12 Blue-Collar Jobs That Pay at Least $105,000 a Year
12 Blue-Collar Jobs That Pay at Least $105,000 a Year
Sarah BrooksThu, May 7, 2026 at 3:05 PM UTC
0
12 Blue-Collar Jobs That Pay at Least $105,000 a Year
The story of blue-collar work is changing faster than most people realize. A May2025 survey by Resume Builder found that roughly 40% of Gen Z adults arepursuing trades because of job security and the desire to avoid massive studentloan debt.Enrollment in vocational training programs has surged as overall enrollmentin community colleges and four-year institutions has fallen.
Meanwhile, wages in skilled trades have climbed steadily, and in severalspecialties, experienced tradespeople now out-earn office workers withbachelor's degrees. If you're looking for a career path that can lower your financialstress and build real long-term wealth, the trades deserve a closer lookthan they typically get. Here are 12 blue-collar jobs that pay at least $105,000a year at the median or are reliably achievable at that level with experienceand specialization.
Editor's note: All salary data was sourced from the U.S. Bureauof Labor Statistics (BLS).
Make Money: 12 ways to pocket up to $300
1. Elevator and escalator installer and repairer
Median annual wage: $106,580
The median annual wage for elevator and escalator installers and repairers is$106,580. These workers install, maintain, and repair elevators, escalators, andmoving walkways in commercial and residential buildings. The work requireselectrical knowledge, mechanical aptitude, and comfort working in confinedvertical spaces.
Entry is typically through a four- to five-year apprenticeship, and employmentis projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034.
Who really has the cheapest auto insurance in your area? Check your zip code here.
2. Nuclear power reactor operator
Median annual wage: $122,830
Nuclear power reactor operators were the highest-paying production occupation inthe May 2024 BLS data, with a median annual wage of $122,830.These workersmonitor control panels and operate equipment that controls nuclear reactors usedto generate electricity. The role requires extensive on-the-job training, afederal license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the ability torespond quickly to technical emergencies.
Entry typically follows military nuclear experience or plant-sponsored trainingprograms. The job demands precision and ongoing certification, which is exactlywhy it commands premium pay.
3. Power distributors and dispatchers
Median annual wage: $109,620
Power distributors and dispatchers are among the highest-paying productionoccupations, with a median wage of $109,620.These workerscoordinate the flow of electricity through power grids, monitoring transmissionlines and substations to balance supply and demand across regional networks.
A high school diploma plus extensive on-the-job training is the typical pathway.Union membership is common and often boosts total compensation significantly.
Don't Miss: 14 benefits seniors are entitled to but often forget to claim
4. Commercial pilot (non-airline)
Median annual wage: $122,670
Commercial pilots fly aircraft for purposes other than scheduled airlineservice, including cargo operations, charter flights, aerial surveying,agricultural spraying, and air ambulance missions.
Entry requires a commercial pilot certificate from the FAA, which demands 250flight hours and passing written and practical exams. Many pilots build hoursthrough flight instruction or regional flying roles before moving intohigher-paying commercial work. No four-year degree is required, and flightschool programs can be completed in one to two years.
5. Industrial production manager
Median annual wage: $121,450
These managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing plants, managingstaff, coordinating production schedules, and ensuring quality and efficiencytargets are met.
Entry is typically through years of hands-on floor experience, followed byadvancement into supervisory and then management roles. No engineering degree isrequired in most manufacturing environments.
6. Electrical power-line installer and repairer
Median annual wage: $92,560 (top 10% earn $126,610)
The highest 10% of these workers earn more than $126,610, according to theBLS.They install and maintain the high-voltage lines that carry electricity frompower plants to homes and businesses. The work is physically demanding,frequently involves heights and hazardous conditions, and often requires travelto storm-damaged areas on short notice.
Entry is through apprenticeships run by utility companies and union programs.Employment is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than theaverage for all occupations,driven in part by the expansion of the electrical grid to support EVs andrenewable energy.
