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 in the U.K. for 2023:
Rank | Job Title | Job Outlook* |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Site Manager | Site managers earn on average £46,000 per annum. The site manager job outlook and career path include moving into consultancy or contract management. |
| 2. | Bricklayer | The average annual salary for a bricklayer is around £39,000. The job outlook and career path for bricklayers include starting a business or moving into construction management. |
| 3. | Carpenter | Qualified carpenters earn around £35,000 per year. The carpenter job outlook and career path include starting a business or moving into construction estimating. |
| 4. | Nurse | The average salary for a nurse is around £34,500 per annum. The job outlook and career path for a nurse include becoming a nursing sister or a ward manager. |
| 5. | Tiler | Professional tilers earn an average annual salary of around £34,000. The tiler job outlook and career path include becoming a course assessor or a clerk of works. |
| 6. | Heavy Equipment Mechanic | The average annual salary for a heavy equipment mechanic is around £33,800. The job outlook and career path for heavy equipment mechanics include becoming a technical service rep or a plant technician. |
| 7. | Electrician | Qualified electricians earn around £33,500 per year. The electrician job outlook and career path include starting a business or becoming an electrical design engineer. |
| 8. | Plumber | The average salary for a plumber is around £32,000 per annum. The job outlook and career path for a plumber include starting a business, becoming an HVAC technician, or moving into renewable technologies. |
| 9. | Maintenance Fitter | Maintenance fitters earn around £30,500 per year. The job outlook and career path for maintenance fitters include becoming an engineering technician or site supervisor. |
| 10. | Electronics Technician | The average annual salary for an electronics technician is £27,500. The job outlook and career path for electronics technicians include becoming a project team leader or quality control manager. |
*Salary information is based on U.K. data and subject to regular change.
