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There are many misconceptions about what qualifies someone as a blue-collar worker. For example, many assume that blue-collar work requires less education than white-collar work. However, there are plenty of blue-collar professionals out there.
This article clears up the misconceptions surrounding collar careers. Read on to broaden your knowledge of both white- and blue-collar jobs.
Blue-collar workers include those in the manufacturing, farming, and construction industries. Positions like these test one's stamina and strength. This type of job typically requires hard, physical work and long hours.
People who work in blue-collar jobs tend to receive lower wages than white-collar workers. Blue-collar workers are typically paid per hour and often do not receive benefits such as health insurance.
White-collar workers are often known as office workers, or suit-and-tie workers. They mostly work in offices as they work at a desk in clerical, administrative, or management settings. Their duties usually do not involve any physically taxing activities.
In addition to working in a specific field, white-collar workers must possess certain skills. While this type of work may not be physically demanding, it can be stressful and lead to mental burnout.
Blue-collar and white-collar jobs are often thought of as being synonymous terms. However, there are some important distinctions between the two. Here are five key differences between blue-collar and white-collar careers.
The most obvious distinction between white-collar and blue-collar jobs is that a white-collar worker works in an office with a desk and computer without physical hardship.
In contrast, a blue-collar job involves working in areas such as warehouses, construction sites, workshops, production lines, and outdoor settings.
For a white-collar job, mostly a formal education is mandatory. So, for example, if you're applying for an accountant job, you must have a formal education. However, on-the-job training is expected for a blue-collar profession.
The fact that the definition of a blue-collar job leaves out details like the wage structure or skill requirements could be a useful distinction. Since more unskilled employees gravitate to blue-collar jobs, these positions may demand less upfront experience.
One of the main aspects that could separate the two types of work is that a white-collar job offers higher pay than a blue-collar job. Yet sometimes, it can be the opposite. The salary of a skilled blue-collar worker can be higher than a mid-level white-collar worker. Many factors, such as the skill level required to perform the work, experience level, and working hours, play a role.
In addition, white-collar jobs often come with benefits like health insurance, paid vacation days, retirement plans, etc. In contrast, blue-collar jobs rarely provide any benefits package. Some people view white-collared jobs as more enticing simply due to benefits packages that come with those jobs.
White-collar jobs are getting more administrative, meaning they involve working at a desk on a computer or managerial duties, including managing people or projects.
In contrast, blue-collar jobs usually require some physical labor, depending on the nature of the job. For instance, some jobs are mostly outdoors, while others are mainly in industrial environments like factories.
The educational requirements for white-collar jobs are higher than for blue-collar jobs because the positions require vast knowledge and involve the management or interpretation of technical information. Therefore, a bachelor's degree or higher is useful.
Blue-collar jobs don't involve higher education and only require workers to have a high school diploma. Many openings involve learning from senior co-workers. So blue-collar employees can quickly learn skills on the job.
White-collar jobs require higher education and specific prerequisites. Below are a few white-collar professions.
An accountant's basic level covers bookkeeping, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, taxes, and general ledger. The intermediate level adds topics such as depreciation, inventory management, and cost segregation. Finally, the advanced level covers auditing, risk analysis, and valuation.
A civil engineer earns an annual income of around $80,000. Most civil engineers work for government organizations or private companies. They design roads, bridges, water treatment facilities, waste disposal sites, housing development, and other structures.
Executive directors are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a company. They manage employees, control budgets, and make sure everything runs smoothly.
Software developers develop software solutions to meet customer requirements. They also work closely with customers to understand their needs and translate those into technical specifications.
An attorney makes an average of $87,012 per annum. Most attorneys work in private firms. There are many different kinds of attorneys, including corporate lawyers, patent attorneys, real estate lawyers, etc.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical doctors earn about $250K annually. This includes physicians working in hospitals, clinics, medical centers, nursing homes, and doctor's offices.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines common blue-collar jobs as those that require some education beyond high school but do not necessarily require a college degree.
Blue-collar jobs have been rising in the service industry, mainly requiring fewer skills than white-collar jobs. Below are some of the blue-collar professions.
Warehouse workers are among the lowest-paid employees in America. On average, warehouse workers make less than $12 per hour. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for warehouse workers is just over $15,000. In addition, the majority of warehouse jobs don't require a college degree.
Many people start working in construction without having much formal training. As a result, 70% of men occupy the construction worker position. This job mainly consists of hard manual labor.
An auto mechanic generally earns $19 per hour. Their primary duty includes maintenance. They often specialize in repairing vehicles.
Electricians are often hired to do repairs around the home and office, such as installing lights, repairing outlets, or replacing fuses. Some focus on residential wiring, while others work exclusively with commercial clients. Most electricians must pass licensing exams administered by state boards of examiners.
A landscaper's primary duty is to manage and maintain the growth of plants. They typically work outdoors, although some do indoor gardening. Many start as landscape contractors, learning the trade while earning money as part of a team.
Blue-collar work refers to jobs that require physical labor. Jobs that require a college degree or other formal training are white-collar jobs.
These types of jobs usually do not require much education or training. They are often paid at an hourly rate. Most people start out working in blue-collar jobs.
Red-collar jobs include all government workers. The name derives from the government's former compensation method.
The higher pay of white-collar jobs makes them preferable to blue-collar work. However, white-collar jobs also come with certain drawbacks. For example, white-collar jobs often require additional education or training before hiring the candidate.
The term "white-collar job" refers to a type of employment where people work in offices and use computers rather than manual labor. These positions include office workers such as secretaries, accountants, lawyers, engineers, scientists, teachers, doctors, nurses, etc.
The term "blue-collar worker" came into use during the Industrial Revolution. At the time, most people who did physical labor would wear denim clothes to hide stains and dirt.
On the other hand, office workers wore white shirts under their suits. These white shirts became associated with jobs inside an office. As early as 1970, colored shirts made up roughly 80% of Arrow's sales. This was all due to the collar terms.
People are starting to view blue-collar jobs as just another job type like white-collar or red-collar jobs. White-collar jobs aren't necessarily superior to blue-collar ones. Instead, they're seen as people who work hard and deserve respect.
Learn more about the different types of careers available by visiting the Pinnacle Career Institute website. We provide an easy admissions process that doesn't leave you feeling overwhelmed.
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