Are you hands on?
Welcome to our quick guide to blue collar work and some blue collar roles you’d be wise to consider.
You’re probably already familiar with the terms ‘blue collar’ and ‘white collar’. White collar workers generally work in office-based – clerical, administrative and managerial – positions. Most are formally educated, often at university, to bachelor’s degree level or above.
Blue collar work, by comparison:
- generally involves some sort of manual labour
- is often trades-based. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, drivers and machine operators are all blue-collar roles
- ranges from entry-level roles where no formal qualifications are required, to trades-based apprenticeships, to highly skilled, specialised jobs
Vocational courses e.g. at TAFE and on-the-job training are typical in blue-collar professions.
Here are some great blue-collar roles you might think about right now, or work towards in the future.
Construction Manager
Construction managers topped the list of blue-collar jobs in 2024. Current average earnings range from $150,000–$170,000 for Sydney-based roles. With employment in the sector set to grow by 7% to 2029 and 12% to 2034, this is an area ripe for opportunity, even if you haven’t yet reached manager level.
Electrician
The average salary for an electrician in Sydney is $85,000–$100,000 per year. In Australia, we’ll need an additional 32,000 electricians by 2030. Is this your lightbulb career moment, perhaps? Time to make the switch…
Carpenter
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, there’s currently a chronic shortage of carpenters. The average income for the Sydney-based carpenters ranges from $80,000–$90,000 per year. There are opportunities for career progression: some carpenters go on to use their skills and experience in construction manager roles.
Truck Driver
Truck drivers in Sydney earn an income of $65,000–$85,000 per year. Currently, there’s a driver shortage of around 26,000. With road freight predicted to increase by 77% from 2020 to 2050, this could be a role worth a closer look. Unlike many trades, like carpentry and electrical work, it doesn’t take long to qualify as a truck driver. But you will need the relevant licence, a good driving record and, ideally, experience in the role to secure work.
Delivery Driver
On average, Sydney-based delivery drivers earn $60,000–$70,000 per year. With predicted employment growth of 13.5% from May 2023–May 2028, this is another area with plenty of potential. Plus, unlike truck driver roles, you may only need a class C car driver licence or MR licence to secure work.
Forklift Operator
Forklift operators in Sydney earn $65,000–$70,000 per year. Predicted growth is not huge at 1.70% from May 2023–May 2028. But there are good opportunities for career advancement. Experienced forklift operators can move into a range of roles, including team leaders and warehouse managers.
Note:
All annual salary information was retrieved from SEEK on 27 January 2025.
If you’re looking for a new job opportunity, contact the professional team at Optimal Workforce today on admin@optimalworkforce.com.au or 02 8077 7030.
