Earning $35 an hour is a significant financial milestone, placing you well above the national median wage and opening the door to a variety of skilled, in-demand professions. This hourly rate translates to an annual salary of approximately $72,800 per year before taxes. This level of income supports a comfortable lifestyle in many parts of the country and serves as a strong foundation for a fulfilling and prosperous career.
In this guide, we'll break down the numbers, explore the types of jobs that offer this level of pay, and detail the key factors that can help you leverage this wage into even greater long-term earning potential.
What Kind of Jobs Pay $35 an Hour?
While no single job title is "the $35 an hour job," this pay rate is characteristic of many professional roles that require a blend of education, specialized skills, and experience. These are not typically entry-level positions but rather roles for individuals who have honed their craft or for those in high-demand technical and licensed fields.
Jobs that commonly fall within the $35/hour range ($70,000 - $75,000 annually) include:
- Registered Nurse (RN): Providing and coordinating patient care in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings.
- Financial Analyst: Examining financial data to help companies make sound business and investment decisions.
- Web Developer: Designing, creating, and maintaining websites and web applications.
- Construction Manager: Planning, coordinating, budgeting, and supervising construction projects from start to finish.
- Marketing Manager: Developing and executing marketing strategies to increase brand awareness and drive sales.
- Skilled Trades Professional: Highly experienced electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians often command this wage, especially in union or specialized commercial roles.
- IT Systems Administrator: Maintaining and upgrading an organization's computer systems and networks.
Average Salary at $35 an Hour
Calculating your annual salary from an hourly wage is straightforward. The standard formula assumes a 40-hour workweek for 52 weeks a year.
Calculation: $35/hour × 40 hours/week × 52 weeks/year = $72,800 per year
This figure is a gross income, meaning it’s before taxes, insurance, and other deductions. It's important to note that this represents a strong income level. For context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the median weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers in the United States was $1,145 in the first quarter of 2024, which annualizes to approximately $59,540. Earning $72,800 places you comfortably above this national median.
However, the salary range for jobs in this bracket can be wide. A junior web developer might start closer to $60,000, while a senior developer in the same company could earn over $120,000. Your specific position on this spectrum depends on several influencing factors.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
Your earning potential doesn't stop at $35 an hour. By strategically focusing on your professional development, you can significantly increase your value in the job market. Here are the most critical factors that determine your salary.
### Level of Education
Education is often the ticket to entry for professional roles. While some skilled trades or creative fields may not require a degree, a bachelor's is a common prerequisite for jobs in finance, marketing, and technology.
- Bachelor's Degree: A bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Finance, Nursing) is often the baseline to secure a job in the $70k+ range.
- Master's Degree: Pursuing an advanced degree, like a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Science in Data Analytics, or an advanced nursing practice degree, can significantly accelerate your earnings. Professionals with a master's degree earn a median of nearly $1,700 per week, compared to around $1,400 for those with only a bachelor's degree, according to BLS data on weekly earnings by education.
### Years of Experience
Experience is arguably the most powerful driver of salary growth. Companies pay a premium for professionals who have a proven track record of delivering results.
- Entry-Level (0-2 years): May start slightly below the $35/hour mark but can reach it quickly with strong performance.
- Mid-Career (3-8 years): This is the sweet spot where many professionals hit and surpass the $35/hour rate. You have developed expertise and can manage projects with greater autonomy.
- Senior/Lead (8+ years): At this stage, professionals are often leading teams, setting strategy, and solving complex problems. Their compensation, often exceeding $100,000 annually, reflects this high level of responsibility. For example, Payscale data shows that a Registered Nurse with over 10 years of experience can earn 15-20% more than one with less than 5 years of experience.
### Geographic Location
Where you work has a massive impact on your salary and your purchasing power. A $72,800 salary feels very different in a low-cost-of-living (LCOL) city compared to a high-cost-of-living (HCOL) hub.
According to Salary.com's cost of living calculator, a salary of $73,000 in Indianapolis, Indiana, would need to be approximately $125,000 in San Francisco, California, to maintain the same standard of living.
- Top-Tier Cities (e.g., San Francisco, New York, Boston): Offer the highest nominal salaries to compensate for steep housing and living costs.
- Mid-Tier Cities (e.g., Austin, Denver, Chicago): Provide a strong balance of high salaries and more manageable living expenses.
- LCOL Areas & Remote Work: In many smaller cities or rural areas, a $73,000 salary can afford a very high quality of life. The rise of remote work has allowed many to earn a "big city" salary while living in a more affordable location.
### Company Type
The size, industry, and financial health of your employer play a significant role in compensation.
- Large Corporations & Tech Giants: Companies like Google, Microsoft, or major financial institutions often offer top-of-market salaries, comprehensive benefits, and stock options to attract the best talent.
- Startups: May offer a slightly lower base salary but compensate with potentially lucrative stock options and a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
- Government & Non-Profit: While these sectors may offer lower base pay than their for-profit counterparts, they often provide exceptional job security, excellent retirement plans (pensions), and a better work-life balance.
### Area of Specialization
Within any given profession, specializing in a high-demand niche can dramatically increase your earning potential.
- In Nursing: A general-duty RN might earn $35/hour, but a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or a Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse can earn significantly more due to their specialized skills.
- In Technology: A general web developer is valuable, but a developer specializing in high-demand areas like Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing (AWS/Azure), or Artificial Intelligence can command a much higher salary.
- In Finance: A corporate financial analyst earns a strong wage, but one specializing in niche areas like mergers and acquisitions (M&A) or quantitative analysis will be in the top tier of earners.
Job Outlook
The long-term outlook for professions in the $35/hour range is very positive, as they are concentrated in resilient and growing sectors like healthcare, technology, and finance.
According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (2022-2032 projections):
- Registered Nurses: Employment is projected to grow 6%, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 177,400 openings projected each year.
- Software and Web Developers: Employment is projected to grow a staggering 25%, much faster than average, driven by the increasing demand for computer software and mobile applications.
- Financial Analysts: Employment is projected to grow 8%, much faster than the average, as data-driven financial analysis becomes more critical.
This strong growth indicates sustained demand for skilled professionals, ensuring job security and continued upward mobility for those in these fields.
Conclusion
Converting $35 an hour to its annual salary of approximately $72,800 reveals a wage that is both respectable and full of potential. It serves as a gateway to a number of rewarding, stable, and growing professional careers.
For those currently earning this wage or aspiring to, the path forward is clear. Your career and salary trajectory are not static. By investing in your education, gaining valuable experience, specializing in high-demand skills, and making strategic choices about where you work, you can transform this solid financial foundation into a launchpad for even greater professional success. A $35/hour job isn't just a destination; it's a powerful step on a promising career journey.