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12 Blue-Collar Jobs That Pay at Least $105,000 a Year

High pay without a degree, built on skills and hands-on training.

By Sarah Brooks , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated May 7, 2026

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The story of blue-collar work is changing faster than most people realize. A May 2025 survey by Resume Builder found that roughly 40% of Gen Z adults are pursuing trades because of job security and the desire to avoid massive student loan debt. Enrollment in vocational training programs has surged as overall enrollment in community colleges and four-year institutions has fallen.

Meanwhile, wages in skilled trades have climbed steadily, and in several specialties, experienced tradespeople now out-earn office workers with bachelor's degrees. If you're looking for a career path that can lower your financial stress and build real long-term wealth, the trades deserve a closer look than they typically get. Here are 12 blue-collar jobs that pay at least $105,000 a year at the median or are reliably achievable at that level with experience and specialization.

Editor's note: All salary data was sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

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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. These workers install, maintain, and repair elevators, escalators, and moving walkways in commercial and residential buildings. The work requires electrical knowledge, mechanical aptitude, and comfort working in confined vertical spaces.

Entry is typically through a four- to five-year apprenticeship, and employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034.

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Nuclear power reactor operator

Median annual wage: $122,830

Nuclear power reactor operators were the highest-paying production occupation in the May 2024 BLS data, with a median annual wage of $122,830. These workers monitor control panels and operate equipment that controls nuclear reactors used to generate electricity. The role requires extensive on-the-job training, a federal license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the ability to respond quickly to technical emergencies.

Entry typically follows military nuclear experience or plant-sponsored training programs. The job demands precision and ongoing certification, which is exactly why it commands premium pay.

Power distributors and dispatchers

Median annual wage: $109,620

Power distributors and dispatchers are among the highest-paying production occupations, with a median wage of $109,620. These workers coordinate the flow of electricity through power grids, monitoring transmission lines 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.

Commercial pilot (non-airline)

Median annual wage: $122,670

Commercial pilots fly aircraft for purposes other than scheduled airline service, including cargo operations, charter flights, aerial surveying, agricultural spraying, and air ambulance missions.

Entry requires a commercial pilot certificate from the FAA, which demands 250 flight hours and passing written and practical exams. Many pilots build hours through flight instruction or regional flying roles before moving into higher-paying commercial work. No four-year degree is required, and flight school programs can be completed in one to two years.

Industrial production manager

Median annual wage: $121,450

These managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing plants, managing staff, coordinating production schedules, and ensuring quality and efficiency targets are met.

Entry is typically through years of hands-on floor experience, followed by advancement into supervisory and then management roles. No engineering degree is required in most manufacturing environments.

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 the BLS. They install and maintain the high-voltage 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 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 the average for all occupations, driven in part by the expansion of the electrical grid to support EVs and renewable energy.

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Avionics technician

Median annual wage: $81,390 (top 10% earn $113,580)

Avionics technicians install, inspect, test, and repair the electronic systems aboard aircraft — navigation equipment, communication systems, radar, and flight control 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 demands precision but no four-year degree.

Radiation therapist

Median annual wage: $101,990 (top 10% earn $141,550)

Radiation therapists administer targeted radiation treatment to cancer patients as part of oncology care teams. They operate complex linear accelerators, maintain precise treatment records, and work directly with patients through difficult medical situations.

Though the median annual wage for radiation therapists is $101,990, the highest 10% earn more than $141,550. Entry requires a two- to four-year radiation therapy program, along with state licensure in most states. In hospital settings and cancer centers with high patient volumes, $105,000 is a realistic and common earnings level.

Commercial diver

Median annual wage: 61,300 (top 10% earn $136,990)

Commercial divers work underwater to inspect, repair, and maintain infrastructure, including pipelines, bridges, ship hulls, and offshore oil rigs. The BLS reports a median annual wage of around $61,000, but that number significantly understates what experienced divers in high-demand specialties earn.

Offshore and saturation divers — who live in pressurized environments for extended periods on deep-sea projects — routinely earn $115,000 to $172,000 annually, with hazard pay, per diems, and offshore premiums included.

Entry typically requires a commercial diving certification program lasting several months, plus the accumulation of logged dive hours.

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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, or concrete beams — deep into the ground as foundations for buildings, bridges, and offshore platforms. The wide pay range reflects geographic variation, technical complexity of specific equipment, and the premium commanded by operators who work on marine and offshore projects.

Entry is through apprenticeship or on-the-job training.

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 repairers is $71,270, with the highest 10% earning more than $109,300. Workers who specialize in power systems sit at the higher end of this pay range. Utility companies, industrial manufacturers, and defense contractors routinely pay $105,000 and above for experienced power-systems repairers with the certifications and clearances those environments require.

Entry combines vocational training with on-the-job apprenticeship.

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 plants and research laboratories. They operate testing equipment, monitor radiation levels, and help maintain reactor systems.

Most positions require an associate's degree in nuclear science or a related technology, or a combination of military experience and on-the-job training. While the median sits just below the $105,000 threshold, experienced nuclear technicians 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.

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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 five years of paid on-the-job training. A four-year college graduate enters the workforce with a median starting salary of $59,384 and an average of $39,000 in federal student loan debt.

At the specialist and supervisory levels covered in this list, the earnings gap widens further. For anyone willing to develop a specialized skill and put in the time to advance, these careers offer a genuine path to grow your wealth without spending four years and six figures to get started.

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