Make the switch from tech to blue collar?
Sorry for the long post!
I am currently 24, and looking for some career advice/different perspectives. I have my bachelor’s in computer science, and work for a security company doing tech support right now. My pay is not the greatest for my area (high cost of living area), but still not horrible. I work in the IT department which handles all of the config and backend stuff for our security systems we sell to customers. I do enjoy my job, and tech is what i went to school for, however i find myself getting discouraged with the whole field lately. There is not a lot of growth in my company, and finding another job in IT or tech in general has been extremely difficult. I have just under 2 years with this company, and have applied to numerous other places, to no avail.
Although I work in the IT side, recently i have been working in the field doing the actual installs of the security systems to get some extra money. This is low voltage electrician work, but it pays considerably more than the IT work i do (anywhere from 40-100% more per hour depending on the site i work at). I enjoy the field work, not just for the money, but also in what i do.
Lately I have been doubting what it is that i want to do with my future. I have always wanted to work in tech, and that was the whole goal and reason i went to college. But it seems impossible to really grow or get another job in that field, and with the current job market, im worried that finding a job in that field will get more and more difficult.
On the other hand, blue collar work such as electricians seem to be in more demand, or at least has a better projected growth than tech right now. I like the idea that work would be more consistent, and i have an idea on how both fields are as i have experience working in both.
Im struggling to decide where to go here and what path would lead me to the best future. Tech was what i originally wanted to do with my future, but maybe there is a better path? Has anyone ever made a move from white collar to blue collar? I appreciate the time and suggestions.
Posted Jun 3, 2026, 11:46 AM UTC