Advertisement
Dave Ramsey Urges Americans to Become Debt-Free: Try these 7 clever ways to crush your debt
7. Avionics technician
Median annual wage: $81,390 (top 10% earn $113,580)
Avionics technicians install, inspect, test, and repair the electronic systemsaboard aircraft — navigation equipment, communication systems, radar, and flightcontrol electronics. The median annual wage for avionics technicians is $81,390,but the highest 10% earn more than $113,580.
Entry is through FAA certification or military training, and the work demandsprecision but no four-year degree.
8. Radiation therapist
Median annual wage: $101,990 (top 10% earn $141,550)
Radiation therapists administer targeted radiation treatment to cancer patientsas part of oncology care teams. They operate complex linear accelerators,maintain precise treatment records, and work directly with patients throughdifficult medical situations.
Though the median annual wage for radiation therapists is $101,990, the highest10% earn more than $141,550. Entry requires a two- to four-year radiationtherapy program, along with state licensure in most states. In hospital settingsand cancer centers with high patient volumes, $105,000 is a realistic and commonearnings level.
9. Commercial diver
Median annual wage: 61,300 (top 10% earn $136,990)
Commercial divers work underwater to inspect, repair, and maintaininfrastructure, including pipelines, bridges, ship hulls, and offshore oil rigs.The BLS reports a median annual wage of around $61,000, but that numbersignificantly understates what experienced divers in high-demand specialtiesearn.
Offshore and saturation divers — who live in pressurized environments forextended periods on deep-sea projects — routinely earn $115,000 to $172,000annually, with hazard pay, per diems, and offshore premiums included.
Entry typically requires a commercial diving certification program lastingseveral months, plus the accumulation of logged dive hours.
Break the Cycle: 8 moves to escape the paycheck to paycheck grind
10. Pile driver operator
Median annual wage: $63,550 (top 25% earn $105,100)
Pile driver operators have one of the widest pay scale spreads in construction,with the top 25% highest-paid operators earning at least $105,100.They use heavy machinery to drive piles — steel columns, wooden posts, orconcrete beams — deep into the ground as foundations for buildings, bridges, andoffshore platforms. The wide pay range reflects geographic variation, technicalcomplexity of specific equipment, and the premium commanded by operators whowork on marine and offshore projects.
Entry is through apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
11. Electrical and electronics repairer (power systems specialization)
Median annual wage: $71,270 (top 10% earn $109,300)
The median annual wage for electrical and electronics installers and repairersis $71,270, with the highest 10% earning more than $109,300.Workers who specialize in power systems sit at the higher end of this payrange. Utility companies, industrial manufacturers, and defense contractorsroutinely pay $105,000 and above for experienced power-systems repairers withthe certifications and clearances those environments require.
Entry combines vocational training with on-the-job apprenticeship.
12. Nuclear technician
Median annual wage: $104,240
The median annual wage for nuclear technicians as a whole is $104,240.Nuclear technicians assist engineers and scientists in nuclear power plantsand research laboratories. They operate testing equipment, monitor radiationlevels, and help maintain reactor systems.
Most positions require an associate's degree in nuclear science or a relatedtechnology, or a combination of military experience and on-the-job training.While the median sits just below the $105,000 threshold, experienced nucleartechnicians and those in supervisory roles routinely exceed it. For example,according to the BLS, nuclear technicians in the electric power generation,transmission, and distribution industry make a median annual salary of $105,300.
Make Money: Discover 17 legit ways you could make extra cash
Bottom line
The trades have always built the infrastructure that everything else runs on.What's changed is how the economics look compared to a traditional college path.A journeyman electrician earns $62,350 with zero student debt and four to fiveyears of paid on-the-job training. A four-year college graduate enters theworkforce with a median starting salary of $59,384 and an average of $39,000 infederal student loan debt.
At the specialist and supervisory levels covered in this list, the earnings gapwidens further. For anyone willing to develop a specialized skill and put in thetime to advance, these careers offer a genuine path to grow your wealthwithout spending four years and six figures to get started.
More from FinanceBuzz:
Are you on track for retirement? Take this quiz and find out.
14 benefits seniors are entitled to but often forget to claim.
Retire like the rich: 14 ways you could build wealth in your 50s.
Source: “AOL Money”
