White Collar
What Is White Collar?
A white-collar worker belongs to a class of employees known for earning higher average salaries doing highly skilled work, but not by performing manual labor at their jobs. White-collar workers historically have been the “shirt and tie” set, defined by office jobs and management, and not “getting their hands dirty.”
This class of worker stands in contrast to blue-collar workers, who traditionally wore blue shirts and worked in plants, mills, and factories.
Understanding White Collar
White-collar workers are suit-and-tie workers who work at a desk and, stereotypically, eschew physical labor. They tend to make more money than blue-collar workers. White-collar work used to mean a high level of education and the assumption of securing a cushy job with perks. That distinction today is blurred by the fact that white-collar employment has become the dominant working class in the U.S. and other advanced nations.
American writer Upton Sinclair is partially responsible for the modern understanding of the term “white collar,” having used the phrase in conjunction with administrative work. The differences in connotation between white collar and blue collar have much more to say about the way we perceive the service industry in comparison to manufacturing and agriculture.
Typical white-collar jobs include company management, lawyers, accountants, financial and insurance jobs, consultants, and computer programmers—among many others.
Many jobs that require a shirt and tie are actually low-paying and high stress, especially in the modern service and technology sectors.
There are white-collar workers’ unions, though, historically, union membership had been a distinction of blue-collar workers.
Expectations of White Collar Jobs
White-collar positions are often expected to offer opportunities to advance to more significant roles as managers or executives. A white-collar role is likewise expected to generate higher paying salaries with the potential to continue to rapidly scale up their income with further advancement.
These jobs typically are based in an office; however, some industries make still require a presence in the field. This is especially true for professionals who regularly meet with clients and customers, or travel to conferences and meetings.
Attorneys, accountants, architects, bankers, real estate agents, business consultants, and brokers are often described as white-collar positions. Though the actual work performed typically is not menial, white-collar roles can require the professional to commit to extensive hours during the workweek, as well as on weekends.
