15 jobs that pay $30 an hour

By Debra Auerbach, CareerBuilder writer

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Want to know some fun facts about the number 30? Four months of the year have 30 days. A U.S. senator must be 30 years or older in order to serve in the position. Thirty is the number of minutes in a half hour, and it's a common length for TV programs. The standard size of a basketball in the NBA is about 30 inches in circumference.
You may or may not find those facts interesting, but here's a fact about 30 that will surely get your attention. The following 15 jobs pay around $30 an hour:
1. Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records. They ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time. They also assess financial operations and work to help ensure that organizations run efficiently.*
Typical education level needed to enter occupation: Bachelor's degree
Median hourly pay: $30.55
2. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians operate and maintain equipment used in developing, testing and producing new aircraft and spacecraft. Increasingly, these workers are using computer-based modeling and simulation tools and processes in their work.
Typical education level: Associate degree
Median hourly pay: $29.58
3. Arbitrators, mediators and conciliators help resolve conflicts outside of the court system by facilitating negotiation and dialogue between disputing parties.
Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
Median hourly pay: $29.46
4. Chiropractors treat patients with health problems related to their nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. They use spinal adjustments, manipulation and other techniques to manage patients' health concerns, such as back and neck pain.
Typical education level: Doctoral or professional degree
Median hourly pay: $31.81
5. Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians, including vascular technologists, operate special imaging equipment to create images or conduct tests. The images and test results help physicians assess and diagnose medical conditions. Some technologists assist physicians and surgeons during surgical procedures.
Typical education level: Associate degree
Median hourly pay: $29.02
6. Environmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. They may clean up polluted areas, advise policy makers or work with industry to reduce waste.
Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
Median hourly pay: $30.56
7. Fashion designers create original clothing, accessories and footwear. They sketch designs, select fabrics and patterns, and give instructions on how to make the products they designed.
Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
Median hourly pay: $30.22
8. Insurance underwriters decide whether to provide insurance and under what terms. They evaluate insurance applications and determine coverage amounts and premiums.
Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
Median hourly pay: $30.22
9. Landscape architects plan and design land areas for parks, recreational facilities, private homes, campuses and other open spaces.
Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
Median hourly pay: $30.86
10. Microbiologists study microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi and some types of parasites. They try to understand how these organisms live, grow and interact with their environments.
Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
Median hourly pay: $31.86
11. Multimedia artists and animators create animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games and other forms of media.
Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
Median hourly pay: $29.50
12. Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.
Typical education level: Associate degree
Median hourly pay: $31.48
13. Technical writers, also known as technical communicators, prepare instruction manuals, journal articles and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. They also develop, gather and disseminate technical information among customers, designers and manufacturers.
Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
Median hourly pay: $31.49
14. Urban and regional planners develop plans and programs for the use of land. Their plans help create communities, accommodate population growth and revitalize physical facilities in towns, cities, counties and metropolitan areas.
Typical education level: Master's degree
Median hourly pay: $31.36
15. Web developers design and create websites. They are responsible for the overall look of the site. They are also responsible for the site's technical aspects, such as performance and capacity, which are measures of a website's speed and how much traffic the site can handle. They also may create content for the site.
Typical education level: Associate degree
Median hourly pay: $30.05