10 Jobs That Pay $30 an Hour

by Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer

Remember when you got your first job and realized one movie ticket was equal to one hour of work or that a pair of shoes was an entire workday? Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped looking at our paychecks as units of time and started focusing on how much we deposit in the bank.

If you haven't calculated your hourly pay in a while, now might be a good time crunch some numbers and see what you're bringing home each day. The median household salary is $48,201, according to the 2006 U.S. Census Bureau report. This makes the average hourly rate $23.17 based on a 40-hour workweek.

We've made a list of the top 20 jobs that earn $30 per hour, along with their median annual salary, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

1. Electronics engineers, except computers - $38.97/hour*
Electronics engineers create a variety of electronics and monitor their manufacturing. They are involved in electronics of all sizes and functions, from personal and home audio equipment to broadcast systems.
Median annual salary: $81,050

2. Computer applications software engineers - $38.36/hour
Computer applications software engineers create or improve programs and software in response to user needs. Their applications might be bundled with other software or they might be created specifically for a client's private use.
Median annual salary: $79,780

3. Chemical engineers - $37.91/hour
Chemical engineers solve problems related to using or manufacturing chemicals, whether it's in the machinery used in the production or in materials created with the chemicals.
Median annual salary: $78,860

4. Electrical engineers - $36.50/hour
Electrical engineers develop electrical equipment, such as a building's lighting and wiring or cars and airplanes.
Median annual salary: $75,930

5. Administrative law judges, adjudicators and hearing officers - $34.90/hour
Administrative law judges, adjudicators and hearing officers preside over court proceedings that relate to a specific government agency. Their cases can involve everything from health code violations to workplace discrimination.
Median annual salary: $72,600

6. Mechanical engineers - $33.58/hour
Mechanical engineers are involved in the creation of new tools, machines and components, from the concept's inception to the production and testing stages.
Median annual salary: $69,850

7. Civil engineers - $32.98/hour
Civil engineers draw up plans for roads, airports and other public goods and oversee their construction.
Median annual salary: $68,600

8. Management analysts - $32.72/hour
Management analysts look at a company's structure and business plans for ways to improve revenue and productivity.
Median annual salary: $68,050

9. Personal financial advisers - $31.79/hour
Personal financial advisers work with individuals to asses their financial situation and help them reach certain goals, which can be anywhere from establishing a retirement fund to deciding the best investment options.
Median annual salary: $66,120

10. Operations research analysts - $31.08/hour
Operations research analysts are brought into businesses and organizations to identify, investigate and solve logistics problems through the use of statistical analysis and computer programs. The type of problems can vary depending on the nature of the business, whether it's a production factory or the military.
Median annual salary: $64,650

*All salary information based on BLS data.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

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