Just looked into what the highest paying blue collar job actually is, and honestly the salaries surprised me. A lot of people think you need a suit and office to make real money, but that's just not true anymore.

Elevator technicians are apparently leading the pack right now with median annual pay around 102k. Makes sense when you think about it - on-call 24 hours, working in tight spaces, needs licensing. Power plant operators are right there too at roughly 101k, and electrical power line installers pull in about 85k. These aren't entry-level numbers.

What's interesting is most of these highest paying blue collar jobs follow a similar path: high school diploma, apprenticeship, then on-the-job training plus licensing. Aircraft mechanics, railroad workers, boilermakers - they're all in that 60-75k range, which is solid income. Wind turbine technicians are newer to the list but growing fast, with job openings expected to jump 60% over the next decade.

The thing that caught my attention is how stable these careers look. You're not competing with thousands of people for a single role. Skilled trades are actually in demand right now. If you're handy and don't mind the training commitment, the highest paying blue collar job in your area might be your best move financially. Way less student debt than a four-year degree too.