Best blue collar jobs......

where you getting $31.00/hour?

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Airport baggage checker

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You mean the sky caps at the airport out front? You think these guys make 100k a year?

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listed #1 on someone's "Most overpaid jobs" list.

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Link or source? That doesn't really cut it for this claim.

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Suffice to say, if anyone is tettering on going to college in the first place, I would tell them do whatever you have to do to get on as an operator at a local plant and move your way up. I got a cousin who went this route and makes good money and has awesome benefits. He has been doing it for 10+ years while I just got out of school 2 years ago. I will probably catch his salary in a year or two, but he has been making decent money for 5 times as long (we about 3 years a part in age) and doesn't have the same issues most professionals deal with.

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The larger plants are fast moving away from hiring and training operators with only a high school diplomia. Many are requiring a A.S. in process control or somthing similar. They are working with local colleges to develop these programs. Baton Rouge Community College has a program, and McNeese State in Lake Charles has had a program for years, and recently added a B.S. in process technology.

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7) Skycaps at major airports Many of the uniformed baggage handlers who check in luggage at curbside at the busiest metro airports pull in $70,000 to $100,000 a year -- most of it in cash. On top of their salaries, peak earners can take in $300 or more a day in tips. Sound implausible? That amounts to a $2 tip from 18 travelers an hour on average. Many tip more than that.

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CBS Marketwatch

Disclaimer - article is from 2003

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The larger plants are fast moving away from hiring and training operators with only a high school diplomia. Many are requiring a A.S. in process control or somthing similar. They are working with local colleges to develop these programs. Baton Rouge Community College has a program, and McNeese State in Lake Charles has had a program for years, and recently added a B.S. in process technology.

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This! Days are gone were plants will hire someone just out of HS. The last bunch that was hired at were I work had AS and BS in process technology which they didn't know jack shite! They just knew they knew everything up front.

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The larger plants are fast moving away from hiring and training operators with only a high school diplomia. Many are requiring a A.S. in process control or somthing similar. They are working with local colleges to develop these programs. Baton Rouge Community College has a program, and McNeese State in Lake Charles has had a program for years, and recently added a B.S. in process technology.





This! Days are gone were plants will hire someone just out of HS. The last bunch that was hired at were I work had AS and BS in process technology which they didn't know jack shite! They just knew they knew everything up front.

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this is not totally true. I started about 8 months ago at one of the big boys and I do not have a ptech degree. Although I do have about 10 years from another plant.
Of the 14 guys that hired in with me only 1 had a ptech degree. Most just had actual plant experience

If you don't mind being away for a week+ at a time boat captains/mates/engineers make damn good money. Market isn't great right now but with a few years experience and the right licenses $600+ a day is attainable.

DOT pipeline inspectors make good money. Starting out somewhere around $25/hr. and experienced guys will make $50/hr. with plenty of opportunity for overtime at time and a half. Most all of them get per diem of ~$75 plus mileage. The down side is you will be on the road for months at a time following projects around the country or overseas. If you get stationed on a project overseas you could get a 100% bump in pay grossed up. However it all depends on the location you get stationed. For example, if you go to Angola you'll get the full bumpage. However, if you go to Australia you get very little to no bumpage.

underwater welder

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starting is around 20$ per hour for offshore, however you typically receive bonuses for depth, conservation of material, safety, and efficiency. onshore does not pay as well as offshore. 1$ per foot and an additional 1$ per foot for every 50 feet, so say, 75 feet would be 100$, 100 feet would be 150$, 150 feet would be 300$. the bonus for depth goes up as you go down and so does your risk.

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I agree this is a good job to add to the list, but I dont quite agree with your numbers for a couple reasons.

Back in the late 90's, between the four casinos in New orleans, I would guess maybe a dozen of us were clearing over $30/ hr in the whole city (its a small world in that business and we all pretty much knew each other). And this was before the automatic shuffler. I dont play as much as I'd like to anymore, but last time I was at Harrahs I remember thinking how pissed I would have been when they installed these things. They slow you down.
Also, ever since ESPN made poker popular, the game has changed. There are a lot more tourneys being played today than back then. You dont make jack during a tourney.
The regular games have changed as well. You dont see as many 3-6, 4-8, or 6-12 holdem games anymore. Thats where the money was made. Now you see a lot more 1-2 no limit games. These no limit games are much slower.

The best dealers are those who posess three qualities...knowledge of the game, speed, and personality.

Again, I'm not a regular in casinos anymore, but from what I have seen over the last few years, I would bet the best dealers, on average make about $30/ hr, and I doubt there are that many who get that much. But still, the worst ones will likely be making over $20/ hr, so still not bad.