Blue collar jobs are any type of employment situations that involve manual labor that is compensated with an hourly wage rather than a salary. There are a number of different types of jobs that fall into this category, many of which provide a steady and attractive amount of income. Some of the more common examples of blue collar jobs are found in construction, mechanical repairs, plumbing, and electrical work.
When many people think of blue collar jobs, the image of a worker in a manufacturing plant often comes to mind. This includes hourly employees who labor in textile plants, auto assembly plants, and just about any plant setting that assembles or manufactures some type of goods. Along with an hourly wage, employees in these types of jobs normally receive some type of benefits such as vacation time, access to group insurance coverage, and the ability to participate in a group pension plan.
Auto mechanics are another example of individuals who are classified as blue collar workers. As an example of blue collar work that requires training and certification in many instances, individuals who have an aptitude for repairing cars, trucks, and other types of vehicles often graduate from a trade school and may even seek additional training in order to certify for work on specific type of automobiles. Blue collar jobs of this type can be very lucrative, especially for an auto mechanic with extensive training and certification.
Other types of repair services provide blue collar jobs for qualified personnel. Plumbers and electricians can often secure hourly positions with office buildings, manufacturing plants, and other settings once they have been certified and have obtained any licenses required by local laws and regulations. As with other jobs of this type, the workers are compensated with an hourly wage by an employer, along with other selected benefits.
While blue collar jobs are often considered less prestigious than other lines of work, the fact is that many people who work in these positions earn annual wages that are similar to those earned by white collar workers. For example, a plumber or an auto mechanic who undergoes training and certification can easily generate an income stream that is within the middle to upper middle class range each year. Jobs of this type sometimes involve working with hazardous materials or working in extremes of heat or cold. While blue collar jobs can be demanding, they often offer the benefits of steady work, decent pay and benefits, and the ability to not worry about the job during the off-time hours.
