How to Make $25 an Hour: Tips and Strategies

Thinking about going back to school? Or perhaps you’re hoping to find a new job that has better long-term prospects. Either way, you probably have $25 an hour as your target pay rate – and for good reason. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for all American workers in 2016 was $25.30 per hour.

So what if you could one day make that much? Let’s take a closer look at how you might go about making $25 an hour with a side gig or new career change.

Go back to school

If your current job pays less than $25 an hour, and you don’t have other options, going back to school is almost certainly the best way to boost your pay. All sorts of occupations require specialized skillsets, knowledge, and training – and, in some cases, an associate or bachelor’s degree.

So if you want to move into a new field, then one of the easiest ways to do that is by enrolling in a program that will lead to a higher-paying job.

Change careers

There are some occupations that pay well but are in low demand – which means that, for whatever reason, there are few job opportunities out there. On the other hand, some occupations have a lot of job openings but pay poorly.

If your skillset is in high demand, you’re in luck – you have plenty of opportunities to move into a better-paying job. However, if your skillset isn’t in high demand, or if you’d like to do something else entirely, then your best bet is to change careers.

Build your skillset

If you don’t have the skillset necessary to do the job you want, then you’ll need to build it. There are plenty of ways to make this happen, but one of the most common is to get an online certification in a skill that’s in high demand.

For instance, there are plenty of online certification programs out there that teach the skills necessary to become a website designer. You don’t have to change careers or have a completely different job title – you just need to learn the skills necessary to do the job you want to do.

Become an independent contractor

If your desired job doesn’t pay as much as you’d like, one option is to become an independent contractor. This typically involves renting out your services on a per-project basis – meaning you get paid by the job rather than by the hour.

And while you might not make as much as you would if you were paid hourly, you can likely find more work. So if you want to make $25 an hour but only get paid a few times a month, there’s a good chance you’ll make that much in the long run.

Get a job where you’re paid hourly

If you’re not in a position to become an independent contractor or go back to school (or boost your skillset), then your best bet is to find an hourly job. The easiest way to do this is to look for work at a local company, but if you have the right skills, you might also be able to find work with a virtual assistant company.

If you only have the option of working hourly, though, you’re going to have to put in the hours to make it worthwhile.

There are plenty of ways to make $25 an hour, and if you want to make that much, you can likely find a way to do it. The key is to understand what you’re willing to do, how much you’re willing to earn, and what sort of work you’re willing to put in. If you’re willing to put in the work, though, you can make $25 an hour – no matter what profession you work in.