What Jobs Pay $100 an Hour? (13 Online & Offline Jobs)

The median wage in the United States is $16 an hour, which makes earning $100 an hour sound like wishful thinking.

In the past, such an income was reserved for highly skilled professionals in particular fields. Thankfully, the economy has evolved, and it’s now possible to make money online. Many jobs can make you $100 or more in an hour.

So if you’re wondering what jobs pay $100 an hour, you’re in the right place.

This post covers the different jobs and side hustles you can do to earn $100 an hour. Some of the jobs mentioned will require you to alter your career path, and others won’t be too demanding.

What Is $100 an Hour Annually?

Before we can look at what jobs pay $100 an hour, let’s consider how much you would make in a year at that rate.

Assuming you work an average of eight hours a day, 40 hours a week, you’d make:

• $800 daily
• $4,000 weekly
• $8,000 biweekly
• $16,000 monthly
• $208,000 annually

It’s important to note that the amounts mentioned are before tax and other deductions. Your take-home pay will vary depending on the state you live in and the contributions you make.

What Jobs Pay $100 an Hour?

There are two types of jobs covered here; the ones you’ll work full time, and for some, you only work part-time.

Here’s a list of jobs to consider if you want to make $100 or more an hour.

1. Web Developer

With every business and blogger looking to start a website, web developers are in high demand.

Web developers are trained in programming, so they know how to code, but their services focus on building clients’ websites.

As a web developer, your responsibility would be to create a user-friendly website, planning and implementing everything from start to finish.

Glassdoor puts the median salary for web developers at $100,080 a year. However, freelance developers charge anything from $50 to $200 an hour. 

Clients in this line of work typically pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars, so it’s a job that can easily earn you $100 an hour.

2. Commercial Pilot

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average wage for commercial pilots is $134,630 a year.

The best way to make good money is to work with a commercial airline, which means being away from home.

Many pilots have been trained in the military, but it’s possible to go the college degree route, training in an FAA-certified flight school.

Most commercial airlines may require a certain number of flight hours before hiring you, so it takes some time to establish yourself. 

Still, it’s one of the jobs that pay up to $200 an hour based on experience.

3. Interior Designer

To be a good interior designer, you must have a good eye and the ability to give people exactly what they need.

Some firms require designers to have a bachelor’s degree, and in some states, licenses are given to designers. But in most cases, a degree is not necessary.

While the national average salary for interior designers is $61,975 per year, the highest-ranking designers make $100 and more per hour.

Additionally, designers who offer architectural, engineering, and other services earn top dollar.

4. Online Coach

As people move away from traditional educational institutions and look for help online, online coaching has become a great way to make money.

If you have specific knowledge and are passionate about sharing it, this is your chance to make the most out of it.

The first step is to determine the course you plan to offer and create a service people would pay money for.

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for online coaches is $62,795 a year. However, some clients will pay $100 an hour for coaching, provided you find your niche and provide quality content to help grow your reputation.

5. Consultant

A consultant is a general term used to refer to people whose job is to find creative solutions to problems.

Whenever businesses have a specific problem to solve or a skill gap to fill, companies hire consultants to help chart the way forward.

Consultants make an average of $86,280 a year, but the top consulting firms in the U.S. pay up to $200,000 yearly.

One of the best perks of consulting is you get to choose from various industries, from sales and accounting to data and security. 

The best way to get to the top in this field is to create an extensive professional network that will open you up to opportunities.

6. Orthodontist

An orthodontist is a special type of dentist whose primary focus is on the proper alignment of the teeth and the jaws.

Given the fact that there are few orthodontists, this is a very well-paying job. With a national average salary of $260,928 yearly, you’ll make well above $100 an hour.

To become an orthodontist, you must have a bachelor’s degree in a science-related field, followed by dental school and orthodontic residency.

You must also pass a written exam through the American Board of Orthodontics before you’re licensed to practice. 

Your major responsibilities involve identifying and correcting abnormalities by prescribing dental equipment like braces and expanders to align the teeth and jaws properly.

7. Underwater Welder

An underwater welder, or saturation diver, is a person who goes deep into the water for construction jobs like repairing and replacing pipes, typically for oil and gas companies.

Considering this is a high-risk job that involves working extreme hours in extreme conditions, you can make up to $1,200 a day, depending on the job and the company.

