The 7 Highest-Paying Blue Collar Jobs in America—All With Salaries Over $80k

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Written by Ryan Rabasa Last Updated:
Police supervisor at work.

Here at Wealth Gang we’re always on the hunt for careers our readers can pursue to build wealth. Because all the financial advice in the world is pointless if you aren’t generating income, whether it be from a side hustle, gig economy job, passive income strategy, or one of these blue collar jobs.

Six-Figure Jobs in High Demand

Previously we’ve highlighted a number of six-figure jobs that will be in demand for the next decade. The list was littered with desk jobs, with the legal, data, information, and medical fields dominating.

We also went deep on a six-figure in-demand job you may not even know about: Ever thought about becoming a certified court reporter? It might be more attractive than you think.

Today we’re looking at a fleet of jobs that are a little big grittier:

America’s Highest-Paying Blue Collar Jobs

Looking to get your hands dirty? These seven blue collar jobs all carry a median salary over $80,000 here in the US, as of May 2020. We’ve also provided the number currently employed, so you can judge how in-demand and competitive each career is.

7. Power plant operator

Median annual salary: $84,650
Number employed in the US: 32,960

6. Powerhouse, substation, and relay electrical and electronics repairers

Median annual salary: $85,340
Number employed in the US: 23,0705

Substation in operation.

5. Detectives and criminal investigators

Median annual salary: $86,940
Number employed in the US: 105,980

4. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Median annual salary: $88,540
Number employed in the US: 24,730

Elevator buttons.

3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Median annual salary: $92,970
Number employed in the US: 122,310

Police supervisor at work.

2. Power distributors and dispatchers

Median annual salary: $95,100
Number employed in the US: 9,940

1. Nuclear power reactor operators

Median annual salary: $104,040
Number employed in the US: 5,310

Nuclear reactors in action.

To see more high-paying blue collar jobs, check this list from Insider.

Author
Ryan Rabasa

Ryan Rabasa is an associate editor at Wealth Gang. His passions are technology, writing, business, and media. He won't trust an investment strategy that doesn't incorporate both technical and fundamental analysis.