While cases of convictions limit the chances of securing a job, a felony conviction is considered more critical compared to demeanor cases. Therefore, it’s more challenging to find a job while one is in such a status. Nonetheless, if you still aspire to pursue your career even after being found guilty of a felony case, all is not lost. There is some hope since with the appropriate measures and strategy you can achieve your dreams.
How do you begin your career journey? Well, if you are serving your sentence in prison, you might consider acquiring some skills related to whatever career you desire. That is perceptibly the initial step towards realizing a career-based life after prison. The government of the United States and governing bodies in other regions usually sponsor learning programs in their prisons which significantly heightens the level of skills within the prisoners. Therefore, after you are put into prison, make sure you inquire about available courses from the relevant department.
Once you are out of prison, you might attend several interviews in a bid to get hired in a particular organization. Even though you are not guaranteed a job, some attributes might end up decoying the interviewer into hiring you. One of the things you need to heed to is honesty. You need to get your employer to be having to trust you. In that case, you need to mention during the interview that you have been convicted of a felony and probably give them trivial details about your case.
On the other hand, you should expect the company to perform a background check on your criminal records. Some factors such as whether you are a first or a repeat offender might be crucial in the employment process, and the employer might need to check that. They also need to establish whether you have been honest during the interview.
Some employers also might not be well acquainted with tattoos, and they may offend them. This notion might lead to losing the chance of getting employed. Therefore, you ought to consider getting rid of your tattoos to increase the chances of securing a job.
So, what are some of the high paying jobs for felons? Well, below is a list of some of the jobs available for you.
19 High Paying Jobs for Felons
1. Graphic designer
One of the best forms of jobs for felon ex-convicts would be self-employment. In that case, you need to have special skills that an organization can depend on. Most companies rely on graphic designers for marketing and promoting their products. Therefore, if you can accomplish great designs, then this field is suitable for you as a felon.
Contemporary advancements in technology have promoted online platforms for various tasks. With the right skills, you can design projects for companies and send to them online. That means you will be working from the comfort of your home rather than appearing to the company personally which renders you self-employed.
A starter graphic designer earns an average of $14 per hour while a relatively experienced designer pockets $26 an hour.
2. Writer
The other online based job suitable for felons is writing, which is also a high-paying self-employment kind of a job. Several organizations necessitate for written materials such as articles for magazines, advertisement messages, blog contents for their websites among others, to promote their products and services. Therefore, if you can proficiently write quality content, then writing might be a promising job for you.
Even though some companies will require documents to check on your criminal records, the fact that the job is performed outside the company’s premises increases the chances of getting hired. Typically, a writer earns approximately $15 to $35 per hour. The rate of earning, however, depends on your writing skills and how fast you can handle a single project while still maintaining quality.
3. Plumber
Here is another industry that provides chances for relatively high earning rates for felons. The plumbing industry has no limitations to cases such as felony while you have the potential to earn substantially. While some states may prohibit felons from working as plumbers, several private companies are not willing to let a skillful plumber go irrespective of their status. The job does not require high qualification positions regarding the level of education; just a few skills and proficiency in your performance.
A newly employed plumber receives an average of $15 an hour while an experienced one should get $27 an hour. However, the prices may vary depending on the company that employs you.
4. Commercial Diver
Most people do not like exploring some forms of employment such as commercial diving. Besides the relatively high payment associated with the job, it is also adventurous and enjoyable. It does not involve complicated tasks, only merely getting under the water to perform tasks such as installation, inspection, and repair of various under-water structures. Training for this job does not take long as there are not many skills involved.
Employment for the job requires you to have scuba certification. You expect to earn an average of between $14 and $28 per hour.
5. Electrician
As one of the jobs that demand skills, securing a career as an electrician is effortless for you as a felon. If you have observed the set policies in your states such as the certification necessities, you can easily get a job in most of the electrical companies. Once you join the company, you might receive additional training on some of the electrical components involved in their processes.
