[irishtenor]

Machinists at Boeing make up to $65000 a year before OT.

[mnehring]

http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_SC16000004.html

The median expected salary for a typical Plumber I in the United States is $37,514.

You can see how, if Joe owns a small plumbing business making $255k per year and he hires two or three plumbers, a tax increase can kill his business or get one of his plumbers fired.

[P8riot]

What are some other unglamorous jobs, that don't require a college degree, that pay well?

Founder of Microsoft.

[Red Badger]

What are some other unglamorous jobs, that don't require a college degree, that pay well?

Senator............

[tbpiper]

How much can a good, hard-working plumber earn in a year?

Looking at the job they do, I'd say every penny.

[MikeGranby]

IT DOESN’T MATTER! It’s not about one plumber. It’s about how much a plumbing firm with a handful of employees can earn, and how much the owner will have to take out to service the debt he’ll have to take on in order to buy the business.

[Just another Joe]

Around my neck of the woods plumbers charge from $65 to $85 an hour.
Counting a normal working day (8 hours), normal work year (2080 hours a year), and an average plumber wage, even though it's the plumbing company that's charging, that's $156,000 a year.
Most plumbers I know work more than 8 hours a day so it would probably be more than that.

[Scutter]

I used to live in a fairly nice neighborhood in which the largest, nicest home was owned by a plumber. The house was huge, a real McMansion. So I think if you own a plumbing business (as opposed to just being an individual plumber), you can do quite well.

[TonyInOhio]

Many sales jobs, like mine.

A customer of mine sells commercial trucks in a small city nearby. He made close to $100,000 last year.

If you can sell, you'll never go hungry, and you'll often do very well, indeed.

[SC DOC]

Let me put it this way. I had to call a plumber to fix a leaking water heater, and the job took all of 15 minutes and he charged me $185.00. I told him that for a 1 hour consultation, Medicare pays me about $90.00. His response was, "I know how you feel. I used to be a doctor."

;>)

[Blueflag]

Good friend of mine started as a solo plumber out of UGA. (he got his biz degree).

He is now worth millions and I think he owns about 30% of south Georgia’s good hunting lands.

But he’s 50 now. He WORKED and EARNED his way to wealth; it was not spread to him.

[jsh3180]

A good plumber that owns his own business and is a one man operation can make $150K-$200K a year. If he works hard. Electricians can do a bit better than that.
I’m a general contractor for 30 years, know a lot of tradesmen, so I’m pretty sure of those numbers.

[River_Wrangler]

Auto Mechanics now make enough that they are called “Technicians”.

[Roamin53]

There are many skilled tradesmen (craftsmen) who make a very good living especially when they aspire to their own business. The liberal elite will work to end this possibility. To them being a government worker is the ultimate (and when you consider the Bennies and retirement, even that can be lucrative. I don’t begrudge the hard working ones (and there are many), but there are many doing nothing and getting above average wages. Plumbers and electricians etc only get paid when they produce.

[TexasNative2000]

If you listen to Joe the plumber, he is wanting to OWN THE BUSINESS, not just 'be a plumber'.

He talks about buying more trucks, hiring more people, getting more equipment, etc. He could easily make $400,000 a year AS A BUSINESS - how much he pays himself is up to him.

[Mamzelle]

Plumbers who own their own business, who hire other plumbers, who get a good reputation for good service, who are generally good businessmen...I’d say they could outearn doctors. Certainly some contractors I know have very nice houses and drive very nice cars.

[yobid]

If one thinks that plumbers are little, well, not so smart, try taking a look at plumbing licence exam.

It’s not an easy test to pass.

[proudpapa]

I know a welder who made over $300,000 last year.

Most plumbers making over $250K have 3+ employees/subcontractors.

Under Obama many will need to reduce their workforce 20%.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Nursing home administrator doesn’t require a degree and salaries vary between $60,000 and mid $200,000s.
http://www.michigan.gov/healthcareers/0,1607,7-221-39742-64785—,00.html

[ßuddaßudd]

What are some other unglamorous jobs, that don't require a college degree, that pay well?

I beleive Pipefitters make good money....