Here are the top 10 blue-collar jobs based on earnings and growth prospects:
Public Transportation Attendant
Public transportation attendants ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard ships, buses, and trains. Their responsibilities include greeting passengers, explaining how to use safety devices, serving meals or beverages, and answering passengers' travel-related questions. On average, a public transportation attendant's hourly wage will be around $30, and his or her annual income will be approximately $62,000.
Longshore Equipment Operator
Longshore equipment operators operate equipment used to load and unload crates, containers, and other items carried by ships. Most jobs in this sector are located in port cities. The average hourly wage for longshore equipment operators is around $28, and their estimated average annual income is nearly $58,000.
Brickmason/Stonemason
Brickmasons and stonemasons work on surfaces and structures. They construct and repair walls, exteriors, floors, partitions, fireplaces, chimneys, industrial furnaces, and other structures using bricks, marble, granite, stones, and other masonry materials. Their average hourly wage is approximately $27.50, and their estimated average annual income is about $57,000.
Power Plant Operator
Power plant operators control and monitor machines that generate electricity. They check boilers, turbines, generators, and other equipment in power-generating plants. Often, they use computers to record operations and prepare reports. Their average hourly wage is around $27, and their estimated average annual income is around $56,500.
Locomotive Operator
Locomotive operators drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives. They interpret train orders, signals, and railroad rules and regulations in order to transport passengers or freight safely or operate switches in railroad yards. Their average hourly wage is around $27, and their estimated average annual income is around $56,000.
Aircraft Engine Mechanic
Aircraft engine mechanics repair, examine, and verify the acceptable performance of all conventional and modified aircraft engines before their installation. Their average hourly wage is approximately $26.50, and their estimated average annual income is around $55,500.
Electrical Power Installer/Repairer
Electrical power installers and repairers install new lines by building utility poles, towers, and underground trenches to carry wires and cables. Additionally, they supervise electrical, telecommunications, and cable television lines. In emergencies, they respond promptly to reinstate critical utility and communications services. Their average hourly wage is approximately $26.60, and their estimated average annual income is approximately $55,000.
Miner
Workers involved in mining operations dig into the earth to extract naturally occurring minerals. Besides mining coal and metallic and nonmetallic minerals, they also excavate other minerals and develop new mines and quarries. Miners usually earn around $26.30 per hour, and their estimated average annual income is about $54,700.
Oil Well Driller
The primary functions of oil well drillers are finding, developing, and extracting oil and gases. They explore geologic regions likely to contain oil and gases, select well sites, extract oil and gases, and transport oil and gases to refineries. The average hourly wage of oil well drillers is about $26 per hour, and their estimated average annual income is around $53,000.
Telephone Line Installer/Repairer
Telephone line installers and repairers install and repair telephone and telegraph lines, poles, and related equipment. They dig holes, use power augers and shovels, erect poles in holes, use truck-mounted cranes, and fill holes. Their average hourly wage is around $25 per hour and estimated average annual income is roughly $52,500.
