5 Tech Jobs That Pay $15 an Hour

• Many tech careers pay more than $15 per hour for entry-level positions.
• These careers often don't require a college degree, so you can start earning sooner.
• Several major tech companies pay starting salaries of $15 per hour or more.
• Professionals can also choose freelance tech careers and earn over $15 per hour.

A salary of $15 per hour or more is the minimum at several major tech companies, including Apple, Adobe, and Google. For high school and college students or those just starting out in a tech career, earning $15 per hour can help reduce student debt and build financial freedom.

There are discussions about raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. This would more than double the current minimum and give workers in entry-level careers a more livable wage. Tech careers are already leaders in compensation, with many tech companies paying over $15 per hour for all employees.

Is $15 a Good Hourly Wage?

Whether $15 per hour is considered a "good wage" depends on financial needs and personal circumstances, including family size. A professional earning $15 per hour will earn $30,000 per year if they work 40-hour weeks for 50 weeks of the year. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, research suggests that a low-income family of four needs an average income equal to about $51,850 to meet basic needs.

For a teenager or college student, $15 an hour could be a good wage. The national average for all professions in May 2021 was $58,260, which is about $29 per hour. In comparison, $15 per hour is about half the national average salary for all professions.

On the other hand, the national minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, or $14,500 per year. The federal poverty threshold for a family of four with two children was $25,930 in 2019. Fifteen dollars per hour is a good wage compared to the national minimum wage.

Find the Right Tech Bootcamp For You

Tech Jobs Paying $15 an Hour

While most tech jobs pay $15 per hour or more, even for entry-level positions, these are the most notable tech jobs that make about $15 per hour.

Data Entry Specialist

According to Payscale, data entry specialists earn an average salary of $15.90 per hour as of August 2022. Those with less than one year of experience earn an average of $15 per hour, while the top 10% of data entry specialists earn an average of $21.80 per hour.

Data entry positions are available in many businesses, including medical facilities, retailers, and corporations. Responsibilities include entering information on computers for processing or records retention. Accuracy is essential for this career. Data entry specialists need a high school diploma but don't need a college degree.

Freelance Graphic Designer

Freelance graphic designers earn an average salary of $30.20 per hour, according to August 2022 Payscale data. Freelance graphic designers with less than one year of experience earn an average of $20 per hour. The top 10% of freelance graphic designers earn $60.90 per hour.

Graphic designers create designs for online and print material by hand or using computer software like Adobe Creative Suite. Responsibilities include design layouts, color schemes, logos, and other visual materials to inspire and inform consumers. As freelancers, these graphic designers work with one or more customers at a time.

Customer Support Specialist

Customer support specialists earn an average of $18 per hour, according to August 2022 Payscale data. Customer support specialists with less than one year of experience earn $16.70 an hour, while those with 10 to 19 years of experience earn an average of $18.80 an hour.

Customer support specialists help customers with computer problems in various tech settings. Responsibilities include technical support, diagnosing and solving problems, and providing technical consultations. A bachelor's degree may be required, depending on the employer.

Field Technician

Field technicians earn an average of $22.20 an hour, according to Payscale data from August 2022. The top 10% of field technicians earn an average of $31.90 per hour, while those with less than a year of experience earn an average of $17.40 per hour.

Field technicians perform the setup and installation of systems and equipment, as well as troubleshooting and repairs. Field technicians need to have good product knowledge and be able to provide creative, relevant solutions while working with customers. There is no minimum degree requirement.

Help Desk Technician

Help desk technicians earn an average salary of $17.80 per hour, according to Payscale data from August 2022. Those with less than one year of experience earn an average of $16.10 per hour, while the top 10% earn an average of $24.50 per hour. Help desk technicians don't need a minimum degree.

Help desk technicians work in companies that produce computers and other technical equipment. Responsibilities include identifying, troubleshooting, and resolving issues of both customers and colleagues by guiding the user to the resolution of the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tech Jobs That Pay $15 an Hour

What tech companies pay at least $15 an hour?

Because many tech careers have average starting salaries that are higher than average, most major tech companies pay at least $15 per hour. Here are some tech jobs that pay $15 an hour with no experience at well-known companies:

• Apple's minimum starting salary is $22 per hour.
• Adobe's minimum salary is $16 per hour, according to Indeed.com.
• At Google, entry-level employees earn $54,000, which is about $27 per hour.

What tech professions make $100 an hour?

Tech professions where it is possible to make $100 per hour include freelance designers, front-end developers, back-end developers, full-stack developers, and senior developers. However, this is significantly more than average salaries or even than the average for the top 10% of earners.

Cisco and Meta offer front-end developer salaries over $100 per hour. Twitter offers back-end developer salaries over $100 per hour. A salary of $100 per hour comes out to be about $200,000 per year. That is higher than the average or even some of the highest paying tech careers.

What tech jobs can I get without a degree?

With coding bootcamps, there are a growing number of tech jobs you can get without a degree. Some of these are tech jobs that pay $15 an hour or more.

Tech jobs that don't require a degree include:

• Aerospace technician
• Cybersecurity analyst
• Computer programmer
• Computer support specialist
• Digital marketer
• Graphic designer
• Network engineer
• Systems analyst
• Telecommunications technician
• Web developer

In addition, there are bootcamps to train professionals in a variety of tech careers, including front-end developers, back-end developers, and full-stack developers. Professionals can also start careers in machine learning, data analysis, cybersecurity, and UX/UI design.