I thought this was interesting for obvious reasons. Hopefully we will be AVERAGE some day!



MSNBC.com
10 highest-paying blue-collar jobs

An elevator installer or repairer earns an average salary of $87,518
INTRODUCTION

April L. Brown / AP
A line crew with Southwestern Electric Power Company saws off limbs that are hanging across power lines Jan. 29 in Fayetteville, Ark. The average salary of an electrical power line installer and repairer is $60,354.

Who says hard work doesn't pay? These 10 blue-collar jobs show that the color of your collar doesn't necessarily dictate the level of your income.

Blue-collar jobs are typically classified as involving manual labor and compensation by an hourly wage. Some fields that fall into this category include construction, manufacturing, maintenance and mining.

Do not mistake blue-collar jobs for easy to land, easy to keep or low-paying ones. Although some blue-collar jobs do not require a four-year degree, many of them require additional education by way of specialized training, a certification or an apprenticeship.

There are several blue-collar jobs that offer competitive compensation packages, relative to their white-collar counterparts.

Elevator installers and repairers sit atop the list with an average hourly wage of $42.08. This hands-on occupation involves many tasks, including assembly, testing, maintenance and repair of elevators, escalators and moving sidewalks. On average, an elevator installer or repairer can bring in over $87,000 dollars per year.

Ship and boat captains and operators earn an average of $24.86 per hour for navigating their vessels through a variety of waterways. On average, a captain or operator brings in almost $58,000 each year, but these captains have to work a bit harder for the money — the average work week is 51.8 hours.

The pressure is on, literally, for gas plant operators who control compressors to keep gas flowing through pipelines. This essential job pays workers just under $64,000 or approximately $30.71 on an hourly basis.

There are several specialties within the electrical and electronic repair industry. The most lucrative area involves inspecting and repairing electrical equipment at generating stations, substations and in-service relays. These workers bring in an average salary of $68,000 per year.

1. Elevator installer and repairer
Average salary: $87,518
Average hourly wage: $42.08
Average work week: 40 hours

2. Electrical and electronics repairer – powerhouse, substation and relay
Average salary: $68,084
Average hourly wage: $32.75
Average work week: 40 hours

3. Power plant operator, distributor and dispatcher
Average salary: $65,846
Average hourly wage: $31.50
Average work week: 40 hours

4. Gas plant operator
Average salary: $63,872
Average hourly wage: $30.71
Average work week: 40 hours

5. Locomotive engineer
Average salary: $63,125
Average hourly wage: $28.27
Average work week: 42.5 hours

6. Electrical power line installer and repairer
Average salary: $60,354
Average hourly wage: $29.02
Average work week: 40 hours

7. Structural iron and steel worker
Average salary: $59,224
Average hourly wage: $28.55
Average work week: 39.9 hours

8. Construction and building inspector
Average salary: $59,144
Average hourly wage: $28.31
Average work week: 40.2 hours

9. Ship and boat captain and operator
Average salary: $57,910
Average hourly wage: $24.86
Average work week: 51.8 hours

10. Radio and telecommunications equipment installer
Average salary: $57,149
Average hourly wage: $27.48
Average work week: 39.9 hours

Source: Investopedia. The jobs are ranked by annual salary, from highest to lowest, excluding overtime. The data was pulled from the National Compensation Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2008, which is published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Updated: 6:58 p.m. ET Oct. 23, 2009

© 2009 MSNBC.com
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33347186/ns/business-careers/