Postal Service Clerks | $29.87 | $20.48 | $36.07 | 73,720 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $28.51 | $18.55 | $47.23 | 73,660 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $27.93 | $18.26 | $48.39 | 70,230 |
| Biological Technicians | $27.65 | $19.39 | $40.84 | 69,620 |
| Medical Equipment Repairers | $29.64 | $18.51 | $47.25 | 65,990 |
| Maintenance Workers, Machinery | $29.25 | $20.19 | $42.57 | 60,020 |
| Glaziers | $27.44 | $17.93 | $43.17 | 58,480 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $26.08 | $18.04 | $39.24 | 58,010 |
| Chemical Technicians | $29.03 | $20.07 | $44.25 | 57,540 |
| Clergy | $29.24 | $18.20 | $47.54 | 57,200 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $29.98 | $20.19 | $55.07 | 56,610 |
| Actors | $29.05 | $16.50 | $143.68 | 55,000 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $29.87 | $21.55 | $48.08 | 52,550 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $28.93 | $17.82 | $49.84 | 52,060 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $28.20 | $18.35 | $43.67 | 48,580 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $27.96 | $18.72 | $46.90 | 43,140 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $25.64 | $18.38 | $44.34 | 41,820 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $29.91 | $17.42 | $69.30 | 39,250 |
| Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians | $27.19 | $18.01 | $37.86 | 37,870 |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $29.59 | $20.10 | $47.13 | 37,310 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $25.88 | $19.41 | $36.68 | 36,260 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $26.77 | $17.86 | $41.40 | 35,850 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $26.49 | $18.35 | $45.27 | 34,670 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $27.61 | $20.00 | $39.61 | 34,480 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | $25.82 | $18.51 | $37.38 | 34,000 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installers | $25.55 | $20.00 | $38.45 | 31,350 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $29.81 | $18.31 | $49.07 | 30,640 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $29.59 | $22.25 | $48.15 | 30,590 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $26.23 | $19.39 | $40.21 | 30,410 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $28.52 | $18.75 | $44.12 | 27,960 |
| Credit Counselors | $25.11 | $18.44 | $38.67 | 27,770 |
| Mechanical Door Repairers | $26.79 | $18.50 | $37.63 | 27,120 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $28.05 | $20.42 | $48.19 | 25,660 |
| Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers | $26.45 | $16.03 | $42.61 | 25,100 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $27.15 | $18.08 | $46.49 | 23,640 |
| Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians | $27.67 | $17.76 | $38.14 | 23,220 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | $25.26 | $17.11 | $42.09 | 22,440 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $25.05 | $16.67 | $47.26 | 22,160 |
| Broadcast Technicians | $28.64 | $15.09 | $59.46 | 21,110 |
| Tire Builders | $27.59 | $19.31 | $35.91 | 20,770 |
| Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers | $25.29 | $17.67 | $40.48 | 19,780 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $28.94 | $21.37 | $40.29 | 19,450 |
| Plasterers and Stucco Masons | $27.72 | $19.02 | $46.50 | 19,310 |
| Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians | $25.00 | $17.37 | $37.48 | 17,430 |
| Bailiffs | $27.21 | $15.45 | $46.53 | 17,310 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | $26.17 | $18.85 | $35.81 | 16,780 |
| Airfield Operations Specialists | $27.33 | $17.25 | $49.10 | 15,190 |
| Recreational Therapists | $29.79 | $19.71 | $48.28 | 14,930 |
| Food Science Technicians | $25.06 | $19.14 | $37.89 | 14,600 |
| Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | $27.02 | $17.84 | $40.96 | 14,450 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operators | $29.72 | $22.49 | $41.45 | 14,000 |
| Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers | $28.35 | $20.82 | $50.26 | 13,800 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $25.39 | $18.19 | $38.96 | 12,460 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $28.81 | $19.19 | $46.47 | 12,190 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $26.68 | $15.21 | $69.33 | 11,220 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $28.30 | $18.97 | $39.98 | 10,700 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $28.18 | $20.86 | $39.33 | 10,590 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $29.70 | $18.95 | $44.14 | 9,780 |
| Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $27.97 | $20.04 | $44.31 | 9,760 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $28.59 | $20.56 | $38.73 | 8,560 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $28.95 | $18.10 | $40.89 | 8,220 |
| Traffic Technicians | $28.41 | $18.79 | $40.93 | 7,860 |
| Stonemasons | $27.59 | $18.89 | $41.43 | 7,820 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $25.65 | $17.20 | $47.86 | 6,980 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $27.41 | $18.05 | $39.50 | 5,540 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $29.51 | $19.46 | $47.77 | 5,100 |
| Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | $29.14 | $21.41 | $48.21 | 3,920 |
| Embalmers | $28.26 | $18.42 | $37.29 | 3,890 |
| Desktop Publishers | $26.58 | $17.16 | $46.23 | 3,350 |
| Fallers | $25.05 | $16.91 | $39.60 | 3,130 |
| Bridge and Lock Tenders | $27.74 | $13.51 | $36.23 | 3,040 |
| Choreographers | $26.59 | $16.39 | $66.65 | 2,860 |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | $27.34 | $17.03 | $50.70 | 2,780 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $27.14 | $17.13 | $56.83 | 2,600 |
| Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers | $25.35 | $16.50 | $40.35 | 1,650 |
| Paperhangers | $25.07 | $17.32 | $33.20 | 1,570 |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | $27.89 | $20.42 | $39.71 | 1,470 |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | $26.29 | $18.70 | $45.50 | 1,200 |
| Rail Transportation Workers, All Other | $27.10 | $19.27 | $39.99 | 1,120 |
| Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | $29.47 | $19.52 | $41.59 | 1,080 |
| Farm Labor Contractors | $28.11 | $14.87 | $40.41 | 310 |
| Model Makers, Wood | $27.19 | $16.73 | $47.14 | 280 |
In short
- The occupations with the most jobs in this band are Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (2,062,040 jobs, $28.19 an hour), Computer User Support Specialists (717,190 jobs, $29.74 an hour), Carpenters (670,090 jobs, $29.12 an hour).
- The median for all occupations in the country was $24.51 an hour.
- A median is the middle: in every occupation here, half the workers earn more than the figure shown and half earn less, so the columns for the lowest and top tenth matter as much as the median.
- Sorted by number of jobs, largest first.
What is in this band
Inside the band, the medians run from $25.00 an hour (Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians) to $29.98 (Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents). For full-time work of 2,080 hours, the edges of the band, $25.00 and $30.00 an hour, come to $52,000 and $62,400 a year before tax. The three largest occupations hold 26% of the 13,287,180 jobs in the band.
The kinds of work
Counted by the Bureau's broad groups of occupations, the band holds most occupations from construction and extraction (24), installation, maintenance, and repair (14), office and administrative support (12) and production (11). In all, 21 of the 22 broad groups have at least one occupation here, with a single one from management, computer and mathematical and legal.
How wide the pay is inside an occupation
A median hides how far pay stretches inside one occupation. The widest range here is Actors: the lowest-paid tenth earn under $16.50 an hour and the highest-paid tenth over $143.68, a gap of $127.18. The narrowest is Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators, from $21.89 to $36.19. In 0 of the 122 occupations, even the lowest-paid tenth earn more than the national median of $24.51.
Other bands: under $15 an hour, $15 to $20 an hour, $20 to $25 an hour, $30 to $40 an hour, $40 to $50 an hour, $50 to $75 an hour, over $75 an hour.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay. Official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; original tables at bls.gov/oes.