What jobs can felons not get?

Asked by: Prof. Sarina Walker III  |  Last update: April 25, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (32 votes)

Felons often cannot get jobs requiring professional licenses (like doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses, financial advisors), roles with significant public trust or security (law enforcement, military, government, airline pilots), or jobs handling vulnerable populations (childcare, elder care) or sensitive materials (HAZMAT, high-level finance) due to state/federal laws, federal regulations, and employer risk aversion, though exceptions exist depending on the crime, time passed, and state.

What can felons not do in the US?

A convicted felon may face restrictions on voting, firearm ownership, and traveling abroad. Convicted felons often experience challenges in the workforce. Certain professions, especially those involving law enforcement, working with children, or security, may be off-limits.

What jobs hire felons in AZ?

In Arizona, many companies hire felons, especially in sectors like construction, hospitality, warehousing, logistics, retail, and service industries, with resources like Arizona@Work connecting job seekers with employers such as UPS, Progressive Roofing, Safeway, and various hotel chains; focus on jobs in labor, cleaning, maintenance, and skilled trades, leveraging local employment centers and online platforms like Indeed and ZipRecruiter for "felony-friendly" listings. 

What careers can I do with a felony?

Jobs for felons are available in industries like construction, manufacturing, food service, warehousing, and trades, focusing on skills, work ethic, and reliability, with specific companies and job boards like Indeed and ZipRecruiter and Honest Jobs connecting individuals to "second chance" employers. Vocational training in areas like welding, carpentry, or tech can significantly improve prospects, while networking and utilizing re-entry programs are key strategies. 

How difficult is it for a convicted felon to get a job?

Yes, getting a job with a felony conviction is often harder due to stigma, legal restrictions in certain fields (like healthcare, education, finance), and employer concerns about risk, but it's not impossible; success often hinges on the felony's nature, how long ago it was, "Ban the Box" laws, and proactive strategies like knowing your record, highlighting transferable skills, and seeking fair-chance employers. 

How Can I Get A Job As A Convicted Felon?

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What jobs do not accept felons?

While there's no universal "forbidden" list, felons often face significant barriers in jobs requiring licenses (teaching, law, healthcare), government roles (police, security clearance), finance (banking, trading), transportation (pilots, conductors), and any position involving vulnerable populations (children, elderly), with restrictions varying by state and the nature of the conviction, especially for crimes related to honesty, violence, or substance abuse. 

What is the hardest background check to pass?

The hardest background checks are typically for high-security government roles (like Top Secret clearance), involving deep dives into finances, criminal history, personal references, and lifestyle, often requiring interviews with associates; these are far more stringent than standard employment checks and focus on trustworthiness for sensitive information access, extending to personal habits, foreign contacts, and potential vulnerabilities.
 

What state hires felons the most?

These Are the States Most Likely to Hire Former Felons

  • Massachusetts.
  • Montana.
  • Nevada.
  • New Hampshire.
  • New Mexico.
  • New York.
  • Texas.
  • Washington.

What job makes $10,000 a month without a degree?

You can earn $10,000 a month without a degree in high-skill trades (elevator tech, electrician), sales (solar, real estate, insurance), specialized trucking (owner-operator), tech roles (web dev, drone pilot), or by starting your own business/freelancing in areas like content creation or digital marketing, often requiring specialized training, certifications, or strong commission-based performance rather than a traditional degree. 

What's the best trade for a felon?

While getting a job depends on various factors, some industries are more open to hiring individuals with a record: Construction and skilled trades: Carpenters, plumbers, welders, and electricians are in demand, and employers often focus on skills and experience.

Does Amazon hire felons in AZ?

Individual circumstances are critical. Amazon does not exclude felons from applying or working for the company.

What is the easiest job but pays good?

The "easiest" high-paying jobs often involve leveraging existing skills like driving (Truck Driver, Chauffeur) or administration (Virtual Assistant, HR Assistant), specialized trades (Electrician, HVAC Tech) with good training, or remote roles in tech support/IT Help Desk, leveraging specific, in-demand skills (Medical Coding, SEO) without requiring advanced degrees, though "easy" is subjective and often means less physical strain or stress rather than zero effort, with some roles like Sales/Management or Insurance Broking becoming easier once established. 

What's the worst felony you can get?

