High-Paying "Supposedly Dirty" Occupations that Offer Generous Remuneration
In posh neighborhoods across the USA, there's a presumption that their children will attend college and pursue white-collar professions. Those who don't conform are often looked down upon. Yet, this entrenched mindset might be shifting. The dream of going to college and having a bright future isn't working as planned, thanks to soaring tuition costs and a saturated job market for college grads.
A new trend is emerging: skilled trades. It might be time for parents to nudge their kids towards vocations such as plumbing, electrical work, or other less prestigious, yet well-paying jobs. These paths promise financial security, job stability, and personal satisfaction, free from the burden of college debt or AI competition for jobs.
However, these roles are still undesirable, often seen as dirty jobs. Physically demanding, hazardous, and socially stigmatized, they aren't everyone's cup of tea. For many families, especially the middle and upper middle class, working in the trades seems like a last resort. But, countless benefits remain hidden beneath this unfortunate view.
Crappy Jobs, Solid Salaries
Jobs often avoided by college graduates and non-graduates alike, such as sanitation work, sewage treatment, and slaughterhouse labor, offer surprisingly competitive salaries. For instance, sanitation workers in New York City kick off earning around $44,821 per year, and after five and a half years, they can rake in as much as $92,093, not to mention the sweet union benefits and overtime pay.
These jobs challenge societal norms. We tend to celebrate university degrees and desk jobs while devaluing the real hard work that keeps the country going. For those prepared to get their hands dirty, these jobs offer an opportunity to defy cultural biases and reap the rewards. Here are a few jobs often considered undesirable but are crucial for our society.
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Sanitation workers gather and dispose of residential and commercial waste. They endure early mornings, unpleasant weather conditions, and handle hazardous materials. The job is physically taxing, features a foul smell, and exposes workers to health risks. Despite this, it offers a chance to combat cultural prejudices.
Sewage and Wastewater Treatment Worker
These individuals maintain and operate systems that treat sewage and wastewater. The job involves cleaning tanks, handling sludge, and working in confined spaces with toxic gases. The job's exposure to human waste, dangerous chemicals, and cramped conditions is a major turnoff. It requires technical skills but lacks the glamour to attract educated workers. In 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these workers earned a median annual wage of $51,600, with experienced urban workers earning up to $75,000 to $100,000 with certifications.
Surrounded by Slaughter
Slaughterhouse workers kill, process, and package livestock for food production. The job involves sharp tools, repetitive motions, blood, and animal remains. Its gory nature, high injury rates, and ethical concerns about animal cruelty make it unappealing. The industry relies heavily on immigrant labor due to its undesirability among native-born workers. In 2024, the BLS reported a median annual wage of $39,700 for slaughterers and meat packers. Skilled butchers and supervisors in large plants can earn up to $50,000 to $70,000, with overtime pushing their income.
Oil Rig Bootstrapper
Roughnecks work on oil rigs, performing manual labor like drilling, pipe handling, and equipment maintenance. The job requires long shifts, often 12 hours, remote locations, and exposure to extreme weather and explosion risks. The high danger of oil and gas extraction has a fatality rate 7 times the national average. Isolation and physical exhaustion deter workers. Many graduates seek safer, office-based careers, while non-graduates avoid lifestyle sacrifices. In 2024, the BLS reported a median annual wage of $54,300 for roustabouts in oil and gas. Experienced roughnecks can earn up to $72,500 to $166,500 with bonuses for offshore work.
Why These Jobs Are Last Resorts
A number of factors make these jobs unappealing. All four roles involve grueling labor, health risks, and unpleasant conditions. From smelly sanitation to hazardous sewage, gory slaughterhouses, and dangerous oil rigs – these deter workers with other options. Society often devalues "dirty" jobs, associating them with low status.
College graduates, bogged down by debt and expectations of professional careers, view them as beneath their education. Non-graduates, more open to manual labor, prefer less stigmatized roles like construction or retail.
Stigma Against Blue-Collar Work
As Mike Rowe, an advocate for trade skills, noted in his 2011 Senate testimony, societal narratives glorify white-collar paths while dismissing skilled trades. With unemployment below 5% in 2025, workers can often find less demanding jobs. Even underemployed graduates, 52% work in roles not requiring degrees, and they'd rather opt for retail or office jobs over dirty work, despite lower pay.
Mike Rowe's advocacy for blue-collar work highlights a need to rebrand these jobs. Highlighting their pay, benefits, and societal impact could attract workers. For instance, wastewater operators could be framed as "environmental protectors," not just "sewage handlers."
Compared to underemployed college graduates earning $40,000 in retail or food service, these jobs often pay better. The college premium makes 50% more than high school diploma holders, driving degree-holders to hold out for white-collar roles, even if it means barista gigs. Non-graduates, meanwhile, face competition from automation and outsourcing, pushing some towards these jobs reluctantly.
We Need These Workers, But They're Disrespected
These dirty jobs reveal a paradox. They're essential for the proper functioning of our society, yet chronically understaffed due to cultural and economic disconnects. Society tends to undervalue essential work. From sanitation, sewage treatment, food production, and energy extraction – these workers keep civilization running. However, they face disdain, reflecting a flawed value system prioritizing clean jobs over functional ones. If a sanitation strike hit New York, the city would grind to a halt.
The push for universal college degrees has flooded the market with graduates (35% of U.S. adults hold bachelor's degrees), who shun blue-collar work, even when underemployed. Meanwhile, 67% of small-business owners report graduates lack practical skills for today's needs. Trade schools and apprenticeships, which could fill these gaps, remain underfunded and stigmatized.
High salaries and low competition make these roles viable for pragmatic workers. A debt-free sanitation worker earning $70,000 in California outpaces many graduates struggling with $37,000 in student loans and $40,000 salaries. Programs like Project JumpStart, which train ex-offenders for trades, show how "dirty" jobs can offer stability.
Unfortunately, the dirty tough jobs may face other problems. AI and robotics are encroaching on even dirty jobs. Automated trash trucks and slaughterhouse robots are reducing demand for human labor. Workers entering these fields must upskill. This includes learning to maintain robotic systems to stay relevant.
- In contrast to the glamour surrounding white-collar professions, the education-and-self-development sector offers a myriad of courses that can equip individuals with the skills needed to excel in the aforementioned blue-collar jobs, such as plumbing, sewage treatment, and sanitation work.
- While finance might not be the immediate concern for those pursuing these less-prestigious, yet financially secure blue-collar jobs, understanding the value of money becomes crucial when considering retirement plans and managing finances in the absence of a traditional college degree and its accompanying stable income from a white-collar profession.
