What job makes the most money a week?

You could be interested in finding out how to make money working less hours than full-time, and you might be curious about the kind of employment that fall into that category. FinanceBuzz has done the legwork for you to uncover well-paying jobs that require less than 40 hours of work per week by analyzing the data.

We used an online data analysis tool from IPUMS to evaluate occupational data from the 2017 American Community Survey and identify the occupations at which at least 25 percent of workers clocked less than 35 hours of work per week. This was accomplished by analyzing the data in a way that made it possible for us to view the data in real time.

After then, we compared these jobs with the most recent salary data for each occupation that was made public by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in May 2018, which was accessible for each occupation. From there, we narrowed it down to the positions that often need part-time employment yet pay the greatest salaries overall.

The following list presents the occupations that, according to our research, provide the best salary for working fewer than 35 hours per week.

1. Dentist

Consider going into the dentistry field if you want to work less hours but still make a six-figure salary. 27 percent of dentists work 34 hours or less per week, and the average annual salary was $167,160 in 2021. Dentists also had the highest median education level of any profession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 16 percent of dentists are self-employed, despite the fact that owning one's own dental office is not only frequent but also quite widespread.

However, becoming a dentist is not a quick, simple, or inexpensive endeavor. To get licensed to practice dentistry, one has to graduate from a four-year program at a dental school and then pass a licensing exam. The American Dental Education Association estimates that the average amount of student loan debt for the graduating class of 2019 will be $292,169. This is due to the high cost of dental school programs.

2. Psychologist

It is possible for psychologists to interact directly with clients and patients or conduct research while maintaining a flexible work schedule; currently, 28 percent of psychologists work less than 35 hours per week. In the field of psychology, those psychologists who run their own practices or who operate as independent consultants are most likely to have the ability to choose their own working hours and schedule. They also get a generous compensation package, with an annual salary that is, on average, $99,640.

However, if you want to pursue a career as a psychologist, you need be prepared to devote a significant amount of time to your education. The majority of jobs in psychology need at least a master's degree, and the majority of those jobs require a PhD. It is quite possible that you will also be required to get a professional license.

3. Chiropractic physician

A little more than one-third of chiropractors operate on a part-time basis, maintaining a work schedule of less than 35 hours each week. Chiropractors bring in an average of $41.28 per hour, which translates to an annual pay of $81,240 on average.

To become a chiropractor, which is a health practitioner who treats the neuromusculoskeletal system, most typically via spinal adjustments, you will need to complete specialized training. Chiropractors may be found all around the world. In order to practice chiropractic, one has to receive a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, which is normally earned after completing a postgraduate program lasting four years. In order to engage in their trade, they are furthermore required to get and continue to maintain a state license.

4. Artist

It's possible that the idea of the hungry artist is really a fantasy. The typical compensation for an artist or worker in a similar field is $32.23 per hour, and the yearly salary for someone in this industry is $67,240 on average. In all, there are 33 percent of people who work less than 35 hours each week.

In addition, this wide employment encompasses a variety of creative sub-fields that need varied degrees of expertise and pay scales. Art directors have the highest hourly wages, earning an average of $55.50 per hour, although they normally need at least a bachelor's degree and often experience working in their profession to qualify for the position. In contrast, being a craft artist does not need any particular level of education; nonetheless, most people in this field have a bachelor's degree. The average hourly wage for craft artists is $19.58.

5. Performer of music or singing

More over two out of five musicians, or 43 percent, put in less than 35 hours of labor per week. On the other hand, the hourly wage for musicians, vocalists, and "associated employees" is an average of $41.46. It is possible for a musician to make around $75,457 per year if they work approximately 35 hours per week.

To become a musician or a vocalist, one does not need to meet any particular educational criteria; nevertheless, a lot of people do have bachelor's degrees. However, in order to acquire the skills necessary to play music professionally, musicians and vocalists will need training and practice.

6. A writer or an author

Even though they put in less hours than full time, almost one-third of novelists and writers still make a respectable living. Writers make an average of $39.00 per hour, which equates to an annual salary of $81,120 on average.

If you want to work as a writer, it is beneficial to have both a formal education that culminates in a bachelor's degree and practical experience writing. However, writers and authors may also choose to work independently as freelancers, authors, or other types of content providers.

7. Real estate agent

Agents and brokers in real estate labor to assist their customers in the selling, purchasing, and renting of properties, and in return for their services, they receive commissions. The vast majority of real estate agents are either self-employed or operate independently; however, they may also work for a real estate firm or another kind of company.

Real estate agents, on the other hand, often work for themselves, so they have the ability to choose their own working hours and schedules. As a direct consequence of this, working part-time in the real estate industry is rather prevalent. In fact, 25 percent of real estate brokers work less than 35 hours per week on average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical annual salary comes in at $61,480.

To get a license to practice real estate, you will need to finish a training program that is offered by your state. In order to receive a license to practice real estate, participants in these programs are often required to successfully complete a series of real estate-related courses or coursework and then take and pass a licensing test.