The "worst" felony is typically a Capital Felony, often defined as premeditated murder, treason, or espionage, carrying penalties of life imprisonment or the death penalty, though federal systems classify the most severe as Class A felonies, which also include murder, terrorism, and large-scale drug trafficking, punishable by life in prison or the death penalty. Specifics vary by state, but generally, the most serious crimes (like first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault, arson causing death) fall into the highest categories (Class A, First Degree, Capital). 

Can felons go on a cruise?

Yes, a felon can often go on a cruise, but it depends heavily on the type of felony, the specific cruise line's policy, and the countries visited, as major lines perform background checks and may deny boarding for violent or sexual offenses, while countries like Canada or Australia have strict entry rules for any criminal record, requiring direct inquiry with the cruise line and possibly travel insurance. 

Does a felony charge ruin your life?

A felony conviction doesn't always "ruin" a life but creates significant, long-lasting barriers, impacting employment, housing, voting, gun rights, and professional licenses, alongside social stigma, making rebuilding challenging but often possible, especially with efforts towards rehabilitation, legal help, and sometimes expungement or pardon. The severity depends on the crime, jurisdiction, and individual circumstances, but life-altering collateral consequences are common long after the sentence ends. 

Can a felon hold a government job?

Yes, you can work for the Federal Government if you have a criminal record and were formerly incarcerated. People with criminal records are eligible to apply to most federal jobs, however there are some exceptions.

What jobs pay $2000 a day?

Earning $2,000 daily usually involves high-income skills or scaling businesses, with options like specialized freelancing (consulting, web design, high-ticket sales), digital products (courses, printables), e-commerce (dropshipping, flipping), or high-demand gig work (AI training, specialized rentals), often requiring significant upfront effort or existing expertise to reach that level quickly, with some options taking months or years to become consistent. 

Who makes $30 an hour without a degree?

Many skilled trades (electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, welders), tech roles (IT support, data analysts), healthcare support (PT assistants, sonographers), and logistics/transportation (truck drivers, distribution managers, air traffic controllers) offer $30/hour or more without a traditional degree, often requiring certifications, apprenticeships, or on-the-job training. Roles in sales (real estate), finance (loan officers, underwriters), and specialized services (elevator mechanics, home inspectors) also provide pathways to this wage. 

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

Yes, jobs paying $400,000 without a degree exist, notably Walmart Supercenter Managers, who can earn that much with bonuses and stock, but other paths include high-stakes sales, software development, commercial real estate, skilled trades (like power plant operators), and successful entrepreneurship/influencing, all requiring expertise and performance over formal education. 

What companies are felon friendly?

Many large companies in sectors like food service (McDonald's, KFC, TGI Fridays), retail (Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, Dollar Tree), logistics (UPS, FedEx, J.B. Hunt), and some tech (IBM, Apple, AT&T) are known to hire individuals with felony records, often valuing skills and reliability over background, with some even having specific "second-chance" hiring programs, but decisions remain case-by-case. Industries like construction, manufacturing, and hospitality also frequently offer opportunities, alongside non-profits like Goodwill and The Salvation Army.
 

Can I get hired at Amazon if I have a felony?

Yes, Amazon does hire people with felony convictions, but it's on a case-by-case basis, depending on the crime's nature, how long ago it was, and the specific job's requirements, with older, non-violent offenses often viewed more favorably than recent, serious ones, though theft or violent felonies can be disqualifying, especially for roles requiring high trust or driving. 

Does Dollar Tree hire felons?

Will dollar tree hire me if I'm a felon? You should be fine. You may run into problems if you apply for any management positions. Yes, Dollar Tree now does a background check so if you have any convictions, you will not pass the background check.

What looks bad on a background check?

Things that look bad on a background check include criminal records (especially job-related offenses), significant inconsistencies on resumes (like falsified degrees or job titles), frequent job hopping, unexplained employment gaps, poor credit (for financial roles), negative social media activity (hate speech, unprofessionalism), and failed drug/driving tests, all suggesting dishonesty, instability, or risk to the employer. 

What is the 10 second rule in an interview?

The "10-second rule in an interview" refers to two main concepts: the first impression you make upon entering (appearance, greeting, confidence) and the time it takes for a recruiter to screen your resume (they often decide in under 10 seconds). It also applies to the silence during the interview, where interviewers should wait 10 seconds before rescuing a candidate who pauses, allowing them time to think, while candidates should aim to deliver clear, impactful information quickly. 

What are red flags in a background check?

Common red flags on a background check include criminal records, false information on a résumé, poor credit history, and negative employment references.