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Most individuals are broadly conscious of the idea of a “blue-collar job,” but it surely’s removed from completely understood.
Blue-collar jobs are normally characterised as strains of employment that primarily contain guide labor. The time period itself will get its title from the “blue collar” of denim shirts—a standard uniform for industrial and different guide jobs.
What folks are inclined to misunderstand, nonetheless, is simply how expert many of those professions are. Sure, some blue-collar jobs don’t demand a lot training or specialised skills, however many others require extremely expert and skilled employees.
Equally, blue-collar jobs are often stereotyped as providing a lot decrease pay than their white-collar counterparts. Whereas true at occasions, blue-collar jobs can, in reality, pay fairly properly.
Right this moment, I’m going to debate a few of immediately’s highest-paying blue-collar jobs. I’ll cowl how a lot they pay, the place the work is in style, and what necessities you may want to interrupt into every career.
Blue-Collar Jobs That Pay Effectively
The wages for these jobs all come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Might 2023 Nationwide Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates—the newest info out there.
The numbers proven listed below are the imply (aka common) wage for every occupation. Each blue-collar job listed on this article has an annual imply wage that’s above the annual imply wage for all occupations—$65,470 as of the BLS’s Might 2023 knowledge.
I’ve additionally included the BLS’s estimates for the variety of folks employed inside every occupation.
11. Structural Iron and Metal Staff
- 2023 imply annual wage: $68,220
- 2023 employment: 63,780
Not a job for the slight of buff, structural iron and metal employees must elevate, place, and unite metal beams, columns, and different structural members. Some employees additionally erect metallic storage tanks or assemble metallic buildings. (Word: This class of employment is separate from reinforcing iron and rebar employees.)
Whereas it may be a harmful job, these employees nonetheless are inclined to report solely common stress ranges. And in alternate for this work, the imply annual wage is $68,220, per BLS knowledge—just a few thousand {dollars} per 12 months greater than the imply wage for all occupations. The states with the very best focus of those jobs are South Dakota, Nebraska, Arizona, Louisiana, and Indiana.
You don’t want a school diploma to enter this subject; jobs right here sometimes require only a highschool diploma. However you’ll sometimes want some earlier work-related expertise or abilities. An apprenticeship (of between three to 4 years) tends to be the easiest way to get began. Remember the fact that you may want to affix a union to qualify for an apprenticeship.
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10. Make-up Artists, Theatrical and Efficiency
- 2023 imply annual wage: $68,590
- 2023 employment: 4,130
Make-up artists won’t sound like blue-collar work to some, particularly when in comparison with backbreaking jobs like iron and metal employees. However it’s very a lot guide labor—a real behind-the-scenes occupation that helps make viewing leisure so … properly, entertaining.
The make-up artists on this class aren’t prepping blushing brides or doing different salon work, nonetheless. These are particularly theatrical and efficiency make-up artists, which apply make-up to performers, corresponding to these in tv and movement photos. This includes all kinds of labor, from making the native information anchor somewhat extra enticing to turning actors into zombies, aliens, and different sci-fi creatures.
Unsurprisingly, these employees are paid properly; in line with BLS knowledge, the imply annual wage for these professionals is $68,590. Nonetheless, an fascinating word about that knowledge—the 12 months prior, the common wage was practically $94,000! Why the distinction? The 2023 Hollywood strikes resulted in large non permanent shifts in that 12 months’s knowledge; the 12 months earlier than, California not solely employed the largest variety of make-up artists, but it surely additionally had one of many highest imply wages for the career.
The strikes affected different knowledge factors too. For example, by focus, Texas, New York, Florida, Utah, and Illinois are the highest states by focus of make-up artists as of 2023, however below regular circumstances, California would rank fairly excessive on (or on the high of) that record.
Sometimes, this kind of work requires no affiliate’s diploma, vocational college coaching, or associated on-the-job expertise. Nonetheless, you’re anticipated to have already got a number of the vital abilities and obtain further on-the-job coaching.
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9. Lighting Technicians
- 2023 imply annual wage: $73,250
- 2023 employment: 9,520
On the lookout for a high-paying job sometimes categorized as blue collar? This can be a, ahem, lightbulb second for you.
