Best Paying Jobs in Basic Industries

Introduction

Best Paying Jobs in Basic Industries: A Comprehensive Guide

Basic industries are some of the most prominent in the world, providing the basic materials that all other industries rely on to produce their own goods and services.

As a result, workers in basic industries earn relatively high wages because these jobs are so essential to daily life.

Which basic industry pays the highest? Which one has the lowest pay? Read on to find out.

Coal Mining

The average coal miner salary is about $84,000 per year and the average earnings for a coal mining manager are $135,900.

Maintaining a heavy workload, miners get to do things like operate machinery, prepare mines and build roads.

Coal mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in America because of the numerous ways you can be injured or killed at work.

Among the leading causes of death for miners are mine explosions and falls from heights.

Even with all the risks, miners take on a job that pays better than most occupations requiring similar education levels and few skills.

Iron Ore Mining

If you’re someone who likes solitude while they work as well as likes working outdoors, then this could be the job for you.

Crude Oil/Natural Gas Drilling

Crude oil and natural gas drilling is one of the best paying jobs in basic industries.

In fact, the annual salary for a job in this field can reach into six figures depending on the qualifications and experience of the individual applicant.

But to be successful as a driller, there are several criteria which must be met to ensure maximum pay.

The very first requirement is that the applicant must have strong math skills since more than half of the work relies on calculations performed by the driller.

In addition, one should be physically fit enough to lift heavy equipment and possess a professional attitude about hazardous working conditions such as extreme weather or high pressure environments.

Lastly, obtaining an engineering degree can also increase earnings since many drillers also act as project managers or engineers who design new sites for exploration and extraction.

Support Activities for Mining

Mining is the process of extracting metals and minerals, such as coal, copper and gold from the earth.

It can also be defined as an excavation of rock or earth for these minerals. There are three main areas in which mining occurs, underground mining where the excavation is open to the surface, open pit mining where workers extract material from a hillside location, and subterranean mining through horizontal drilling.

The typical mining worker can expect to earn between $20-40 per hour.

These jobs require specific training that varies depending on what type of position they have been hired for but overall it can take anywhere from one day to six months to complete this training depending on if they work as an equipment operator or a heavy equipment operator.

Natural Gas Distribution

One example of a job that can net you a salary up to $112,000 is natural gas distribution.

To work as a distribution technician, you will need to complete training from an accredited technical school. After completing training, your education and experience will qualify you for this lucrative position.

If you are interested in studying towards this profession, look for programs that offer concentrated training for the skill set needed to become a distribution technician.

With the growing concern about fossil fuels and global warming, demand for these professionals is expected to grow significantly over the next ten years.

Once you have landed your first position with this company, there are opportunities to climb the ranks of their management structure.

Utilities Distribution

In the US, there are a total of 583 utility distribution companies (UDs) who employ 1.9 million people to do various jobs.

It’s a competitive industry that requires engineers, finance specialists, and those with entry-level work experience for key positions such as business managers and clerical supervisors.

Those at the top of their game can make upwards of $250,000 per year in some cases.

There are plenty of opportunities out there for those wanting to be part of this industry!

Water Treatment and Supply

Treatment methods that are typically used by water supply companies, according to experts, include chemical and/or physical treatments.

The most common chemicals are chlorine, chloramine, sulfur dioxide, and ultraviolet (UV) light treatment. Physical treatments such as screens and membranes often rely on sand or diatomaceous earth filtration; alternatively they may use disinfection via reverse osmosis.

Specialized purification methods of removing toxic substances exist such as ion exchange.

Conclusion

Basic industries have been shown to have less turnover, greater opportunities for career advancement, and higher earnings than others.

That said, with any field of work there are certain risks associated with the job. It is important to take these into consideration when weighing a potential employment offer.

Overall, if you are someone who enjoys getting their hands dirty then basic industries might be right for you.

They also offer stability and high-earning potential to keep yourself happy and your family taken care of.