Blue-Collar Jobs
In the United States, blue-collar jobs refer to occupations that generally involve some form of manual labor. Blue-collar workers use their hands and physical abilities to perform their duties. While blue-collar jobs do not require much in the way of formal education, they are highly specialized with skills obtained through apprenticeships or trade school.
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The Best Blue-Collar Job Boards:
Rank | Job Board | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Indeed | Indeed is a general job board with the ability to enter keywords and location, and the option to filter results by date, contract type, and location. It is the most trafficked job board in the United States. |
| 2. | Google for Jobs | Google for Jobs uses the Google search engine to find and display available job postings using searched keywords and job titles. |
| 3. | While LinkedIn is also an excellent platform for connecting with professionals, many companies post job vacancies that can be saved to your profile. | |
| 4. | EngineerJobs.com | Touted as the world's most visited engineering job site, EngineerJobs.com allows job seekers to search for jobs by title, keyword, company, or location. |
| 5. | CareerBuilder | In addition to displaying jobs, CareerBuilder also offers a salary tool to compare salaries for similar jobs in your area. |
| 6. | ZipRecruiter | With a ZipRecruiter profile, employers can reach out to you directly and invite you to apply for a job. |
| 7. | Monster | Monster.com is a great job board for a wide range of jobs, and has a great resume database. Pricing is based on the number of postings you buy — the more you buy, the cheaper each post is. |
| 8. | SimplyHired | SimplyHired takes keyword input to find available jobs, but allows users to filter jobs by proximity, contract type, and date posted. |
| 9. | Nexxt | Nexxt is a job search platform linking hundreds of job sites. Users can search for jobs by category, keyword, or location. |
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 2021:
Rank | Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Elevator Mechanic | $73,052 |
| 2. | Locomotive Engineer | $71,484 |
| 3. | Construction Supervisor | $63,118 |
| 4. | Occupational Therapy Assistant | $60,220 |
| 5. | Electrical Technician | $58,516 |
| 6. | Patternmaker | $58,013 |
| 7. | Plumber | $57,282 |
| 8. | Building Inspector | $56,147 |
| 9. | Boilermaker | $55,268 |
| 10. | Telecommunications Technician | $55,116 |
Additional Resources:
FAQs:
What does the term blue-collar mean?
In the U.S., blue-collar refers to the working class who perform manual labor outside of an office environment.
Where is the best place to find blue-collar jobs?
What education is required for a blue-collar job?
Most blue-collar jobs require no formal education. However, training is required either through apprenticeship programs or via a trade school.
What is the difference between a blue-collar and white-collar worker?
Blue-collar workers perform manual labor outside of an office environment, while white-collar workers are office professionals who perform desk, administrative, and managerial duties.