How much education do you think you need to make a decent buck? While it’s true that there are a good number of jobs out there that require a college degree (or more), it’s also true that a few blue collar jobs are also fiercely competitive when it comes to compensation.
Today, we’ll be taking a glimpse at those highly paid blue collar fields, and maybe even give you some inspiration for your next job search.
Defining Blue Collar Work
Before we jump into the jobs themselves, we’ll need to make sure we’re on the same page when it comes to defining what “blue collar” work really is. Specifically, blue collar work takes place in a non-office setting. This includes construction sites, production lines — places where experts like the workers’ comp attorneys at Kampf Schiavone & Associates might say you’re at greater risk for an on-the-job accident.
Blue collar work is most often of the manual variety, and will see employees operating machinery, driving large vehicles, etc. It’s not a denotation of skill, however, and it’s important to keep in mind that the moniker “blue collar” doesn’t necessarily mean that a job is low paying, as we’ll be going over next.
Blue Collar Jobs That Pay Well
According to information from job search board Indeed, the ten highest-paying blue collar jobs are as follows:
- Power Plant Operators — $39.92/hr
- Powerhouse/Relay Repairers — $38.48/hr
- Elevator Installers/Repairers — $38.36/hr
- Gas Plant Operators — $34.36/hr
- Locomotive Engineers — $32.17/hr
- Radio/Telecom Equipment Installers — $26.97/hr
- Boilermakers — $26.36/hr
- Construction/Building Inspectors — $24.17/hr
- Power-Line Installers/Repairers — $19.57/hr
- Structural Iron/Steel Workers — $16.83/hr
While these figures are all hourly, the information falls in line with a similar list of high-paying blue collar jobs from Business Insider. This list details 30 of the top paying blue collar jobs in the US based on their median annual salaries, and you’ll see many of the same fields from the Indeed listing represented here as well.
Finding Your Next Job
Perhaps one of these blue collar occupations is right up your alley? You’ll need to make sure you’re prepared to put your best foot forward trying to get that new job. You may, for example, need a bit of vocational to make a smooth transition to one of these jobs (even though many don’t require a college degree).
What’s more, say experts like Los Angeles workplace harassment attorney Jeremy Pasternak, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with what sort of environment and working conditions await at whatever position you’re seeking. Heading into a toxic workplace is not a recipe for a stable career, regardless of how much you’re getting paid, so be sure to research every job thoroughly!