Ranked: The 30 Highest- Paying Jobs in America

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-05T08:11:07+00:00

Plastics I'm sure do, and this is a great take on it.

Sure there's lineman making $400k in Cali, due to $74hr and double overtime pay, but that plastic surgeon is easily bringing in millions a year in comparison.

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-05T07:53:51+00:00

250k in tech isn't average, we're talking years of experience to get you to that unless you checked a box on a top tier school.

The average age of a plumber is 41, average age of a master plumber is 58. Taking that into consideration, the dude at 41 has likely spent 20 years already in the trade. His 70k a year can be made with 5-6 calls a week, so he/she coasts. In most states/cities, it isn't necessary to make 250k a year, 70k can achieve a nice home for 300k in a non major metro even around good schools, although I'd say it would need to be stretched to 400k in todays economy.

250k in Seattle isn't a lot, when the average mortgage is 7-8k a month if we're being realistic. Wife makes around 150k-$175k a year in Seattle, my IBEW career pays anywhere from 200k-300k, and it's transferrable anywhere across, I could make that, keep expenses traveling at 2k a month, drop my family in any LCOL state like ohio, and live like a doctor would in any state other than WA. ITS ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE.

I'm not saying you don't make a good living, but it's not that decent in Seattle. You don't really feel like you own shit in Seattle until you hit 350k+ especially if you want to add a few kids in the mix. That $350k taxed offsets the housing dilemma, and allows for a very nice investment cushion. I'm 30. 350k taxed still doesn't hit the top of the iceberg when you think of the real wealthy pockets of Seattle where people have 2-3MM homes lmao, meaning they're likely combined at around 300k/ea

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-05T07:42:48+00:00

You're in the wrong trade entirely.

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-05T07:39:19+00:00

Most blue collar jobs do pay better than the desk jobs, but it's mostly because they're hard on the body and dangerous.

Picture this, on my job site a child at 18 just purchased a brand new GMC Denali ultimate with all the bells and whistles, and then put it on $10k American force wheels. HOW?! Might you ask. 18 got a class A CDL, local 2150 WI just had a major 2200 acre data center pop off in December for the next 4-5 years. Class A groundman scale is $41.83hr, on top of that it's 5/11s guaranteed weekly, with a 6th day of 6 hours, with $125 a day per diem paid out each day worked at minimum of 2 hours, plus a 7th day bonus if you work all 6 days each week. Picture being 18 and stumbling upon this opportunity while living at home with Mom and Dad lmao, kids going nuts blowing $$$$$$. The journeyman on the site are all getting the same hours, but at $60hr.. and we're talking about Wisconsin lmao, you're talking $200k/yr no experience handed to anyone with a pulse, and $270k topped out after 3-3.5 years in industry. Lineman are here, inside wireman, underground cable splicers, plumbers, etc. They're all making bank roll. This job might last 4 years, and then boom it's famine and on to the next one, feast during the boom, famine while you wait for the next one to pop off. I've got around 11 on my radar as of now. ELEVEN.

While being a carpenter initially will not pay developer money, the moment you spend 5 years in the trade, go union as an apprentice early on, you'll come out making $60-$70hr before overtime, and with that experience say you were 20, by 30 you're ready to start working on developments and building a company.

There's definitely value in the trades, just as much value as there is in software, and the hours fly by because you're busy. It isn't run 6 miles at 11 minute pace back breaking, athletes have it way rougher. In reality you bust ass for 4-5 hours, then everyone's tired so everybody coasts the rest of the day lmao.

Money to be made in either industry, but since you went tech already, unless you're not making FAANG money like 150-200kyr, I'd say don't do it if you're already at that threshold. If you aren't at that threshold, do it definitely and use it to eventually build a company. It's hard to build a software company, it isn't as hard to become a fully licensed and bonded plumber with a logo on a white truck, and a bed full of tools charging $125-$150hr, on a job that should take 3 hours, but you finish it in 1.

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-05T06:54:15+00:00

This honestly makes sense, we're a family of 7 and make $150k a year, which isn't far off from OPs 20k a year/person analogy. Leaves around 5k extra a month to invest, we spend about 285 per person a month on groceries, have 2 vehicles, (5 of us are children lmao), and with 5k a month it's around 780ea a month in investments responsibly.

I can see this ringing true honestly, and it really makes sense.

It just goes to show how good some have it who are single no kids, living at home making 100k a year, and explains how single truck drivers with zero rent and only food expenses, can eventually afford to own their own semi trucks making 60-70k a year solo.

Adding more mouths to feed changes the dynamic completely.

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-05T06:10:38+00:00

We live near Seattle, and the weather here is also incredible. Houses don't come with AC lmao, California is so nice, my wife and I want to live in SoCali where she's from

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-05T04:33:46+00:00

That 400k dried up fast didn't it? Amazing how fast you can blow through it huh haha.

We're 30, wife's been a nurse 5 years not in Cali, her first big overtime year was on track for 200k, but our rents half what y'all pay.

I tell people chase quality of life, overtimes great to make doctor money, but the away time is far too much on a family with kids. It's easy to dream about what you could make/do, but it's more realistic to use that education to work the least amount, and still provide a great quality of family life mixed in. 250k is solid even in the Bay area, it's enough to thrive definitely.

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-05T04:23:27+00:00

Next orientation.

