15 Realistic Jobs That Pay $5,000 a Month

What $5,000 a month actually means

It’s $60,000 a year before taxes. If you work 40 hours a week all year, that’s about $28.85 an hour.

That’s gross pay. Your paycheck after taxes and health insurance will be smaller, so if you need $5,000 to actually hit your bank account each month, you’re shopping for a bigger salary than this.

Every figure here is a national median from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half the people in the job earn more and half earn less, and a new hire usually starts below the median. The monthly number is just the yearly median divided by 12.

A year of school or less

These are the quickest ways onto this list. None needs a degree, though a couple want some work history first.

Licensed practical nurse

$64,400 a year, about $5,367 a month

As an LPN you take vitals and give basic care, working under registered nurses and doctors. You finish a state-approved program, which usually takes about a year, then pass a licensing exam. That’s the shortest path to $5,000 a month on this page.

Flight attendant

$63,580 a year, about $5,298 a month

A high school diploma is the bar, but airlines usually want 1 or 2 years in a service job first (think restaurants or retail). Then there’s airline training that lasts several weeks to a few months, and you have to get certified by the FAA. New hires work the schedules nobody else wants, so expect holidays away from home for a while.

Computer user support specialist

$61,860 a year, about $5,155 a month

You’re the person who fixes everybody’s laptop and password problems. Some college courses are typical, but a diploma plus IT certifications can get you in. It’s a decent way into IT, and a lot of people move up to network support, where the median is $76,220 a year.

Wholesale sales rep

$72,080 a year, about $6,007 a month

You sell products to businesses instead of shoppers, like food to restaurants or parts to factories. For non-technical products a diploma is usually enough, and the median shown is for those reps. Pay often includes commission, so a slow month hits your check.

Restaurant manager

$69,390 a year, about $5,783 a month

The education bar is a high school diploma. The real requirement is time in the trenches, since the typical manager worked in restaurants for a few years first. Long shifts, weekends, and you’re the one who covers when a cook calls out.

Two-year degree jobs

This is the sweet spot. An associate’s degree from a community college is a lot cheaper than a four-year school, and three of these pay over $95,000 a year.

Paralegal

$62,890 a year, about $5,241 a month

You’d do the research and paperwork that keeps lawyers moving. An associate’s degree is the usual start. It’s an office job with a set schedule, which a lot of people on this list would love to have.

Drafter

$68,090 a year, about $5,674 a month

You turn engineers’ and architects’ ideas into technical drawings with CAD software. Usual path is an associate’s degree. If you liked shop class and computers, this is worth a look.

Radiologic technologist

$80,110 a year, about $6,676 a month

You run the X-ray machines and get patients positioned for the scan. An associate’s degree is the usual entry point, and with more training you can move into MRI work later.

Respiratory therapist

$82,280 a year, about $6,857 a month

You treat patients who have trouble breathing, from asthma to people on ventilators. Associate’s degree, and every state except Alaska requires a license.

Diagnostic medical sonographer

$96,590 a year, about $8,049 a month

You run the ultrasound machine and take the images your doctors use to diagnose patients. Usual path is an associate’s degree. Close to $100,000 a year on two years of school is a pretty great trade.

Registered nurse

$97,550 a year, about $8,129 a month

RNs can get there three ways: a bachelor’s in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing or a diploma from an approved program. The associate’s route is the popular shortcut. It’s long shifts and hard days, but nurses are in demand pretty much everywhere.

Dental hygienist

$98,100 a year, about $8,175 a month

The highest median on this page. You clean teeth and check for problems, and the usual path is an associate’s degree. Every state requires a license.

Four-year degree jobs

If you’ve already got a bachelor’s degree, or you’re about to, these get you past $5,000 a month without any extra schooling.

HR specialist

$75,940 a year, about $6,328 a month

You recruit, hire and handle the paperwork for employees. A bachelor’s degree is typical. Steady office work at almost any company.

Accountant

$83,680 a year, about $6,973 a month

You prepare and check financial records and taxes. You need a bachelor’s degree, usually in accounting, and you should expect long hours around tax season.

Web developer

$92,650 a year, about $7,721 a month

You build and maintain websites. The usual entry is a bachelor’s degree, but the requirements range from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s, so a strong portfolio can carry you. Freelance web work is a real side hustle too.

Jobs people think pay $5,000 a month (but usually don’t)

Selling homes is the big one. Every state requires a license, and the median real estate sales agent makes $52,830 a year. That’s about $4,403 a month, so most agents fall short of $5,000. Some agents do much better. Plenty do worse.

Delivery apps are the other one. Amazon Flex says most of its drivers earn $18 to $25 an hour. To hit $5,000 a month at $25 an hour, you’d need about 200 hours a month, or around 46 hours a week. At $18 it’s closer to 64 hours a week. And gas and car wear come out of that. Our Amazon Flex review covers what the app is really like.

Gig apps make way more sense as a side income stacked on top of a job. The side gigs list has plenty of options, and what’s paying right now shows which apps are worth your time today.

How to pick

Start with how long you can go without the paycheck. A year of LPN school beats four years of college if you need money soon. If you can swing two years, healthcare jobs like sonography and dental hygiene pay the most for the time you put in.

Not into school at all? Look at jobs that pay hourly while you train, like electrician or elevator installer apprenticeships. They’re on the jobs that pay $30 an hour list, and $30 an hour full time beats $5,000 a month. If you need something sooner, start with the jobs that pay $20 an hour and work up. There’s more in the freelancers section.

Jobs that pay $5,000 a month: FAQ