10 High-Paying Blue-Collar Jobs

Blue-collar jobs are known to most as working-class jobs. Construction, manufacturing, maintenance and mining are types of careers that are classified as blue-collar. Although these jobs do not require years of schooling careers in fields such as forklift engine maintenance pay just as well as some white-collar jobs. If you’re good with your hands, consider attaining a career in one of these ten occupations:

1. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators maintain and utilize nuclear power reactors. This job earns them a median salary of $94,350 annually.

2. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

First-line Supervisors of Police and Detectives are at the forefront of investigations. The supervisors make all of the important decisions regarding the supervision of the police and detectives of the police force earning them a median salary of $89,030.

3. Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Power Distributors and Dispatchers run equipment that distributes steam or electrical power. The median salary for this career is $86,410.

4. Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Detectives and Criminal Investigators risk their lives every day to solve crimes by running investigations on crime scenes. This includes interviewing suspects and running down leads for criminal cases. The median salary for this position is $81,920.

5. Powerhouse, Substation and Relay Electrical and Electronics Repairers

Workers in this position, maintain and repair electrical equipment inside of power plants, substations, and other electrical distribution facilities. The median salary for this career is $80,200.

6. Elevator Installers and Repairers

Elevator Installer and Repairers, repair and install passenger and freight elevation systems in commercial, residential and industrial settings. This position pays a median salary of $79,780.

7. Power Plant Operators

Power Plant Operators handle electrical power equipment. The median salary for this position is $79,610.

8. Fire-Fighting and Prevention First-Line Supervisors

First-Line Supervisors for Fire-Fighting and Prevention are at the forefront of danger supervising fire fighting and prevention. These supervisors make life-changing decisions backed by knowledge and experience. This experience allows them to bring home a median salary of $76,330.

9. Transit and Railroad Police

Transit and railroad police protect transit equipment from vandalism, protect employees from being harmed and passengers. The median salary for Transit and Railroad Police Officers is 74,030.

10. Gas Plant Operators

Gas plant operators use equipment to distribute natural gas to power plants and other utilities. The median salary for a Gas Plant Operator is $71,070.

Although some of these careers require years of training and experience to obtain their high salary. Detectives, for instance, must first become a police officer and work through the ranks to take the detectives exam. This is also true for first-line supervisors for fire fighters, police and detectives.

If you can’t wait to be your own boss and manage a team, you can start your own blue-collar jobs by opening your own business. For instance, if you live in Flushing, NY, you can open a business where you build front stoops, or basements out of premixed concrete. The best way to start this business is to look for a reliable ready mix concrete supplier in Flushing, NY that is close to your business location. Before you know it, you can be working with well-known construction companies as a contractor making a great salary.

Making a decision about your career can be constricting when you take the cost of schooling into consideration. If schooling isn’t for you, it just means that you will make your living using your hands. Consider what you’re good at and comes as natural to you as breathing does. Once you’ve figured out your talents you can put them together to form a successful career in blue-collar employment.