My First Job Was Blue Collar: Why It Was the Best Choice for My Finances

When Danilo Abdala took a blue-collar job installing pavers in Florida as a way to earn extra money at age 19, he didn’t foresee it leading to a thriving business that took him and his brother Jeff globally to Japan, Dubai, Canada, Brazil and throughout the U.S. to work on client projects — and to be selected for a hardscaping project on HGTV Dream Home 2024. Who said blue-collar work can’t be glamorous?

Abdala said initially, he saw blue-collar work as a good way to earn extra income in the outdoor industry. “As I gained more experience, I realized the potential for career growth and skill development in the trades,” he said.

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Learning a trade offers numerous benefits and opens up various occupations and specialties.

“It also helps you develop leadership and business skills while learning practical skills and gaining diverse perspectives,” said Abdala. “Throughout my career, I have worked in almost every aspect of construction, except roofing. From 2018 to 2021, I managed a chain of supermarket remodels and new store openings in the Midwest [at which time] I started Black Diamond Hardscape, a contracting company, where we get to create amazing outdoor projects for our clients.”

Here’s a deeper look into blue-collar work and if it may be the right choice for you, too.

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So, What Is Blue Collar?

Blue collar is a term for jobs that involve skilled trades and manual labor. Contrary to white-collar workers, who typically work in offices or remotely from home, blue-collar employees work with their hands and can be found in sectors where physical labor is necessary, including construction, plumbing, electrical and manufacturing.

Most positions don’t require a college degree but do warrant training or licensing. In some circumstances, such as reaching upper-management level, a four-year degree may be required.

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The Fast Track To Start a Career

Blue-collar careers are less expensive and less time-consuming than careers that require a college degree. Apprentices and journeypersons can learn a trade on the job (while getting paid), attend vocational school in high school or enroll in short-term certificate programs.

For many people, this beats accruing $30,000 or more in student loan debt and having to wait until completing a four-year or six-year college degree to start working.

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5 Types of Blue-Collar Jobs

GOBankingRates gathered data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Indeed on salaries, education, occupational requirements and job descriptions for five types of in-demand blue-collar jobs. However, there are many more blue-collar opportunities out there.

1. Electrician

• Median pay: $61,590 per year/$29.61 per hour

• On-the-job training: Apprenticeship

• Education required: High school diploma

• Work experience: None

• Number of jobs: 762,600

• Find out: What does an electrician do?

2. Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter

• Median salary: $61,550 per year/$29.59 per hour

• On-the-job training: Apprenticeship

• Education required: High school diploma

• Work experience: None

• Number of jobs: 482,700

• Find out: What does a plumber do?

3. Facility Manager

• Median salary: $104,900 per year/$50.44 per hour

• On-the-job training: None

• Work experience: Less than five years experience required

• Education required: Bachelor’s degree

• Number of jobs: 19,900

• Find out: What does a maintenance manager do?

4. Boilermaker

• Median salary: $71,140 per year/$34.20 per hour

• On-the-job training: Apprenticeship

• Work experience: None

• Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

• Number of jobs: 13,700

• Find out: What does a boilermaker do?

5. Auto Mechanic

• Median salary: $47,770 per year/$22.96 per hour

• On-the-job training: Short term

• Work experience: None

• Education required: High school or post-secondary certificate

• Number of jobs: 782,200

• Find out: What does an auto mechanic do?

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: My First Job Was Blue Collar: Why It Was the Best Choice for My Finances