As you may guess, lighting technicians arrange, dismantle, and keep lighting fixtures and lighting management units. Maybe much less apparent, additionally they take care of the related lighting electrical and rigging tools used for artistic endeavors, corresponding to photograph shoots, tv, movie, video, and reside performances. Some employees concentrate on working lighting fixtures or attaching lighting equipment.
The annual imply wage for this career, primarily based on BLS knowledge, is $73,250.
It’s far simpler to seek out lighting technician roles in some components of the nation than others. The states with the very best employment ranges for this job are California, Nevada, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Kansas.
There are just a few methods to interrupt into this trade. Staff have a leg up on the competitors in the event that they maintain a bachelor’s diploma in theatrical manufacturing arts or a level in electrical engineering. Nonetheless, a school diploma isn’t vital (there aren’t any formal academic necessities), and other people can get entry-level roles that supply on-the-job coaching.
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8. Business Divers
- 2023 imply annual wage: $75,570
- 2023 employment: 2,790
For those who’re envisioning the Olympics, this isn’t that.
Business divers go underwater and use air or scuba tools to put in, examine, repair, or take out tools and buildings. To do these duties, they often want to make use of a variety of kit, corresponding to torches or welding tools.
Some employees conduct experiments, others take underwater pictures, and a few rig explosives. Not included inside this employment class are fishing and searching employees, police and sheriff’s patrol officers, or athletes and sports activities opponents (belief me, Michael Phelps’ wages are a lot greater).
Information revealed by the BLS reveals the imply annual wage for this job to be $75,570. You’re almost definitely to seek out work as a industrial diver in Louisiana, Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington (few surprises there), but additionally Kentucky—somewhat extra shocking provided that it doesn’t border an ocean, gulf, or Nice Lake.
Often, this job requires coaching in a vocational college, related expertise, or an affiliate’s diploma. Prior abilities, expertise, or information is required. And when you enter this occupation, you possibly can anticipate a 12 months or two of on-the-job coaching.
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7. Water Transportation Staff
- 2023 imply annual wage: $79,030
- 2023 employment: 76,040
Water transportation employees keep and function water vessels that transport folks and cargo, they usually should guarantee the security of each. Captains, mates, pilots, sailors, ship engineers, marine oilers, and motorboat operators all fall below this class of employment.
For those who love being out on the water, this job may very well be an excellent match for you. However be warned—these employees sometimes work for lengthy intervals … and the possibilities of seeing a mermaid are very low.
The annual imply wage for water transportation employees was $79,030 in 2023, per BLS knowledge. The bureau didn’t record state-level knowledge for this occupation in Might 2023.
Entry-level sailors and marine oilers sometimes don’t have to fulfill academic necessities. Nonetheless, another forms of employees normally should do U.S. Coast Guard-approved coaching applications.
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6. Sign and Observe Swap Repairers
- 2023 imply annual wage: $81,810
- 2023 employment: 9,200
Particularly, sign and observe swap repairers set up, examine, take a look at, keep, or make any vital repairs to electrical gate crossings, observe switches, indicators, sign tools, part strains, or intercommunications programs.
It’s not an enormous subject, but it surely’s an vital one. Whereas the U.S. doesn’t use passenger trains as a lot as a number of different first-world international locations, freight trains are in style. Per the Affiliation of American Railroads, America’s freight rail community operates greater than 140,000 miles of privately owned observe and handles a 3rd of all U.S. exports.
In response to BLS knowledge, the imply annual wage for this kind of work is $81,810. New York is an amazing supply of those jobs, at greater than a 3rd of the whole quantity employed as of 2023, and it additionally has the very best focus of this occupation. Different excessive concentrations may be present in Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Most of those jobs necessitate coaching in vocational faculties, on-the-job expertise, or an affiliate’s diploma. A acknowledged apprenticeship program may be helpful, too.
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5. Electrical Energy-Line Installers and Repairers
- 2023 imply annual wage: $85,900
- 2023 employment: 120,170
As may very well be surmised from the title, electrical power-line installers and repairers set up or repair cables or wires {that electrical} energy or distribution programs use. Different duties can embrace erecting poles or transmission towers. After these strains are put in, it’s the job of birds to hang around on them. powerlines. (Word: This employment class doesn’t embrace electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay.)