8. Registered dietitians and certified nutritionists

Dietitians and nutritionists may find employment in a wide variety of settings, where they assist clients in meeting their health objectives by providing dietary guidance and organizing meal plans. To get employment in this industry, the majority of candidates will need to receive a bachelor's degree; moreover, they may be required to take extra training or submit an application for a state license.

It is possible for these professionals to operate on a part-time basis, as shown by the fact that 26% of dietitians maintain an average weekly work schedule of less than 35 hours. Dietitians and nutritionists make, on average, $65,620 a year in salary and compensation.

9. Actor

More over half of performers, or 55%, have part-time schedules with an average of less than 35 hours of work each week. The typical hourly wage is $31.31, which, when multiplied by the standard workweek of 35 hours, results in an annual salary of around $57,000.

In order to earn money for their performances, professional actors are required to first acquire and then maintain the necessary degree of competence. They could have graduated with acting degrees from colleges or universities, taken acting lessons, or worked with acting coaches, for instance.

10. Performer in the dance arts or choreographer

Dancing is another another occupation in which more than half of employees put in less than 35 hours per week. The majority of dancers and choreographers work part-time, earning an average of $24.49 per hour, although only half of them do so. These jobs pay, on average, $51,000 a year in salary to its employees.

In the same way as the other artists included on this page, dancers and choreographers spend a significant amount of time honing their abilities and gaining expertise in their field. There are certain forms of dance, such as ballet, that need more extensive or formal instruction than others. For their education, dancers and choreographers may choose to enroll in a dance program at a college or a dance school.

11. Bus driver

Bus driving may not be the most financially rewarding profession, but it does provide the kind of adaptable work schedule that a lot of people are searching for. Three out of every ten bus drivers put in less than 35 hours of labor each week. The typical hourly wage for drivers of public transportation and intercity buses is $24.67, which equates to an annual salary of $51,310.

Workers need to acquire and maintain a commercial driver's license in order to be eligible to work as bus drivers (CDL). To continue driving safely, they are required to have a spotless driving record, as well as visual and hearing standards that they must achieve. Applicants who have a high school diploma or an education that is equal to a high school diploma will also have an advantage when applying for typical bus driver positions.

12. a photographic artist

A little less than forty percent of photographers put in fewer than 35 hours of labor per week. The typical hourly wage for a photographer is $23.18 and the yearly salary is $48,210. However, there is a vast variety of educational backgrounds acceptable for photographers to have.

The majority of photographers will participate in some kind of formal education to improve their aesthetic and technical abilities in the field. In most cases, they are self-employed as portrait photographers (for example, those who shoot weddings or families), while a significant number of them also work for companies as in-house photographers.

13. People who work in fitness or recreation

This category encompasses a wide range of occupations, including those of fitness instructors, personal trainers, and employees of leisure facilities like community centers, parks, and summer camps, to name just a few examples. The average compensation for these positions is $18.43 per hour, which translates to $38,340 per year. About 47 percent of the individuals who hold these jobs work part-time.

However, your salary will be determined by the particular area of concentration that you choose as well as the kind of institution that you work for. The average compensation for fitness instructors is greater than the national average, coming in at $22.05 per hour or $45,870 per year.

The required level of experience and education might also change from job to job. The majority of occupations will need candidates to have a high school diploma or its equivalent, in addition to having at least a few weeks of experience working in the relevant field.

14. Specialists in tailoring and bespoke sewing

The last job on this list is one in which adjustments are made to existing garments or new ones are sewn from scratch. There are around 34 percent of tailors and sewers who work less than 35 hours per week, and the average income for this occupation is $16.65 per hour, or $34,630 per year. In most cases, schooling is not required for those who want to pursue this line of employment. However, employees may be required to show their skill in sewing and textile construction by the completion of on-the-job training or another means.

Which careers demand the fewest hours yet provide the highest pay?

We devoted part of our work to calculating figures obtained from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS), an online data analysis tool, as well as the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). On the basis of these data sources, we determined that the following occupations provide the greatest compensation for working 35 hours or less each week:

Dentist

Psychologist

Chiropractor

Artist

Performer on the piano or vocals

Author or writer of the work

Real estate agent

One who specializes in diet or nutrition

Actor

Performer in dance or choreography

Bus driver

Photographer

Worker in the recreation or fitness industry

Tailor or bespoke seamstress

Is working 40 hours a week a lot?

In most cases, a full-time employee will put in about 40 hours of labor per week. However, it is essential to keep in mind that the definition of a full-time employee may change from one company to the next; in addition, the total number of hours that full-time workers are expected to work in a given week can also change from one company to the next. There are some companies that have full-time workers who put in less than 40 hours of labor per week, while there are other companies that have full-time employees who put in more than 40 hours per week.

What kind of occupations provide the most desirable balance between work and life?

A healthy work-life balance may mean different things to different people, depending on their perspectives and requirements in life. For instance, one individual may believe that their employment provides a good work-life balance if they work 40 hours a week or less, but another person may believe that having unlimited vacation time allows for a better work-life balance.

On the other hand, in general, the positions on our list may provide a reasonable work-life balance and the possibility of working less than 40 hours per week.