20 Jobs that Earn $20 an Hour

Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer

Watch the news for 30 minutes and you'll quickly lose perspective of the value of a dollar. That idea might seem paradoxical in this recession where every dollar counts, but think about the figures we're hearing about: trillion dollar deficit, $800 billion stimulus, 7,000 point drop in the Dow. That's a lot of zeros.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess your bank account doesn't have that many digits in it. In fact, if it does, you're probably paying someone to read this article to you.

Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer

Watch the news for 30 minutes and you'll quickly lose perspective of the value of a dollar. That idea might seem paradoxical in this recession where every dollar counts, but think about the figures we're hearing about: trillion dollar deficit, $800 billion stimulus, 7,000 point drop in the Dow. That's a lot of zeros.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess your bank account doesn't have that many digits in it. In fact, if it does, you're probably paying someone to read this article to you.

For the rest of us who don't have a billion dollars in the bank and are just happy to have more money coming in than going out (even if barely), we need to reevaluate the value of a dollar. Or, in this instance, the value of $20.

In the age of astronomical governmental spending and foreclosures, our salaries can seem like insignificant sums in the grand scheme of things. So to give you an idea of what occupations us "regular people" earn, here are 20 jobs that pay a median hourly wage of $20, which works out to $41,600 annually based on a 40-hour workweek.

Here are 20 jobs that earn $20 per hour:

1. Carpet Installers

What they do: As their name implies, carpet installers prepare surfaces for carpet and then cut the pieces into the appropriate size for the room and ensure it's properly installed.

Hourly median earning: $20.00*

2. Massage Therapists

What they do: Massage therapists use their training in massage to help patients with pain, tension or other physical ailments.

Hourly median earning: $20.00

3. Outside Collector

What they do: Outside collectors work on behalf of an organization to contact customers and clients who are delinquent in paying their bills.

Hourly median earning: $20.00

4. Vocational Training Instructor

What they do: Vocational training instructors educate students in vocational fields, often in vocational schools or other postsecondary institutions.

Hourly median earning: $20.02

5. Truck Mechanic

What they do: Truck mechanics service large diesel trucks (think big rigs, not pick-up) and ensure they're working properly.

Hourly median earning: $20.04

6. Tax Examiners, Collectors and Revenue Agents

What they do: Tax examiners, collectors and revenue agents each have specific duties, but all include ensuring that the government collects all the money it is owed and that people are handling their taxes properly.

Hourly median earning: $20.05

7. Disc Jockeys

What they do: At your wedding, class reunion or bar- and bat-mitzvah, disc jockeys play music that keeps everyone dancing and having a good time.

Hourly median earning: $20.11

8. Funeral Directors

What they do: When families are arranging funerals, the director sees that their wishes are carried out and oversees all tasks related to preparing the services.

Hourly median earning: $20.10

9. Religious Activities and Education Directors

What they do: Religious activities and education directors are responsible for a church or religious group's membership drives, outings and other interactive events.

Hourly median earning: $20.11

10. Counselors

What they do: Counselors can work in a variety of specializations to address problems in marriages, families, school, at work or with mental health issues.

Hourly median earning: $20.19

Next: 10 More Jobs That Make $20/Hour >>

*Salary information based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and from CBSalary.com.

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.