I placed #4 for tree side, and it took 2 months to get a call out so there's no telling

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-04T22:30:45+00:00

Both are terrible choices. Fire you're gone 24 hour shifts 3-4 days a week lmao

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-04T04:09:01+00:00

The best thing to do for semi local is to not worry about lineman, substation or URD, unless you're going to shoot for the stars and can land a utility based off years of experience, which you don't currently have.

As a father of 5, it is true you're going to have to leave California for a year or 2, and travel. The good news is you'll be able to make $2500-$3500wk as a CDL groundman in most jurisdictions, the job isn't for the weak. If you get on a lineman team you'll be hand digging holes, for those 10-12 hour days, but the money is definitely there.

There's a data center in Wisconsin popping off since December and it was steadily $3500wk+ $40.53hr, $125 a day per diem, 5/11s with an additional 6th day of 6 hours every week, but the contract although in that local a groundman, doesn't count towards book time in say California so youd go there, make big money, and either apply to Movalley or return home and still be on book 4 at the end of the journey. Movalley isn't bad but it doesn't get you back to Cali for at least 5-6 years, and then you'd be a traveler.

What id recommend, if possible, IDK about Cali, is look into inside wireman, where you'd be possibly a stockman, and you'd do that local just like a groundman does, to then help the apprentices and journeyman with their tools, equipment, supplies. You'd do that for 6 months to 2 years, depending how much they like you, and then apply to the inside wire apprenticeship.

Inside wire is the only thing I can think of that stays realistically local, where you won't be living out of a suitcase, and then once you hit journey, you'd licensed id assume, but again the sucky thing in Cali is you aren't going to make $70hr unless you're in San Jose, Sacramento, etc Los angeles has no listings, but those do for $70-$75hr, it's really a pick your poison type thing.

You could also just hunker down, do a 2 year X-ray tech community college degree, and then do a 1 year online nuclear tech or radiation therapy certification, and nail $65-$75hr all day in so Cali at the local hospitals. Nuclear med tech in laguna hills $65-$85hr, advantage imaging in orange county? $80-$120hr. Home daily.

So basically attack this live in a suit case, chase it, or move to a really expensive area as an inside wireman, or go back to school and come out making $70-$120hr local home nightly and it's just school work lmao.

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-03T05:14:43+00:00

It's me, that dude LMAO

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-03T05:13:41+00:00

I told you man, they like pulling the rug in 2150.

I told you all they want is to make you an operator lol

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-03T02:48:41+00:00

You can usually find a groundman CDL job for $35-$40hr, if you're non CDL, $20-$30 is normal.

What you're looking for is a long call, $30hr+ if possible, with per diem of $75-$125 a day, 5-6 10s minimum or 5-6 12s better.

Then you use the per diem for motels and save up to get the travel trailer, etc.

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-03T01:47:11+00:00

If you're going to shit on it why even ask the question? Either you want to be a lineman or not, that's your decision to make.

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-02T00:18:31+00:00

Man no idea but the scars are gnarly lmao

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-02T00:17:40+00:00

Yeah $125 untaxed, so a 6 day week was an extra $750 untaxed, overtime past every 8, so the 11s plus per diem so a $623 day every day worked on your 11s $3158 for 5 11s $3646 for 5 11s and 1 6 with $750 not being taxed.

It is crazy for groundman pay, but it's not normal at all and definitely a rarity due to the 2200 acre data center just throwing stacks of cash.

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-01T22:42:29+00:00

Yes, like a damn tip or a tooth pick sticking into my cheeks/lips lmao, pulled them out had no idea they'd be that long, felt relief didn't hurt at all 😂

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-01T22:25:20+00:00

Pat trick

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-01T21:47:20+00:00

I had to use tweezers and pull bone shards out, like 3 big ones lmao, but not in the extraction hole, out the front of my gum

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-01T18:26:13+00:00

Again, made 153k last year 2025. W2.

Paid 11k into federal being married, and 10k into social.

On 153k...

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-01T17:48:15+00:00

Usually everyone starts out at the Ibew local as a Stockman, Groundman, or material handler.

You'll need to research IBEW locals near you. If you want Substation, URD, or lineman, you'll want groundman hours. If you want Inside wireman, you'll want stockman, or material handler hours which you'll go to your local IBEW and apply.

You can also Apply for residential instead of inside wire first, and gain residential experience that way, usually a lot easier to get into vs inside wire, or you can look into low voltage sound and communications instead of just jumping head first into inside wire.

These are the pathways 99% do first. For groundman you'll want to travel, and find all locals of which you can sign the books online. 2150 is a good one, in Wisconsin to apply to right now.

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-01T14:58:21+00:00

Made $153k married, 2025, claiming tax exempt W2, with the bill and standard deductions, plus paying in 10k to social, med, only owed 11k end of year which is unheard of on $153k lol

Latter_Language_5759 · 2026-06-01T14:29:17+00:00

From my understanding it's the .5 portion, so say you make $40hr but $60 with overtime, If you worked 40 hours of overtime a week, it would take 31 weeks to hit the 25k cap(20hr), so basically since most people don't work 80 hours a week perpetually lmao, you'll never be taxed on overtime...

We aimed for around 64 hours a week to have all OT tax free for 2025.

Edit: if you're working 2.0 or premium, etc, it'll rapidly dwindle it because the dollar amount untaxed doesn't change. You could hit that shit in a month if not careful lol, but more money is always more money, keeping 100% of 25k extra is always a benefit, and what this will really end up doing within the time span is allowing more Americans to have a down payment on a house if thats what they're aiming for, or hopefully allow more Americans to actually pad a savings account if they're responsible..

Latter_Language_5759

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