As a new electrician, you expect to earn an average of $15 while the wage might rise to $28 per hour as you continually gain more experience. Most companies will require a vocational certificate before considering you for employment.
6. Rig’s Rotary Drill operator
Most people barely consider exhaustive jobs. However, most of the ex-convicts are determined towards enhancing their lifestyle after going through hardships in prison. Therefore, if you are a felon who is yearning for a considerable earning while you can provide labor enthusiastically, then working in an oil drill could be perfect for you. Working here means performing relatively hard tasks such as removal of rotary slips which are relatively heavy. The job, however, includes living in very isolated areas around the location of the oil wells.
The hourly wage rate for a newly employed is $15 while after some period, the rate might rise to $30 an hour. There are a few qualification terms required since the job is manually oriented.
7. Marketing specialist
Existing marketing strategies may not be effected solely without the inclusion of exceptional ideas from someone with a completely different approach other than that of professionals. These infrequent approaches might be the breakthrough to the success of an organization. For that reason, marketing has become readily available even to felony convicts. If you believe you can come up with creative ideas concerning marketing such as in online platforms, then here is a perfect opportunity for you.
The job might require you to have some level of education such as a diploma or a bachelor’s degree. You expect to earn between $16 to $34 an hour depending on the success of your marketing campaigns.
8. Engineering Technician
The broadest category of programs offered to prisoners includes technical works. Skills related to the field of engineering such as mechanical field are acquired by most if inmates. Jobs involving technical tasks in the engineering field are readily available to ex-cons while there are few documents required for employment. With an Associate Degree, as a felon, you are in a position to secure a job as a technician in a mechanical engineering workshop.
As a technician, you should be earning an hourly salary of $16 while you are new to the job. Later after gaining considerable experience, your salary may increase up to $28 an hour.
9. Information technology specialist
The IT industry offers numerous job opportunities for felons. This field has several categories that are suitable for skilled felons such as web development, database administrator, computer programmer, among many others. However, these kinds of jobs necessitate for a high level of skills while consequently, you expect relatively high wages in return. Several IT companies have been known to employ personnel with a felony history.
Other than the IT companies, several other organizations have an IT department which also provides opportunities for skillful felons. Salaries for such employees differ according to the category of job involved. For instance, an app developer receives $30 to $50 per hour, and a computer programmer receives an average of $35 to $60 an hour, a web developer earns between $30 to $60 an hour while a network support administrator earns $25 to $45 per hour.
10. Wind energy technician
The other suitable job along the engineering field is the technician in a wind energy firm. Most people dread this job since a technician does the installation and repair works; hence, they must climb on top of the turbine stands. Therefore, most firms tend to hire felons as technicians as long they exhibit willingness in their job performance.
To qualify as a wind energy technician, you must be a holder of an Associate degree. You will expect to earn an average of $18 as a starting salary while it may rise to $27 later in your career.
11. Carpenter
Among other essential skills taught in prisons, carpentry is one of the most preferred ones. The course entails simple techniques that are comprehensible to many. Most ex-cons tend to pursue woodworking after their jail term is over. One advantage of acquiring carpentry skills is that with sufficient capital, you can always start a workshop thereby rendering yourself self-employed.
While the rate of earning depends on your hard work, as a carpenter, you expect to earn $13 to $24 an hour depending on the number and the kind of projects you work on. Various states may have set some policies on felons owning workshops; you must identify these laws and make sure to abide by them.
12. Mechanic
The other highly-paying job that is available and suitable for felon convicts is a car mechanic. With a training program for less than a year, you can become a competent mechanic. Securing a job in a vehicles’ repair workshop will therefore not be challenging to you. Most mechanic workshops are privately owned which means that a particular state’s policies might not hinder the employment process in such premises. Some of the workshops are run by ex-cons who might be determined towards making the life of fellow ex-convicts comfortable.