You’re brought to the site in a hyperbolic chamber and live underwater in a pressurized habitat for the length of your stay.

Some of these jobs take up to 30 days, which takes a toll on the body, given that your body has to handle the pressure of being deep underwater for an extended period of time. 

To qualify for the job, you must be certified in welding and commercial driving.

8. Political Speechwriter

A political speechwriter’s job is to write speeches for politicians running for office or those currently serving in government in different capacities.

The national average salary for political speechwriters is $87,139 a year, but they can earn $100 or more an hour, depending on who they work for and how long.

As a speechwriter, you can also opt to charge clients by the speech, which makes it easy to make $100 an hour.

Your goal should be to build a reputation so clients will seek you out, and the payment will be on your terms. Ideally, speechwriters should have a degree in English, communications, or liberal arts.

Jobs That Pay $100 an Hour Without a Degree

Most jobs we’ve covered so far require a degree or specialized training in a given field. The following section will focus on what jobs pay $100 an hour without a degree.

Several jobs pay $50 an hour without a degree, and others are even $300/hr jobs.

9. Blogger

Blogging is a great way to make passive income, but it’s something that takes time and hard work before you can start earning.

No one starts blogging and immediately begins earning $100 an hour, or even $50 an hour. According to Indeed, the average salary for bloggers is $22.28 an hour.

However, once you’ve established your blog and developed suitable systems for growth, there’s nothing standing in your way. Your goal should be to create quality content to help you build enough traffic to monetize your blog. 

Popular blogs make ridiculous amounts of money. For instance, Busy Budgeter by Rosemarie Groner makes $86,000+ a month. Food Blogger Pro, by Lindsay and Bjork, rakes in at least $90,000 a month.

Starting a blog is relatively inexpensive, especially considering the benefits you stand to gain. Moreover, there are several ways to monetize your blog, and no one stops you from using several of these methods simultaneously.

These are some of the ways to make passive income blogging:

• Selling your products
• Selling membership subscriptions
•  Affiliate marketing
• Sponsored posts
• Running display ads

10. Freelance Photographer

Freelance photography is a great way to make a decent income. According to the BLS, freelance photographers make an average of $38,950 a year.

The best way to make it to the top percentage of freelance photographers who make $100 an hour is to carve out a niche where you can establish your brand.

For instance, photographers specializing in graphic design and art are the ones who make the most money. 

This will also take years of experience as you fine-tune your skills and build your network.

11. Tattoo Artist

A tattoo artist’s job is pretty straightforward; applying creative tattoo designs on a client’s skin. The national average salary for tattoo artists is $63,846 per year, but the top percentage of tattoo artists make up to $130 an hour, depending on the client and the tattoo design.

Most tattoo artists learn through apprenticeship under an experienced tattoo artist. There are also tattoo schools, but the best way to gain experience and build a clientele list would be to work under someone for a while. 

Most tattoo artists also offer additional services like piercings, which help supplement their income.

12. Massage Therapist

According to the American Massage Therapy Association, massage therapists can earn up to $100 an hour or more, mostly in private practice. The going rate for spa massage therapists is about $45 an hour.

There are several health benefits to massages, aside from offering relaxation. This is partly why the field has a lot of growth potential.

To become a certified massage therapist, you must graduate from a training program through a massage school. 

Massage therapists who make the most money are those in the biggest cities like Chicago, LA, and New York.

13. Freelance Writer

Freelance writing is another great way to start earning $100 an hour.

Most freelance writers enjoy the freedom of setting their own schedules and determining their rates. The average salary for freelance writers stands at $51,030 a year.

The best way to make $100 an hour or more as a freelance writer is to specialize in a given field and focus on building your portfolio.

Technical writing is where the money’s at, especially when your work involves in-depth research. 

Once you’ve established yourself and become an expert in your niche, you can start charging clients $100 an hour and more for your services.

Final Thoughts

While it’s not impossible to find jobs that pay $100 an hour, it’s important to note that it takes a great deal of hard work and consistency.

Even jobs that don’t require much school work still need you to be experienced, especially freelancing.

What jobs pay $100 an hour? All the jobs listed above, plus many more, have the potential to make you $100 or more an hour, provided you play your cards right.

Whatever line of work you choose, the goal should be to rise to the top and make yourself indispensable.