Is 15 Hours A Week Part-time? Meaning & High-Paying PT Jobs

Wondering if working 15 hours a week can be considered part-time? Well, you are not wrong in that train of thought. 

In the United States of America, an employee is considered a part-timer when working less than 35 hours per week. 

However, with so many part-timers working over 35 hours due to overtime or taking on extra jobs, it can be unclear whether you work full-time or part-time. 

Do you work less than 15 hours a week and wonder if it is a part-time job? This article helps you understand all you need to know about being a part-timer. 

What are part-time hours?

Part-time hours are hours an employee spends on a job that do not exceed 35 hours. The number of hours for part-timers varies according to the employee’s industry. 

However, most part-time employees work an average of 20-30 hours per week. You can consider yourself a part-time worker by working 1-34 hours weekly.

You are considered a full-time employee when you regularly exceed 35 hours per week.

What is the maximum number of hours you can work part-time? 

The maximum time you can work part-time for a job is 30 to 35 hours. However, this does not account for overtime. Also, it does not account for working two part-time jobs. 

IS 15 HOURS A WEEK PART-TIME - LMSHERO

Note that there is no minimum number of hours you can work part-time. This means that even if you work 2 to 15 hours per week, you can still consider yourself a part-time worker. 

Do part-time jobs offer health insurance or benefits?

Yes, some part-time jobs offer employees benefits like health insurance at the employer’s discretion. 

This means your employer can choose to offer you health insurance or not, as federal law does not require that employers give part-time workers health insurance.

Do part-time jobs offer company benefits?

Yes, part-time jobs may also offer employees work benefits based on the employer’s discretion.

These benefits include paid time off, expense reimbursements, statutory holiday pay, health insurance, and/or a pension (401k).

However, employers are not required by law to offer these benefits to you. Your employer can choose the terms and types of benefit packages you get and if you’re eligible for them.

Generally, full-time and part-time workers are entitled to national holidays and receive pay for those days without working. Yet, this only applies to holidays your employer recognizes as national holidays. 

What part-time jobs pay well?

From being a bartender to a massage therapist, personal care assistant, or physical therapist, here are some of the most lucrative jobs you can do as a part-timer.

1. Dental therapist

With an average hourly rate of $37, being a dental therapist remains one of the best-paid part-time jobs.

Even better, many dental practices do not operate on weekends and close early, giving you a good work-life balance.

Your duty as a dental therapist will be to thoroughly clean the patient’s teeth, removing tartar, stains, and plaque. This position requires at least an associate’s degree.

2. Cook

Being a cook is a great part-time job since restaurants are frequently open during weekends and evenings.

You can work as a restaurant cook without a college degree. However, to succeed in this job, you must thoroughly understand cooking. 

Restaurant cooks without professional training earn an average hourly pay of $13.

However, this job will fetch great pay at high-end restaurants if you have professional training and can prepare specialty cuisines.

3. Healthcare assistant

Healthcare assistants may work at a group home or a nursing facility’s day service program.

With an average hourly pay of $13, healthcare aides assist patients with chronic illnesses in their daily activities. 

These daily activities may include taking baths, using their medicine, making the bed, cleaning after themselves, and running errands.

4. Bartender

If you’re skilled at mixing drinks, this might be a great side job, especially if you don’t mind working weekends and late nights. 

This is because bars are usually bustling during these periods. Bartenders who work busy hours receive their wages and can make extra by getting customer tips.

The average hourly pay for bartenders in the United States is $12.

5. Physical therapist

Being a physical therapist assistant offers an average hourly pay of $25. A license or certification and an associate’s degree from a recognized institution usually are necessary to become a physical therapist. 

It might also entail employment at a clinic for physical therapists or a hospital.

6. Landscaping

With an average hourly salary of $16, landscapers and groundskeepers maintain the appearance and health of gardens and lawns.

Places where the services of a landscaper are needed include private houses, golf courses, retirement homes, parks, office buildings, cemeteries, and college campuses.

Most workers in this position learn on the job, so formal education is not usually required. Additionally, the job rarely requires nighttime or weekend work.

7. Massage therapist

A massage therapist earns an average hourly wage of $21 and works in settings similar to that of a chiropractor. 

However, many massage therapists are self-employed and perform private home calls. This makes it a top part-time job as it offers enough flexibility.

8. Personal care assistants

Just like healthcare assistants, homecare assistants also earn an average hourly rate of $13. However, they mainly work in the home of the patient.

Home health assistant jobs are in high demand and serve as great part-time gigs.

Like health care orderlies, personal care assistants help patients aged 65 or with chronic disease or disability perform tasks around the home. 

These tasks include cleaning, running errands, cooking, and helping with other chores.

Because of the hours involved in being a personal care assistant, you can service the homes of numerous clients to increase your earnings.

Can part-time employees collect unemployment benefits? 

Yes, if you quit your part-time job or switch from full-time to part-time work, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. 

However, when calculating your benefits, most state unemployment offices will consider your part-time job. 

This means that as a part-time worker, you will receive fewer benefits than someone who is completely unemployed.

Are part-time employees eligible for overtime?

You are entitled to overtime compensation as a part-time employee. Overtime work is defined as work that extends beyond a part-time employee’s regular daily working hours. 

The payout is based on whether your hours exceed those of a comparable full-time employee.

FAQs

Which part-time job is best for students?

The best part-time jobs students can mix with their studies and earn a decent wage include barista jobs, waiting tables, or personal care assistant jobs

Can part-timers earn higher than full-time workers?

Although they earn 29.3% less per hour than full-time workers, part-time workers can occasionally earn more. This is especially true if you can balance many jobs.

Conclusion

Part-time jobs typically mean jobs where you work fewer hours than a full-time job. You are considered a part-time worker if your hours are below 35. 

Although there are instances whereby your employer requires that you work extra hours, in these cases, you are entitled to pay for your overtime and remain a part-timer. 

Also, note that no minimum hours exist for part-timers as employers determine hours. Yet, this makes the flexible schedule easier to take on more jobs or receive welfare benefits. 

Working part-time makes learning the technical skills needed to get better jobs easier. It also makes it easier for you to work another part-time job. 

Finally, while taking another job with your part-time job seems like a great idea, it can be stressful. Learn how to effectively manage your part-time job with even a full-time job

I hope you found this article helpful. Thanks for reading.