Forbes Releases its List of Top 20 Highest-Earning Blue Collar Career Paths

Are you looking for a new career path that will help you bring in a handsome salary while also enjoying job security? If you like working with your hands, there are several blue collar jobs you might want to consider pursuing. In fact, according to Forbes.com, there are 20 blue collar jobs that are certainly worth taking a closer look at – many of which you can receive on-the-job training so you can start working and earning money right away. These jobs include:

· Elevator Installers and Repairs – responsible for assembling, installing, repairing and maintaining electric or hydraulic passenger or freight elevators, dumbwaiters or escalators. The average annual salary is $67,750 while the average hourly wage is $32.57.
· Powerhouse, Substation and Relay Repairs – responsible for inspecting, testing, repairing and maintaining electrical equipment found at substations, generating stations and in-service relays. The average annual salary is $60,700 while the average hourly wage is $29.18.
· Transportation Inspectors – responsible for inspecting goods or equipment that are associated with safely transporting people or cargo. The average annual salary is $59,200 while the average hourly wage is $28.46.
· Commercial Divers – responsible for working below the water while inspecting, repairing, removing and installing structures and equipment. The average annual salary is $54,940 while the average hourly wage is $26.42.
· Oil and Gas Rotary Drill Operators – responsible for setting up or operating various drills and then finding and removing core samples of petroleum products for testing or human use. The average annual salary is $54,370 while the average hourly wage is $26.14.
· Power-Line Installers and Repairers – responsible for installing or repairing wires or cables that are used in electrical power and distribution systems. The average annual salary is $54,300 while the average hourly wage is $26.11.
· Locomotive Engineers – responsible for driving diesel-electric, electric, gas-turbine-electric or steam locomotives in order to transport freight or passengers. The average annual salary is $53,470 while the average hourly wage is $25.71.
· Boilermakers – responsible for constructing, assembling, maintaining and repairing boiler house auxiliaries and stationary steam boilers. The average annual salary is $53,100 while the average hourly wage is $25.53.
· Locomotive Firers – responsible for monitoring locomotive instruments and watching for dragging equipment as well as obstacles in the rights-of-way during train runs. The average annual salary is $52,950 while the average hourly wage is $25.46.
· Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers – responsible for setting up, rearranging and removing the switching and dialing equipment that is used in central offices as well as for servicing or repairing telephones and other types of communication equipment. The average annual salary is $52,650 while the average hourly wage is $25.31.
· Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians – responsible for diagnosing, adjusting, repairing and overhauling aircraft engines as well as assemblies such as pneumatic systems and hydraulic systems. The average annual salary is $51,650 while the average hourly wage is $24.83.
· Pile-Driver Operators – responsible for operating pile drivers, which may be mounted on barges, skids, locomotive trains or crawler treads, which are use for driving pilings for bulkheads, retaining walls and structure foundations. The average annual salary is $51,640 while the average hourly wage is $24.83.
· Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers – responsible for repairing, cleaning and adjusting mechanisms used in precision equipment, such as cameras, watches and musical instruments. The average annual salary is $50,400 while the average hourly wage is $24.23.
· Millwrights – responsible for installing, dismantling and moving heavy equipment and machinery according to a blueprint, layout plan or other drawing. The average annual salary is $50,030 while the average hourly wage is $24.05.
· Electricians – responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing electrical equipment, fixtures and wiring. The average annual salary is $49,890 while the average hourly wage is 423.98.
· Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operators – responsible for operating railroad track switches, for coupling or uncoupling rolling stock in order to break up or make up trains, for signaling engineers with flags and hands, and for inspecting air hoses, couplings, hand brakes and journal boxes. The average annual salary is $49,400 while the average hourly wage is $23.75.
· Subway and Streetcar Operators – responsible for operating subway or elevated suburban trains that do not feature separate locomotives as well as electric-powered streetcars that are used to transport passengers. The average annual salary is $49,330 while the average hourly wage is $23.72.
· Commercial and Industrial Electrical and Electronics Repairers – responsible for repairing, testing, adjusting or installing electronic equipment, including transmitters, industrial controls and antennas. The average annual salary is $49,260 while the average hourly wage is $23.68.
· Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters – responsible for assembling, installing, altering and repairing pipelines or pipe systems that are used to carry steam, water, air or other types of gases or liquids. The average annual salary is $49,200 while the average hourly wage is $23.65.
· Signal and Track Switch Repairers – responsible for installing, inspecting, testing, maintaining and repairing signals, electric gate crossings, section lines, track switches, signal equipment and intercommunication systems used within a railroad system. The average annual salary is $49,060 while the average hourly wage is $23.59.

If you are interested in pursuing any of these career paths or if you would like to explore other types of careers further, visit the Top-Colleges home page to get started!

Filed in: Career Options.

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