Highest Paying Blue-Collar Jobs

It is true that the white-collar professionals made up for more than 60% of the total workforce as of 2009, but there are still certain high paying blue-collar jobs in the market. In fact, the white-collar jobs are dependent on blue-collar jobs to a large extent. First of all, let us try to know what exactly do we mean by a blue-collar job. Blue-collar jobs involve physical labor and the compensation is usually in hourly wages. Some of the common fields are construction, manufacturing, underwater welding etc. Although, it is a common perception that these blue-collar jobs are easy to take up, the reality is that many of these jobs require specific trainings and certifications. So, let us take a look at some of highest paying blue-collar jobs in America.

Before we go ahead and take a look at some of the highest blue-collar jobs in America, we would like to tell you that today, blue-collar workers are facing challenges from specialized equipment and outsourcing of jobs. The availability of cheap labor in the developing countries of the world has taken a hit at the wages of people employed in this sector. Despite all these factors, several of these professions are still sought after and the highly skilled professionals are still able to have great opportunities to work. These may not be among the highest paying jobs in America, but these pay good enough to maintain a decent lifestyle.

1. Manufacturing technician
A manufacturing technician is in-charge of manufacturing quality products that are efficient and safe to use. Apart from this, he is also responsible for analyzing errors in the design of the production and provides feedback on corrective actions. The average salaries of manufacturing technicians is around $45,000 and they are also entitled to bonuses which are in the range of $1,000-$1,500.

2. Auto mechanic
After the sub-prime crisis, a new trend has emerged in the American middle-class and that is to maintain and repair the existing things instead of buying a new one. This is good news for auto mechanics as analysts point out that this trend wouldn't be short-lived. Auto mechanics make around $40,000 a year including bonuses worth $400.

3. Elevator installers and repairers
As the name suggests, elevator installers are responsible for installing elevators, escalators, walkways etc. Repair workers fix elevators that are not working and also help in their maintenance. They also help in converting the old elevators into new automatic ones. Their hourly wages are in the range of $30 to $35. Their average salaries are in the range of $40,000 to $45,000.

4. General maintenance worker
The job of a general maintenance worker requires him to help an organization in upkeep of its set-up. He is responsible for renovating the building, maintaining the garden, fixing the furniture etc. The average salary of general maintenance worker is around $48,000 with bonuses up to $1,000.

5. Electricians
Electricians are responsible for installing and maintaining electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures. Electricians are also responsible for installing coaxial or fiber optic cables for telecommunication equipment. They make around $20.33 an hour, that is about $42,000 per year.

These were the top five blue-collar jobs in America. Some of the other jobs in this industry are

1. Locomotive engineer
2. Steel worker
3. Ship operator
4. Radio and telecommunication installer
5. Subway operators
6. Plastic machine setters
7. Power plant operator
8. Gas plant operator

These were some of the highest paying blue-collar jobs in the market today. One thing that we would like to point out is that blue-collar jobs are no longer reserved for people who have no education, skills or are not fit to do any other work, but there is cut-throat competition in this segment as well. If you are thinking of starting your career as a blue-collar worker, there are good enough career opportunities in this field and you can earn as much as a white-collar worker.