10 Blue-Collar Jobs That Pay at Least $40 an Hour

If you don’t like white-collar life, you can still make good money.

By Jenny Cohen

Edited by Chris Kissell

Updated May 28, 2024

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

You may think of good-paying jobs as belonging to white-collar office workers — but that isn’t always the case.

Plenty of blue-collar jobs allow you to bring in enough money to get ahead financially.

So, if you want to try a blue-collar job or prefer them to sitting behind a desk, here are some jobs that can offer you at least $40 an hour based on median hourly wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Earn money online by taking surveys

$55,000 might sound crazy … but with a company called Survey Junkie, it’s possible to get your share of it every day by taking their surveys in your extra time.

Follow these simple steps to start earning:

Sign up for an account with Survey Junkie here.
Take surveys.
Repeat daily and get paid for sharing your opinion!

P.S.: You can cash out with as little as $5 through PayPal or bank transfer, or transfer to gift cards from a number of stores.

Get your share of $55,000 daily by signing up here

Air traffic controller

Median hourly wage: $66.05

Air traffic controllers direct planes, helicopters, and other aircraft to maintain safe distances from one another in the air and on the ground at an airport.

You may have to work unusual shifts, including nights and weekends.

Find Medicare plans with low or $0/month premium

Power plant operator

Median hourly wage: $48.50

Power plant operators are responsible for operating and controlling the systems that generate power and distribute it to private and commercial customers.

You usually need a high school diploma and on-the-job training to understand the processes at a power plant.

Radiation therapist

Median hourly wage: $47.26

If you're looking for something a little less blue-collar, perhaps a radiation therapist job will be a good fit.

These workers operate radiation machines to treat patients' medical issues, including cancer and other serious diseases.

They typically work in healthcare settings such as outpatient centers, hospitals, or medical offices.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.¹

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

Elevator and escalator installer and repairer

Median hourly wage: $49.24

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are responsible for the smooth operation of elevators and escalators.

Installers and repairers usually receive on-the-job training for this specialized position that installs and fixes elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and other lifts.

Facilities manager

Median hourly wage: $50.44

A facilities manager is responsible for the operations of a building, grounds, or equipment facility.

You may oversee staff, monitor facilities to make sure things are running properly, and keep an eye on maintenance and repair issues.

Construction manager

Median hourly wage: $50.43

Construction managers plan construction projects from beginning to end.

You may develop a budget, coordinate parts of the project, fix issues, and supervise the completion of the effort.

Make Money: 8 things to do if you're barely scraping by financially

Power-line installer and repairer

Median hourly wage: $41.07

Electrical power-line installers and repairers install and repair lines used for electrical power systems. But just be cautious. It can be a dangerous job dealing with high-voltage electrical issues or working on power lines.

Subway and streetcar operator

Median hourly wage: $43.80

Subway and streetcar operators help passengers get where they need to go. You might work in public transportation.

Nuclear technician

Median hourly wage: $48.92

Nuclear technicians work with physicists and engineers to develop nuclear energy production and engage in nuclear research.

You usually need at least an associate degree to work as a nuclear technician and will go through on-the-job training.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!²

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Petroleum engineer

Median hourly wage: $65.23

Petroleum engineers design and develop methods used to extract oil and other products — such as natural gas — from the ground.

Although you might work in an office, you can also travel to drilling and extraction sites to review plans and methods being used in the field. Your lucrative salary should let you build up savings and retire early if you choose.

Bottom line

A white-collar job isn’t for everyone, but you can still earn good money and boost your bank account by working a blue-collar job.

Check out some of the jobs on this list and decide if one of them might be right for you.

More from FinanceBuzz: