In the pantheon of Great American Myths, brave moms and dads toil at blue collar jobs to scrape together the money to put their children through college, with the hope these kids fly up to the security and prosperity of the white collar world. However, a recent Manpower survey indicates there is a cache of blue-collar jobs that offer good starting salaries, opportunities for advancement, and solid benefits. With current unemployment numbers rising, good jobs are at a premium and if you’re someone who likes ‘hands on’ experiences and chafes at the thought of a high heels or a tie, maybe the blue-collar world is for you.
US News & World Report recently teamed with Glassdoor.com to come up with a list of six well-paying blue-collar jobs where the opportunities exceed the number of applicants. FYI – a blue-collar job is defined as an occupation that involves manual labor and pay is usually calculated on an hourly basis. The recommendations are further confirmed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s projections for jobs over the next decade. Take a look at their findings and see if you can hear opportunity knocking!

Manufacturing Technician: The Manpower survey indicates there are plenty of openings for technicians in production, engineering and maintenance. Manufacturing technicians can expect to average more than $47,000 a year, and workers report annual bonuses exceeding $1,500, according to the Glassdoor data. The most common route to these jobs is obtaining an associate’s degree from a technical institute, community college, or a university extension program.
Auto Mechanic: The slack sales figures for new cars are a reminder that the mantra of this recession is “repair don’t buy”. Good auto mechanics are always in demand, but in today’s economic climate there is excellent job opportunity. And remember, with many of these skilled mechanics facing retirement, the long-term is projected to remain strong. These days, the average yearly income is $44,000 with bonus potential.
Truck Driver: The average yearly wages for a trucker is $47,000, but there is as much variation in the wage structure as there are in the types of trucking jobs available. Some drivers work a proscribed local route, while long-distance haulers can rack up 100K miles per year. Even with rising energy costs, trucks provide unique freight transportation and the employment outlook in this sector is excellent.
Aircraft Mechanic: These highly trained mechanics are among the highest paid in blue-collar professions, averaging about $52,000 a year. While there are some opportunities for on-the-job training with experienced mechanics, the surest route to one of these great jobs is via certification from a Federal Aviation Administration training program at a trade school. Two and four year programs are available.
General Maintenance Worker: These are those maintenance wizards who can fix your furnace, mend your roof, replace a broken window and install an air conditioner. Many of these workers find a niche – plumbing, heating etc – and specialize. The average yearly wages are about $49,600 per year with bonus potential.
Electrician: With an average yearly income of $53,000 plus bonuses, electricians are some of the highest paid blue-collar workers. Electricians usually participate in apprenticeship programs and in many places; they must pass a test to become licensed. The projections for electricians are excellent, especially for those with wide range of knowledge of the wiring requirements in homes, offices, and businesses.