Entry-level does not have to mean minimum wage or a cubicle. A set of roles
classified as entry-level by the federal government pay well above $38 an hour
and consist almost entirely of digital, data-driven work that doesn’t require
being anywhere in particular.
These jobs could offer extra income
outside of work or a full pivot into a new field. Here is what each role
involves, what it pays, and why it suits remote work.
Editor’s note: All salary data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
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1. Software developer
Median hourly wage: $63.20
Software developers write, test, and maintain the applications and systems that
power everything from banking apps to hospital records, work that happens
entirely on a laptop and rarely requires a specific building.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field covers the entry
requirement, and BLS lists no prior work experience as necessary. Most new hires
ramp up through mentorship rather than a separate training program.
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2. Actuary
Median hourly wage: $60.47
Actuaries calculate the financial risk behind future events, such as how likely
a claim is to occur, using spreadsheets and modeling software that don’t depend
on a physical office.
A bachelor’s degree in math, statistics, or actuarial science covers the entry
requirement. New hires typically spend years passing professional exams while
working, a form of paid, on-the-job training that stands in for prior
experience.
3. Data scientist
Median hourly wage: $54.13
Data scientists create, analyze, and model large datasets to help organizations
make decisions, work that happens in code and spreadsheets rather than in person
with clients or coworkers.
A bachelor’s degree in math, statistics, computer science, or a related field
covers the entry requirement, with no prior work experience required, though
some employers prefer a master’s degree.
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4. Database administrator
Median hourly wage: $50.30
Database administrators organize, secure, and maintain the databases that store
an organization’s information, tasks handled almost entirely through remote
access to servers rather than in person.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field is the typical entry
point. BLS doesn’t list a strict prior-experience requirement for this role, so
a strong grasp of major database platforms often does the work a resume would
elsewhere.
5. Software quality assurance analyst and tester
Median hourly wage: $49.33
QA analysts and testers run software through its paces before release, hunting
for bugs and confirming it works as intended, a job done entirely on a computer,
often for teams spread across different cities.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field covers the entry
requirement, and BLS lists no prior work experience as necessary to start.
6. Financial analyst
Median hourly wage: $48.99
Financial analysts study financial statements, market trends, and economic data
to recommend investments or evaluate a company’s financial health, work built
around spreadsheets and reports rather than in-person meetings.
A bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or economics covers the entry
requirement. BLS’s guidance doesn’t describe a required-experience bar for this
role, though a master’s degree or CFA credential often helps with advancement
later.
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7. Computer programmer
Median hourly wage: $47.44
Computer programmers write and test the code that turns a developer’s or
designer’s plans into working software, entirely screen-based work that suits
remote setups well.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science covers the entry requirement, and no
prior work experience is listed as necessary. The field is shrinking overall as
AI tools absorb some routine coding tasks, though thousands of openings are
still projected yearly from retirements and career changes.
8. Web and digital interface designer
Median hourly wage: $47.16
These designers plan the look, layout, and navigation of websites and apps,
working entirely in design software and prototyping tools rather than a physical
studio.
A bachelor’s degree in graphic design, web design, or a related field covers the
entry requirement, with no prior work experience listed as necessary.
9. Operations research analyst
Median hourly wage: $43.89
Operations research analysts use math and computer models to help organizations
solve complex logistical or business problems, work that happens almost entirely
through spreadsheets, software, and data.
A bachelor’s degree in operations research, math, or a related field covers the
entry requirement, and no prior work experience is listed as necessary, though
some employers prefer a master’s degree.
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10. Web developer
Median hourly wage: $43.72
Web developers build and maintain the technical structure of websites, writing
the code that makes pages load, function, and display correctly, work suited to
anywhere with a reliable connection.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field covers the entry
requirement, and no prior work experience is listed as necessary to start.
11. Logistician
Median hourly wage: $38.89
Logisticians plan and coordinate the movement of goods through a supply chain,
work built around spreadsheets, scheduling software, and vendor communication
rather than a warehouse floor.
A bachelor’s degree covers the entry requirement, and BLS lists no prior work
experience as necessary, though employers may accept added experience in place
of a degree.
Bottom line
None of these roles requires prior work experience by BLS’s own standard, but
nearly all require a bachelor’s degree, the real barrier standing between a
career changer and a $38-an-hour paycheck.
Several also lean on training that happens after hire, actuarial exams,
mentorship-based coding ramp-ups, on-the-job database work, rather than
credentials someone already walked in with. That combination could make one of
these roles worth exploring when looking to find an online side
hustle or plan a full career pivot.
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