This is a position that is definitely easier said than done. That should instantly lift it out of the "loser job" category, but those are the judgements were dealing with. How about we focus on what really matters: cold, hard cash. General Contractor work is about as blue collar as it gets, so certainly it won't be for everyone. Besides needing to be physically capable, there's also a plethora of skills that are required, which is why this is a job that pays very well. You're paying for the knowledge and skill that you don't have.
A General Contractor can take on whichever jobs are suited to their skill set, but they usually require many different types of skills. They aren't necessarily the skills you can get in a classroom. These are applied skills, which is why they can get away with a high hourly. On average, a contractor will make well over $50,000 per year and some can make over $100,000 depending on the contract and experience. If you work up to a construction management position, you can clear over $150,000 per year.