Lineman is probably the highest paying blue collar job you can get
I know two linemen. Both make great money. One is on track to make over $300k this year in a small Midwest town (works probably 60-hour weeks), and the other will make at least $150k working about 45 hours a week. They both love their jobs. If I was starting over in 2026, the age of AI, I would 100% go into this. Every time you say anything about being a lineman, everyone talks about all the overtime and how hard it is. It's not for everyone, but I've worked harder jobs for minimum wage than being a lineman.
I used to work on roofs in the summer making $15/hr. The job was more dangerous, with no benefits, no union, low pay, etc. If you drive a vehicle for your work that's more dangerous than being a lineman. The union has made it a very safe job and the pay is great. I personally know linemen who work less than me and make more, at my cushy white collar job.
Then I even see comments like, "Union contractor JL out of St. Louis. Working 5 days a week, 8-hour days plus some overtime, and I’ll probably be at $140k this year." You can almost choose how much you make too. Like if you want a sane life work max 50 hours a week and make $150k. Want to make $300k+ work a ton. You can flex your hours. Some make $150k working 9 months out of the year. Most white collar jobs your salary is your limit and if you're lucky you can work 11 months of the year.
Most white-collar jobs making the same amount of money are working more than that. The white collar workers can be laid off at any time, less benefits. Go to the r/Lineman subreddit and look. Some are making $600k+. They love the job. It's not the easiest job in the world but the dollar for work its a great job.