The epidemic has highlighted the need for various blue-collar jobs that will survive the emergence of technology. Labour shortages in blue-collar jobs may result in a drop in the country’s overall standard of life and profits in businesses such as transportation, warehousing, and manufacturing.
Table of contents
- What is A Blue Collar Job?
- Why Become A Blue Collar Worker?
- Do Blue Collar Workers Make Good Money?
- How Much Do Blue Collar Workers Make?
- How To Become A Blue Collar Worker
- 20 Highest Paid Blue Collar Jobs
- #1. Elevator Installers and Repairers:
- #2. Electrical and Electronics Repairers:
- #3. Transportation Inspectors:
- #4. Petroleum Pump System Operators:
- #5. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers:
- #6. Subway and Streetcar Operators:
- #7. Commercial Divers:
- #8. Rotary Drill Operators:
- #9. Boilermakers:
- #10. Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians:
- #11. Signal and Track Switch Repairers:
- #12. Locomotive Engineers:
- #13. Electricians:
- #14. Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers:
- #15. Electrical and Electronics Repairers of Commercial and Industrial Equipment:
- #16. Pile-Driver Operators:
- #17. Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers:
- #18. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters:
- #19. Brickmasons:
- #20. Millwrights:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendations
What is A Blue Collar Job?
Blue-collar jobs are those that require some form of manual labour. Unlike white-collar workers who operate in a standard office setting, blue-collar workers are likelier to work in the construction and manufacturing industries.
It does imply that employees are more likely to work in environments where they might get their garments soiled, such as soil or grease. However, workers in some service occupations, such as home health aides or cashiers, may be classified as blue-collar. Workers who participate in heavy manual labour, such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, mining, or maintenance, are called blue-collar workers.
If the term “blue-collar job” isn’t used in this context, it could apply to another physically demanding task. The setting could be outside or necessitate interaction with big machinery or animals.
Skilled or unskilled workers make up the blue-collar workforce. If they are skilled, they may have gained their talents through a trade school rather than a bachelor’s degree program at a college or university.
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Why Become A Blue Collar Worker?
Blue-collar occupations are in high demand these days, are often less stressful than white-collar jobs, and are often well compensated based on experience and skills. If these facts are correct, persons with the talents required for these positions should seize the chance rather than dismiss it.
Blue-collar employment, on the other hand, is sometimes disregarded due to the assumption that blue-collar workers lack the abilities that white-collar workers possess.
It may be more taxing than an office job, but it has been discovered that those who perform manual labour with their hands are more satisfied with their work and feel better about themselves.
With the work they undertake, they can maintain an active lifestyle. They strengthen their muscles, improve their flexibility, and, most significantly, prevent obesity.
Technical employment abounds, increasing the number of people in front of a computer screen, only to discover that most of these technical jobs are outsourced overseas.
Manual labour, on the other hand, can never be replaced by an outsourced worker from another country. No one has hired a virtual plumber or electrician to complete the service at their home.
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Do Blue Collar Workers Make Good Money?
White-collar employment is thought to be more lucrative than blue-collar jobs. A proficient blue-collar worker, on the other hand, can typically earn more than a mid-level white-collar worker.
This can be determined by a number of criteria, including the degree of expertise required for the job, the level of experience of each person, and the number of hours the blue-collar worker puts in.
White-collar workers are usually required to work a certain amount of hours in order to get compensated. They can, however, work longer hours without receiving additional pay. Blue-collar jobs, on the other hand, are frequently wage-based, meaning that workers are paid based on the number of hours they work.
How Much Do Blue Collar Workers Make?
According to Salary Expert, the typical blue-collar worker’s gross wage in the United States is $34,533, or $17 per hour. They also receive a $497 bonus on average.
The average income for an entry-level blue-collar worker with 1-3 years of experience is $26,665. On the other hand, a senior-level blue-collar worker with over 8 years of experience gets an average pay of $40,928.
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How To Become A Blue Collar Worker
Many blue-collar jobs require little more than a high school diploma, and many of the skills required are gained on the job.
Vocational training, apprenticeships, and state certification are required for higher level blue collar employment, such as becoming an electrician or plumber.
20 Highest Paid Blue Collar Jobs
There are many high-paying blue-collar jobs. However, among them some of these jobs offer more financial incentives than their counterparts. Hence, the highest-paid blue-collar jobs include:
#1 Elevator Installers and Repairers
#2 Electrical and Electronics Repairers
#3 Transportation Inspectors
#4 Petroleum Pump System Operators
#5 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
#6 Subway and Streetcar Operators
#7 Commercial Divers
#8 Rotary Drill Operators
#9 Boilermakers
#10 Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
#11 Signal and Track Switch Repairers
#12 Locomotive Engineers
#13 Electricians
#14 Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers
#15 Electrical and Electronics Repairers of Commercial and Industrial Equipment
#16 Pile-Driver Operators
#17 Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers
#18 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
#19 Brickmasons
#20 Millwrights
#1. Elevator Installers and Repairers:
The average annual salary of elevator installers and repairers is $73,560 or an average hourly wage of $35.37.
They assemble, build, repair, or maintain freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters using electric or hydraulic power.
#2. Electrical and Electronics Repairers:
The average annual salary of electrical and electronic repairs is $65,950 or an average hourly wage of $31.7. Basically Electrical equipment at generating stations, substations, and in-service relays is inspected, tested, repaired, or maintained by them.
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#3. Transportation Inspectors:
The average annual salary of transportation inspectors is $65,770 or an average hourly wage of $31.62. They inspect cargo or people-carrying equipment or items to ensure their safety. This category comprises rail transportation inspectors, such as freight, rail, and other vehicle inspectors.
