10 Blue-Collar Jobs That Pay at Least $50 an Hour

With widespread layoffs and rising financial pressure, many mid-career professionals are rethinking their path, choosing stability over passion. For those tired of living paycheck to paycheck, it's less about following their dreams and more about finding a job with a livable wage and a low barrier to entry.

Learn about blue-collar jobs that pay at least $50 an hour and are great for those seeking a change in their career path.

If you live in a large city, you probably ride in an elevator several times a day, but how often do you think about its certification, maintenance, and repair? The average hourly wage for elevator technicians is $48.11 per hour, but that means half of elevator repair jobs pay more than that.

Those who have experience in construction, electrical work, or HVAC repair will have an easier pivot into this niche occupation.

Working on aircraft repair has a wide range of compensation packages, but many report making over $50 an hour to start, but it depends on where you go. Private jet options tend to report higher wages than corporate aviation, but the bar for entry does require a degree from an FAA-approved maintenance technical school.

Some are able to bypass that requirement with 18 months of practical work experience with airframes or power plants.

We all need electricity, and working in a power plant can provide a solid income. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the average pay is $50.70 per hour, and while the job doesn't technically require more than a high school diploma, it is beneficial to acquire vocational training.

The on-site training is extensive and requires regular training classes to keep up to date.

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Indoor plumbing is the unsung hero of modern civilization. We rarely have to think about it until something goes wrong, and then you'll pay whatever is needed to make that problem go away.

This can be lucrative for those with vocational training, and can allow for niche specialties that earn up to $300,000 a year, such as water heater repair and installation.

If you're already certified in scuba diving, it could be lucrative to pursue a welding certificate and combine the two into a new and thrilling career path. On average, it pays about $97,000 per year, making it easy to progress to a six-figure income.

Recreational divers may need to pursue additional certification for a professional certificate.

A bachelor's degree in computer science isn't required, but it is helpful towards becoming an information security analyst.

A few relevant certifications can get you entry into this constantly growing field, and the average pay is $60.05 per hour, so those certifications can pay off quickly.

If you love being on the water, becoming a boat pilot might be your dream job. It does require a license, but the threshold to obtain it is fairly low — about $2,000 for a two-week course, and then some paperwork and CPR certification, and you're on your way to working on a boat for an average of $130,000 to $160,000 per year.

Inland water transportation and support activities for water transportation both pay an average of over $100,000 per year.

The BLS reports the average salary for a woodworker is only $21.02 per hour, but Redditors doing the job indicate the pay can often go over $50 an hour. Managing renovations and doing millwork and cabinetry for a business can earn $90,000 a year or more, and offers more stability than being self-employed.

Those who are self-employed report more varied wages, but more often go over the $50 per hour mark.

Nobody dreams of cleaning port-a-potties as a child, but if you can stomach the job, it can pay a six-figure salary to do the dirty work.

The downsides of the job are obvious, but the bright side is that there is little competition and it's as close to recession-proof as you can get.

If you're not afraid of heights, cleaning windows on tall buildings can be a lucrative occupation. In cities like Las Vegas, the pay can be $150 per "drop" (how many times you have to go up and down), and can earn $2,000 in a weekend.

This is great for people who don't have a degree and think rock-climbing sounds like a fun weekend.

An increasing number of workers are frustrated to find they are working 40-plus hours a week but can't seem to get ahead financially. Returning to school for a whole new degree isn't always an option, and blue-collar jobs often have a lower bar of entry and more on-the-job training which can be ideal for those looking to shift their career direction while still needing income to support themselves.