Origin of the Term "Blue-Collar":
The term "blue-collar" first appeared in the 1920s in reference to trade workers. The phrase comes from the image of tradesmen wearing blue denim or canvas shirts as part of their uniform. The idea is that the dark blue color would conceal dirt or grease, helping them appear cleaner.
Blue-Collar vs. White-Collar Workers:
White-collar jobs usually require some sort of formal education with a bachelor's degree in a related field, in contrast to blue-collar jobs, which typically do not. Unlike blue-collar workers, white-collar workers don't do manual labor.
The Top 10 Blue-Collar Jobs for 2024:
Rank | Job Title | Job Outlook* |
---|---|---|
1. | Construction Manager | Construction managers earn around $100,000 per annum. The job outlook for construction managers indicates a projected industry growth of around 5% by 2032. |
2. | Elevator Mechanic | The average annual salary for an elevator mechanic is around $99,000. The elevator mechanic job outlook predicts a marginal industry growth of around 1% by 2032. |
3. | Power-Line Installer | The average annual salary for a power-line installer is around $82,000. The power-line installer job outlook predicts a 3% industry growth by 2032. |
4. | Production Supervisor | Production supervisors earn an average annual salary of around $69,100. The latest job outlook data for production supervisors indicates the industry only grew by 0.3% in recent years. However, certain production sectors showed significant growth. |
5. | Police Officer | Police officers earn around $69,100 per annum. The job outlook for police officers predicts a 3% industry growth by 2032. |
6. | Boilermaker | Boilermakers earn an average annual salary of around $66,000. The job outlook for boilermakers predicts a decline in employment of 4% by 2032. |
7. | Plumber | Qualified plumbers earn around $60,000 per year. The plumber job outlook data indicates marginal growth of 2% by 2032. |
8. | Electrician | Electricians earn an average annual salary of $60,000. The job outlook for electricians predicts a healthy 6% growth by 2032. |
9. | Truck Driver | Truck drivers earn on average around $49,920 per year. The truck driver job outlook data indicates a 4% industry growth by 2032. |
10. | Automotive Technician | Experienced automotive technicians earn around $46,000 per year. The job outlook data for automotive technicians predicts a 2% industry growth by 2032. |
*Salary and projected growth data are best practice estimates for the U.S.