A mechanic earns an average of $11 while after gaining more skills thereby handling more tasks, the wage might rise to $21 per hour. Apart from a vocational certificate, there could be no other documents expected from you by the employer.
13. Stock clerk
Finding a job as a stock clerk in either a warehouse, distribution center or any store requires you to show a certain level of honesty. That way, your employer will develop confidence in you thereby entrusting you with the commodities. While most employers in such areas will barely consider felons, if you show a high level of self-discipline, you might efficiently secure a job. This job requires hard work as you might be required to be in the stores at non-ordinary hours perhaps when there are loading and offloading work to be carried out.
With less educational qualifications required, you will be expecting to earn between $10 and $13 per hour. You are only expected to produce a high school certificate to secure a job as a stock clerk.
14. Barber
Cutting hair is a practice that most people require on a routine basis. This field, therefore, provides infinite opportunities for felons. With proficiency in hair cutting and excellent ideas concerning hairstyles, you can capture several customers who will be fascinated by your services. Acquiring a barbershop’s license might be tough in some states, but with the necessary help from bodies advocating for the rights of felons in the United States, you can easily secure one for your business.
A barber earns an average of $10 an hour while the rate continuously increases as the business grown regarding the number of customers. Apart from the necessary skills you gain from a simple training process, being a barber does not require any form of educational documents.
15. Dog trainer
Since dogs are the most fancied pets, finding a job in a dog training center is uncomplicated. Most of such centers offer free training to their new employees from where they are to assume their responsibility at a considerable salary rate. Working as a dog trainer can be thrilling, besides earning you a considerable amount, since you will spend time with the favorite animal among the humankind. Several dog training centers do not limit chances of employment as they consider non-violent felons as well.
On average, as a dog trainer, you can earn around $8 to $10 an hour. The job also provides opportunities for self-employment where you can open a training center yourself.
16. Truck driver
Acquiring a job as a truck driver handling deliveries can be easy for non-violent felon more so if you are not involved in a theft or intoxicated driving case. Besides the ease of finding, the job has an auspicious rate of salary. With proper driving skills, employers will barely hesitate to hire you after taking you through attest irrespective of whether you are a felon ex-con or not.
The delivery job pays an average amount of $9.74 to $17.75 depending on the kind of deliveries to undertake. You are required to produce a valid driving license whenever you are seeking for a job as a driver.
17. Construction laborer
Construction labor does not require any form of educational achievement except the necessary skills related to the construction works. For that reason, jobs in this field are available to felons especially those who might have failed to qualify for a license to participate in other forms of businesses. No policies are restricting the kind of people who can provide such services.
Tasks you expect assigned to you include cleaning, trench digging, and few basic constructions works using simple tools. A construction laborer earns an average of between $11 and $19 hourly.
18. Welder
The other ordinary skill taught in most prisons is welding. Several construction firms and manufacturing companies regularly require services of a welder. Most of these organizations are ready to hire anybody with welding skills including felons. A felon might have to undergo additional training which takes only a few months to supplement the skills taught in prison.
Most companies will pay a welder between $13 and $21 an hour. Employment terms might include permanent employment where the felon works only for that company, or contract basis permitting the welder to work for several companies.
19. Cook
Hotels and restaurants provide job opportunities for felons with cooking skills. Due to the high demand of cooks who can deliver quality services, if you can prove a worth cook, then unquestionably there is a chance for you. Most restaurants do not track your records, and hence there are increased chances of getting a job as a felon.
A cook expects to earn around $10 an hour which may vary depending on the restaurant or the hotel employing you. You might need to attend cooking training sessions to foster your cooking abilities.
Conclusion
Even with a felony in your background records, it is as easy to secure a job in a government institution as it is in a private one. Generally, while some organization would not prefer felonies as they consider it as a spoiler to their reputation, felony is not a reason for failing in a job interview in most of the organizations. Therefore, you should not be anxious about finding a job due to your convict status. If you can offer skills to a specific company, seek a job and be persistent even though you fail to acquire one after a few attempts.