It’s one of many highest-paying blue-collar jobs yow will discover; primarily based on BLS knowledge, the imply annual wage for this career is $85,900. Whereas the best variety of jobs may be present in Texas (13,710), the very best concentrations of those jobs shall be present in South Dakota, Mississippi, Wyoming, Alabama, and Kentucky.
The everyday entry-level training requirement for these roles is a highschool diploma or equal. Whereas there may be normally no prior associated work expertise vital, employees can anticipate long-term on-the-job coaching.
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4. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operations, and Gaugers
- 2023 imply annual wage: $88,120
- 2023 employment: 33,360
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers management petroleum refining or processing models. Some employees have specialties, corresponding to controlling manifold and pumping programs. A manifold is a system of headers and branched pipes used to distribute or collect fluids. Others concentrate on gauging or testing oil or regulating oil stream into pipelines.
Per BLS knowledge, the imply annual wage for this kind of employment is $88,120. Individuals excited about this kind of employment ought to search for jobs in Wyoming, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Alaska, and Texas, which have the very best focus of individuals employed on this subject.
Sometimes, these jobs require a highschool diploma in addition to some earlier work-related information, abilities, or expertise. Staff can anticipate job coaching to final anyplace from just a few months to a 12 months.
Sadly, whereas this job does present a superb wage in comparison with many different blue-collar employees, it’s additionally one in all a number of profitable jobs which are going away.
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3. Farmers, Ranchers, and Different Agricultural Managers
- 2023 imply annual wage: $90,160
- 2023 employment: 6,150
There isn’t any lack of duties that should be executed on a farm or ranch. Farmers, ranchers, and different agricultural managers may match at farms, ranches, greenhouses, nurseries (the plant variety—not the kid variety!), aquaculture operations, timber tracts, or different agricultural locations. A few of these employees rent and supervise farm employees, whereas others contract out the work. These employees are categorized individually from first-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry.
This fluctuates between blue- and white-collar work relying on the precise function. For example, a employee may both have interaction in or supervise planting, cultivating, or harvesting crops, although some may concentrate on advertising and marketing and monetary exercise as an alternative.
This subject pays a well-above-average imply annual wage of $90,160, in line with BLS knowledge. The states with the very best concentrations of farmers, ranchers, and different agricultural managers embrace Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa, Hawaii, and California.
Entry-level training necessities are sometimes restricted to a highschool diploma or equal. Nonetheless, many employers anticipate at the least 5 years of labor expertise in a associated occupation. Many individuals acquire expertise from rising up on a household farm.
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2. Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
- 2023 imply annual wage: $92,840
- 2023 employment: 24,790
Because the title suggests, electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, relay employees largely deal with electrical tools in producing stations, substations, and in-service relays. It is a frequent instance folks use once they encourage others to enter well-paying trades.
The imply annual wage for this class of employment, primarily based on BLS knowledge, is $92,840—second highest on this record, and one of many few blue-collar jobs that earns greater than $90,000 yearly on common. The largest concentrations of this job are discovered all throughout the nation, from New York and Alaska to West Virginia and Michigan.
The minimal academic requirement for this work is normally a highschool diploma; nonetheless, specialised coaching is required for some roles. Employers are extra seemingly to decide on candidates who’ve some formal training in electronics from a group faculty or technical college. Staff sometimes get coaching on particular forms of tools and work with professionals earlier than doing impartial work.
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1. Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
- 2023 imply annual wage: $100,060
- 2023 employment: 23,990
You’ve in all probability ridden an elevator in some unspecified time in the future—and it’s potential that a couple of times, you’ve tried to name an elevator solely to seek out it’s out of order and that it’s essential to take the steps.
That’s when elevator and escalator installers and repairers come to the rescue. These employees arrange and keep not simply passenger elevators and escalators, but additionally hydraulic freight elevators or dumbwaiters.
This career has the very best imply annual wage on our record, cracking six digits at $100,060, per BLS knowledge. The place there are lots of elevators, you want lots of employees to put in and restore them, so it needs to be of no shock that New York is dwelling to each the most important variety of jobs on this subject (4,530) and the very best focus. Maryland, Hawaii, Washington, and Florida even have excessive concentrations of this work.
The minimal academic degree is normally a highschool diploma or equal. The overwhelming majority of those employees be taught the required abilities by an apprenticeship of about 4 years, although those that can show related expertise could possibly get a shorter apprenticeship. You might want to be licensed in most states.
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