#4. Petroleum Pump System Operators:
The average annual salary of petroleum pump system operators is $60,290 or an average hourly wage of $28.99. They work in petroleum refining or processing units and are in charge of them.
Some of the specialities are controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, and regulating oil flow into pipelines.
#5. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers:
The average annual salary of electrical Powerline installers and repairers is $59,450 or an average hourly wage of $28.58. They operate on electricity and distribution networks, installing and repairing cables and wires. It is possible that they also install poles and small or heavy-duty transmission towers.
#6. Subway and Streetcar Operators:
The average annual salary of Subway and Streetcar Operators is $59,400 or an average hourly wage of $28.56. They run underground or elevated suburban trains without a separate locomotive or electric-powered streetcar for passenger transportation. Fares may be handled.
#7. Commercial Divers:
This is a not-so-common one among the list of the highest-paid blue-collar jobs. The average Annual Salary of commercial drivers is $58,640, or an average hourly wage of $28.19.
While wearing scuba gear, they check, repair, dismantle, or install equipment and structures below the water’s surface. Drills, sledgehammers, torches, and welding equipment are among the power and hand tools that may be used. Conducting testing or experiments, rigging explosives, or photographing structures or marine life are all possibilities within their jurisdiction.
#8. Rotary Drill Operators:
The annual salary of rotary drill operators is $58,540, or an average hourly wage of $28.15. During oil and gas exploration, they set up or ran various drills to extract subterranean oil and gas and core samples for testing.
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#9. Boilermakers:
The average annual salary of Boilermakers is $56,650 and the average hourly wage is $27.23. Stationary steam boilers and boiler house auxiliaries are built, assembled, maintained, and repaired by them.
Assemble boiler frame tanks or vats by aligning structures or plate parts according to designs. Hand and power tools, plumb bobs, levels, wedges, dogs, and turnbuckles are all used in this job. Assist in the testing of completed vessels.
Boilers and boiler furnaces are cleaned directly. Safety valves, regulators, automatic-control systems, water columns, and auxiliary machinery should all be inspected and repaired.
#10. Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians:
The average annual salary of Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians is $54,500, or an average hourly wage of $26.20. They troubleshoot, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and parts, including hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Experts in helicopter and aircraft engines are included.
#11. Signal and Track Switch Repairers:
The average annual salary of Signal and Track Switch Repairers is $54,210 or an average hourly wage of $26.06. Electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, and intercommunications systems are among the items they install, examine, test, maintain, or repair inside a railroad system.
#12. Locomotive Engineers:
The average annual salary of locomotive engineers is $52,940 or an average hourly wage of $25.45. To transport people or freight, they drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives. The train instructions, electronic or manual signals, and railroad laws and regulations are all interpreted.
#13. Electricians:
The average annual salary of electricians is $52,910 or an average hourly wage of $25.44. Electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures are installed, maintained, and repaired by them. They ascertain that all work is done in line with applicable codes. Street lights, intercom systems, and electrical control systems may be installed or serviced.
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#14. Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers:
The average annual salary of Telecommunications Equipment Installers is $52,870 or an average hourly wage of $25.42.
In central offices or headends, they install, set up, reorganize, or remove switching, distribution, routing, and dialing equipment. On clients’ property, they service or repair telephone, cable television, Internet, and other communications equipment. Their work also includes installing communications equipment or wire in buildings if possible.
#15. Electrical and Electronics Repairers of Commercial and Industrial Equipment:
The average annual salary of industrial equipment repairers is $52,420 or an average hourly wage of $25.20. They work on industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas and repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment.
#16. Pile-Driver Operators:
The average annual salary of pile driver operators is $52,140 or an average hourly wage of $25.07. They drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers using pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes.
#17. Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers:
The average annual salary of precision equipment repairers is $51,970 or an average hourly wage of $24.99. They fix, clean, and modify precise equipment mechanisms (watches, cameras, musical instruments).
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#18. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters:
The average annual salary of plumbers and pipefitters is $51,830 or an average hourly wage of $24.92. Pipelines or pipe systems that convey water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases are assembled, installed, altered, and repaired by them. They’re also involved in installing heating and cooling equipment, as well as mechanical control systems, if possible.
#19. Brickmasons:
The average annual salary of brick masons is $50,760, or an average hourly wage of $24.40. To create or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other buildings, they lay and bond construction materials such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block with mortar and other substances.
#20. Millwrights:
The average annual salary of millwrights is $50,650, or an average hourly wage of $24.35. They use layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings to install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Workers who participate in heavy manual labour, such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, mining, or maintenance, are called blue-collar workers. If the term “blue-collar job” isn’t used in this context, it could apply to another physically demanding task.
It’s an attempt to seize control of one’s own self-importance. Because many of those blue-collar jobs were filthy and dangerous in terms of working conditions and because some people assume that anyone can perform them.
The term “blue collar” comes from the early twentieth century, when these employees wore darker clothing than “white collar” workers, or clothing that was more resistant to the increased wear and tear of physical labor, such as blue denim.
Workers can be skilled or unskilled, waged or salaried, according to the blue collar job definition, which does not identify their skill level or the sort of income they receive.
When compared to white-collar labor, blue-collar jobs offer more job and financial security. Since they aren’t employed in the first place, they can not be laid off.
Conclusion
Consider a job in the working class as a blue-collar employee if you don’t mind having your hands dirty. While these tasks are frequently more physically demanding, if you prefer manual labor, they can bring a higher level of job satisfaction.
Furthermore, they usually do not necessitate a college background. We explained what blue-collar work comprises and presented a list of highest paid blue-collar jobs in this post.
References
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