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10 Blue-Collar Jobs That Pay at Least $85,000 a Year

No four-year degree required, just skills and hard work.

By Josh Koebert , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated May 18, 2026

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The idea that you need a four-year degree to get ahead financially has never been less true than it is right now. Wages in skilled trades have been climbing steadily, labor shortages in key industries have pushed compensation higher, and several hands-on occupations now pay more than the average college-educated office worker.

If you're willing to learn a skill, put in the physical work, and earn your way up, a six-figure income could be well within reach. Below are 10 blue-collar jobs that pay at least $85,000 a year.

Editor's note: All salary data comes from The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), unless otherwise stated.

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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, making it one of the highest-paid construction trades in the country. These workers install, fix, and maintain elevators, escalators, and moving walkways in commercial and residential buildings. The work demands electrical knowledge, mechanical aptitude, and comfort in confined vertical spaces.

Entry is through a four- to five-year apprenticeship run by the International Union of Elevator Constructors. Employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.

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Power plant operator, distributor, and dispatcher

Median annual wage: $103,600

The median annual wage for power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers is $103,600, with the highest 10% earning more than $135,500. These workers control the machinery that generates and routes electricity. They monitor control panels, operate switching equipment, and respond quickly to system anomalies. The role requires extensive on-the-job training and, in nuclear facilities, federal licensing.

Most workers enter through utility company training programs or military experience. Shift differentials and overtime, common in plants that run 24 hours a day, frequently push total compensation well above the median.

Electrical power-line installer and repairer

Median annual wage: $92,560

The median annual wage for electrical power-line installers and repairers is $92,560, with the highest 10% earning more than $126,610. These workers install and maintain the high-voltage transmission and distribution lines that carry electricity from power plants to homes and businesses. The work is physically demanding, frequently involves heights and hazardous conditions, and often requires travel to storm-damaged regions on short notice.

Employment is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, fueled in part by grid expansion for electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Construction manager

Median annual wage: $106,980

Employment of construction managers is projected to grow 9% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 46,800 openings projected each year. Construction managers plan, coordinate, and supervise building projects from groundbreaking to completion. They oversee crews, manage budgets, and keep projects on schedule.

While some employers prefer a bachelor's degree, many construction managers rise through the ranks from the trades, particularly in residential and specialty construction. The BLS reports a median annual wage of $106,980, and experienced managers on large commercial projects routinely earn significantly more.

Nuclear technician

Median annual wage: $104,240

The median annual wage for nuclear technicians is $104,240. Nuclear technicians assist engineers and scientists in nuclear power plants and research facilities — operating equipment, monitoring radiation levels, and helping maintain reactor systems.

Entry typically requires a two-year associate's degree in nuclear science or a related field, or equivalent military training. The combination of technical specialization, federal licensing requirements, and safety-critical responsibilities makes this one of the most generously compensated technician roles in any industry.

Electrical and electronics repairer (powerhouse and substation)

Median annual wage: $100,940

Powerhouse, substation, and relay repairers inspect, test, and maintain the high-voltage equipment that keeps the electrical grid running — transformers, circuit breakers, relays, and switching gear at generating stations and substations. The BLS reports a median annual wage of $100,940 for this specialty.

Entry combines vocational training with utility apprenticeship programs, and many workers transition from journeyman electrician roles. Relay protection certifications and specialized equipment training could push pay to the higher end of the range.

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Radiation therapist

Median annual wage: $101,990

The median annual wage for radiation therapists is $101,990, with the highest 10% earning more than $141,550. Radiation therapists administer targeted radiation treatment to cancer patients, operating complex medical equipment and working alongside oncology physicians and nurses.

Entry requires an associate's or bachelor's degree in radiation therapy — a two- to four-year program, not a traditional four-year degree — along with state licensure. It's a healthcare role that sits squarely in the hands-on, technical-skills category, and the pay reflects both the specialized training and the patient care responsibility involved.

Transportation inspector

Median annual wage: $87,890

The median annual wage for transportation inspectors is $87,890. Transportation inspectors examine vehicles, aircraft, ships, and related equipment to ensure they meet federal safety and compliance standards. Some specialize in aviation, rail, or commercial trucking.

The role requires technical knowledge of the mode of transportation being inspected, typically gained through years of hands-on work in the field rather than formal degree programs. Federal and state government positions tend to offer the strongest combination of salary, job security, and benefits.

First-line supervisor of construction trades

Median annual wage: $78,690 (top 25% earn $100,200+)

According to CareerOneStop, first-line supervisors of construction trades had a median annual wage of $78,690, with the top 25% of highest-paid supervisors earning more than $100,200. These supervisors coordinate and direct the daily work of construction crews — managing schedules, enforcing safety protocols, and keeping projects on track. Supervisors working on union projects, in major metro markets, or in specialty construction such as electrical or mechanical systems can regularly earn $85,000 and above, particularly with a decade or more of field experience.

Entry comes entirely from within the trades — typically years of journeyman-level work followed by a step up into management.

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Stationary engineer and boiler operator

Median annual wage: $75,190 (top 10% earn $121,200+)

The median annual wage for stationary engineers and boiler operators is $75,190, with the highest 10% earning more than $121,200. Stationary engineers operate and maintain the mechanical systems that keep large facilities running — boilers, HVAC systems, pumps, compressors, and refrigeration equipment in hospitals, manufacturing plants, universities, and power facilities.

Licensing requirements vary by state and fuel type, and senior engineers who oversee entire building mechanical systems and manage teams can regularly earn well above $85,000. Union representation is common in this field, particularly in industrial and government settings, and significantly boosts total compensation.

Bottom line

A well-paying career doesn't require four years of classrooms and a diploma. What it does require is a marketable skill, a willingness to advance, and the patience to earn your way to the top of the pay range. The jobs on this list reward exactly that, and several of them come with union representation, strong benefits, and job stability that many white-collar roles can't match.

Once you're earning at this level, the real opportunity is what you do with the income: live below your means, avoid unnecessary debt, and start building the habits that let you grow your wealth over time.

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