#137 He Quit College and Found a Six-Figure Blue-Collar Career, waste water management

The blue-collar path can lead to a house, a pension, six figures, and real freedom—if you know how to play the long game. Wes shares how he went from landfill work and night shifts to foreman at a wastewater facility, and why the jobs that feel hardest at 19 can become the career that changes everything.Ike opens the episode with the bigger mission behind the Construction Mentor Podcast: showing that construction is not a dead-end, but a launchpad for the life you actually want. Then Wes breaks down the path that got him there, from growing up on job sites with his block mason father to chasing baseball dreams, trying college for one semester, and eventually finding his lane in sanitation and wastewater.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why starting in an “undesirable” entry-level role can be the fastest way to get your foot in the doorWhat it really looks like to work in wastewater maintenance, from underground pipe repairs to pump station overhaulsHow Wes became a young leader, earned respect from older crews, and learned that titles do not automatically create influenceWhy “jacked up jobs” can become some of the most valuable experiences in your careerWhat blue-collar workers can expect when it comes to pay, benefits, retirement, and upward mobilityHow to move from worker to foreman, supervisor, and beyondWhy taking ownership of mistakes is one of the fastest ways to growHow focusing on the future can help you move past setbacks and uncertaintyWes also shares the practical side of the trade—including what starting pay can look like, how benefits and retirement are structured, and what it takes to grow within the industry.If you’ve ever worried that construction means staying stuck in one role forever, this conversation will challenge that assumption. Whether you’re a student, a young tradesperson, or someone stuck between what you do now and what you know you could become, this episode offers practical advice on building a career with purpose, growth, and financial stability.Wes is a maintenance construction worker foreman at a Southern California wastewater facility and the founder of Tough Hand Co., a work-grade hand balm brand built from years of hands-on experience in the field.Start the FREE Construction Project Management Introduction Course with CourseCareers Now: https://coursecareers.com/a/ike?course=construction-management&campaign=YT 📚 Student & Alumni Reviews: https://coursecareers.com/reviews 🎓Testimonial of CourseCareers https://youtu.be/RRl88nof5f8?si=dKeh4ZnnJ4Yfoo7l🤯 Even More Testimonials: https://www.youtube.com/@coursecareers