Best Jobs for Felons: High-Paying Careers and Second Chance Opportunities

You’d be surprised how many people with a record keep their head down because they think no good job wants them. That’s a myth. Second chances might not be everywhere, but more options are popping up each year—and some pay better than you think. Forget old stereotypes about felons just mopping floors or working graveyard shifts. Today it isn’t just about surviving. There are real ways to find solid, respectable work and even build a career. Let’s break down what’s possible and talk about some real talk success tips.

How Some Jobs Stand Out for Felons

Not all industries treat someone with a record the same. Fast food is fine if you need cash fast, but it won’t get you far. Instead, the best jobs for felons tend to have three things in common: huge demand, skills over paper degrees, and employers with open minds. Truck driving? Always hiring, pays decently, and nearly every route is hurting for workers. The same goes for some construction gigs—framers, roofers, painters—sure, it’s tough work, but you earn more the longer you stick with it. Then there’s skilled trades. People talk about welders like they’re unicorns these days. A certificate and solid work ethic will get you a foot in the door at fabrication shops, shipyards, and refineries. Even HVAC technicians and electricians are in high demand, and with some community colleges and trade schools not checking background at entry, this pathway actually works.

Let’s look at the money. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median pay for truck drivers is about $51,000 a year. Carpenters come in around $48,000. Electricians, a whopping $60,000 if you stick with it past your apprentice years. That’s not chump change. And it’s not just trades—delivery driving jobs like Amazon DSPs, local courier companies, and moving companies often overlook non-violent felonies if you’ve got a clean driving record since release.

Restaurants and hospitality have always had a mix of people with records. The pay varies, but bartending, back of house, or running your own food truck has a low barrier for entry. Tech is another story. It sounds like a closed door, but you’d be surprised. As long as your offense wasn’t computer-related, freelance coding gigs, web design, and digital marketing don’t even require degrees, just skills—and there are dozens of self-taught stories out there.

Industries Known for Second Chances

Some industries are loud and proud about hiring people with records. Manufacturing is top of the list. Those huge factories in the Midwest and South? Many have "ban the box" policies, where background checks come last instead of first. That means a great interview makes all the difference. Food production, warehouses, and shipping hubs like UPS and FedEx sometimes run special hiring days just for returning citizens. Healthcare is less obvious, but not all jobs require direct patient care—the cleaning crew, kitchen, or facilities maintenance often welcome applicants with records. And don’t sleep on landscaping, pest control, and moving companies; many owners have been in your shoes.

One stat jumps out: according to the Prison Policy Initiative, 60% of formerly incarcerated people are jobless within a year of release. Why? Some give up. Some can’t find a way in. But there are way more understaffed jobs than most people realize. The key is to look at fields desperate for workers. Even gig jobs like ride-share or food delivery can get your feet back under you, especially if you live somewhere with a labor shortage. Some states let felons get their guard card to become security officers. It might not be glamorous, but the pay beats retail, and the schedule can work with family commitments. Trucking is the shining example. More than half of the nation’s trucking companies will look at applicants with past felonies, provided the offense wasn’t something like vehicle theft or drug trafficking in a truck.

Here’s a quick look at some of the numbers for popular felon-friendly jobs:

Keep in mind, some jobs are state-dependent. For example, real estate is tough to get into as a felon because of licensing. But florists, barbers, and mechanics are friendlier roads—especially in states pushing for expungement or “Clean Slate” laws.

For High Pay: Top Jobs That Don’t Ask for a Perfect Record

Let’s cut to the chase—everyone wants the job that pays. For someone with a record, these are the heavy hitters. Number one has to be long-haul truck driving. Plenty of trucking school recruiters specifically target returning citizens. Some national carriers will even help you pay for CDL training. Welders come next, because it’s a mix of high skill, gritty work, and employers who care more about what you can do today than where you’ve been. Commercial divers—yes, that’s a thing if you’re not claustrophobic—can pull over $70,000 a year within a few years of starting. HVAC techs, industrial mechanics, and pipefitters, it’s all about figuring out how things work and keeping them running.

Now, if you don’t want to get your hands dirty, sales is surprisingly open. Commission-only jobs scare folks, but if you can hustle, you write your own check. Car sales, life insurance, and some B2B (business-to-business) telemarketing companies care about your numbers, not your past. It’s stressful, fast-paced, and takes a thick skin, but at the end of the month, your bank account doesn’t care what you did before, just whether you hit your targets. Believe it or not, some tech jobs don’t ask about criminal history at all. Freelancers on sites like Upwork or Fiverr get gigs without anyone running a background check. Social media management is a sweet spot for those with digital smarts. Some content creators and video editors start as side hustles and turn into $50k+ gigs, all on reputation.

Don’t forget remote jobs. Companies desperate for customer service reps, data entry, or software QA testers often hire without meeting you in person—sometimes even before a check. They want reliability and tech skills over squeaky-clean records. That’s the loophole: if you’re good and show up, you can carve a spot out for yourself almost anywhere.

Tips & Strategies for Landing the Best Felon-Friendly Jobs

Here’s where real stories come out. The guys getting jobs aren’t just lucky. They use smart moves that actually work. First, target companies that have made a public pledge to second chance hiring—check websites like Honest Jobs, or 70 Million Jobs. Fill out online job profiles but don’t rely on those alone. Walk in person if possible—face-to-face changes how people see you. Dress one notch up from the role. If everyone’s in jeans, wear khakis and a polo. Don’t make your record the focus, but don’t hide it if asked. “Yes, I made a mistake, here’s what I learned, and here’s how I’ve changed—now I want to deliver for you.”

Work on your elevator pitch. Just 30 seconds: who you are, what you can do, and why you show up every day. If you can, get a letter from a mentor or nonprofit that helped you on release—it makes a difference. Try day labor staffing agencies to start, but always work toward long-term. Don’t be surprised if your first job isn’t great. Use it as a stepping stone. Show up early, volunteer for the rough shifts, and never badmouth. The best opportunities sometimes come from people seeing your attitude, not your resume.

Document your progress. Track what you learn. Take photos of your work if you build or repair things. List certifications on your phone or LinkedIn. That last one’s big—a short, clear LinkedIn with zero excuses and solid, specific skills can open doors. People message about jobs, even if you’ve got a record, if you sound professional and passionate. Don’t ignore nonprofits—groups like Goodwill, the Fortune Society, and local reentry coalitions sometimes have inside info about which companies just opened second chance hiring and have less competition.

Finally—and it sounds cliché—but don’t give up. The average returning citizen applies for six times as many jobs before landing one. Persistence is your secret weapon. And every time you get told no, remember, the right place is out there and needs someone just like you—someone hungry, humble, and ready for a real shot.

If you want something more than survival wages, build skills in your downtime. Free courses on YouTube or Coursera cover trades, digital skills, and even soft skills like interviewing. Ask for feedback when you get rejected. That stuff feels rough but helps you fine-tune your approach.

So, what is the best jobs for felons right now? It’s the one where you start, show up, and grind your way past the first six months. Each step puts distance between you and your past, giving you options you’d never see standing still.