Do you now work in the blue-collar sector or are you considering doing so in the future?
Contrary to popular belief, there is plenty of well-paying, in-demand working-class employment.
And, using information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we’ve created a list of the top five high-paying blue-collar jobs to assist you in finding the ideal career (BLS).
But first, let’s briefly clarify what is and isn’t a blue-collar job in order to make sure we’re all on the same page.
Blue-collar job: What is it exactly?
Most manual labor—physical work done with your hands and muscles—is a part of blue-collar jobs.
Workers in physically demanding jobs wore dark blue uniforms in the early 1900s. These deep blue fabrics didn’t require daily washing and were more scuff-resistant.
The term “blue-collar” originated from this.
Manufacturing, repairs, mining, construction, agriculture, aircraft maintenance, and law enforcement are a few examples of blue-collar professions.
Instead of receiving an annual income, these positions typically pay hourly.
What distinguishes a white-collar job from a blue-collar one?
Since white-collar employees’ professions depend more on their knowledge and cognitive abilities than on physical labour, they are now occasionally referred to as knowledge workers.
The working dress used to be a good indicator of whether a job was blue-collar or white-collar. White-collar workers typically wore immaculate white shirts, in contrast to blue-collar workers.
White-collar workers can now be found working in offices, banks, and other desk jobs.
While white-collar professionals could have finished a four-year college degree, blue-collar workers frequently undergo an apprenticeship.
Top 5 blue-collar positions
Here are the top five blue-collar jobs and their respective median annual salaries:
Electrician
When working on residential and commercial projects, electricians use electrical wire. They are capable of safe electrical component installation and maintenance.
Electricians are in high demand, with an expected 8% increase in employment over the next ten years. Residential, industrial, construction, and governmental contexts are just a few of the places where electricians can find employment.
Electricians have the option to advance their careers by opening their own businesses or rising to the position of supervisor. Weekend and night shifts as well as overtime may be necessary for this employment.
What are the requirements to become an electrician?
You must successfully complete a four-year apprenticeship program if you wish to become an electrician. The majority of jobs require high school graduation, but there are technical schools that can help you lay the groundwork.
Electricians must be certified and authorized.
What is the salary of an electrician?
An electrician can expect to make $56,180 annually. With experience, salaries might reach $73,940.
Police Officer
Police officers play a variety of responsibilities, but it is their responsibility to safeguard life and assist the community.
Responding to calls, attending traffic incidents, questioning and apprehending suspects, taking part in court proceedings, looking into crimes, and preparing reports are just a few of their duties.
Police officers have a variety of career options. For instance, police officers can progress to detective, FBI, patrol, and federal wildlife positions.
What qualifications are required for police officers?
The minimum educational requirement to work as a police officer is a high school diploma. You must have a valid driver’s license and be between the ages of 21 and 40.
There are physical and mental tests, and you must pass a background investigation.
Your need for a college education may depend on where you reside. You’ll start a training program as soon as you’re admitted into the police department.
What do police officers get paid?
Depending on your state, different police officers earn different salaries. The typical annual wage is $67,600.
Construction inspector
Bridges and construction sites are under the control of building inspectors. They must ensure that the work is of a high grade and that building codes are observed.
They supervise projects, write reports, send out stop-work orders, verify the work done by contractors, and utilize tools to look for errors.
Each site receives routine visits from building inspectors to ensure that the standards are upheld.
What qualifications are necessary for a building inspector?
You need high school graduation and at least five years of construction experience in order to become a building inspector.
Licensing is typically required for building inspectors. A degree from the college in a subject like mathematics or architecture can be useful.
How much money do building examiners make?
In the following ten years, there will be a 3 percent increase in the need for building inspectors. Currently, the average yearly wage is $63,860.
Plumbers
Plumbers install and repair pipes and fixtures in residential and commercial buildings.
They are in charge of developing and testing systems, fixing pipes, reviewing blueprints, and selecting supplies.
Starting a business allows plumbers to advance in their careers. There were 490,200 jobs available for plumbers in 2019. It’s possible that this employment will call for the night, weekend, and extra hours.
What are the requirements to become a plumber?
You typically need a high school diploma and to complete a four-year apprenticeship to become a plumber.
You can take advantage of technical school instruction to improve your chances of success. Plumbers must have a license.
How much money do plumbers make?
Plumbers make an average yearly compensation of $56,330. The pay for a pipefitter is equal to that of a plumber.
An installer of electrical power lines
Repairs are made to communication and power lines by electrical power-line installers.
Workers must be accustomed to heights because the position requires physical exertion. Installers of electrical power lines must take measures since electricity is a dangerous substance.
Installers may need to be on call in case there is an outage, and work hours may include nights and weekends.
What qualifications do you need to install power lines?
A high school diploma is required if you wish to install power lines. Additionally, you’ll have to finish an apprenticeship program that includes on-the-job training.
How much do electricians who install power lines make?
The average yearly wage is $68,030. Due to the way that technology is changing how energy is used, job growth is stable but not expected to improve.
Final Note
The majority of blue-collar jobs call for a high school diploma, an apprenticeship, or on-the-job training because they can be labor-intensive.
Electricians, boilermakers, police, firefighters, railway engineers, plumbers, building inspectors, and installers of electrical power lines are among the top-paying occupations on our list.
The majority of these industries have promising career prospects and are in high demand.
If you’re prepared to go forward, search for skilled and entry-level jobs in your area that are local to you.
