Are you interested in knowing about white collar jobs?
White collar jobs have become immensely popular as more people obtain an educational degree from reputed organizations. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in white collar jobs is expected to rise rapidly by 10-15% between 2016 and 2026, which is higher than any other type of job.
Unlike the blue collar jobs that require working on the frontline and involve physical labor, white collar jobs are performed in an office setting. The top sectors that offer white collar jobs are media, healthcare, hospitality, and technology.
If you want to pursue a career in white collar occupations, know that they are popular accounting for 55.3 percent of US employment. Due to the nature of the job, the pay is well, and the competition is tough. However, a good education degree and the right skillset can help you build a flourishing career in a white collar job.
Read on to know more about frequently asked questions related to white collar jobs.
- What are white collar jobs?
- What are some highest paying white collar jobs?
- What are the best white collar jobs for freshers?
- What is the difference between blue collar and white collar jobs?
- What are some of the must have skills and qualifications that are commonly required for white collar jobs?
What Are White Collar Jobs?
White collar jobs are the jobs performed in the office environment that involves managerial, administrative, or clerical work. Some typical white collar job examples include financial manager, engineer, project manager, accountant, executive assistant, etc.
White collar jobs are broadly categorized into managerial and professional occupations and technical, sales, and administrative support occupations. Since their job requires performing tasks using high cognition, they need proper educational qualifications and skillset.
In some professions like law enforcement, healthcare, and administration, employers prefer a master’s degree . A white collar job professional must possess leadership ability and time management skills.
Also Read: What are some of the highest paying blue collar jobs?
What Are Some Highest Paying White Collar Jobs?
White collar jobs offer a great career growth opportunity. Even if you enter the workforce as a fresher, after gaining a few years of experience, you can be paid as much as $132,500 annually.
Given below are some examples of white collar jobs along with their education and job responsibility:
1. Financial Manager
A financial manager is responsible for assisting the organization by preparing financial reports, suggesting ways for cost-cutting, and handling legal notices related to budgets.
To become a financial manager, you need to have a degree in finance, business administration, accounting, or any related field.
The average salary for a financial manager is $61,959 per year, and the profession shows a projected growth rate of a whopping 15% in the coming years.
Also Read: How to write an eye-catching financial analyst resume in 2022?
2. Doctor
Doctors are among the highest paid white collar jobs in the world. They diagnose different health conditions and suggest ways to treat them. There are different kinds of doctors like cardiologists, ENT specialists, chiropractors, etc., and the pay varies for each specialist.
To become a doctor, you need to have a degree in medicine, such as MBBS or MS. The education and training at the bachelor’s level go for at least four years, followed by a master's degree.
The average salary for a doctor is $218,582 per year, and the profession shows a projected growth rate of 3% from 2020 to 2030.
Also Read: How to make a resume for physician assistant jobs?
3. Software Developer
A software developer creates software applications, runs diagnostic tests, and fixes bugs to offer a user-friendly experience. They are the brains behind everything that is displayed online.
Software developers can be of different types, such as web developers, backend developers, and front-end developers, and the salary for each type of developer varies marginally.
To become a software developer, you should consider pursuing a degree in computer science or IT or any related field.
The average salary for a software developer is $110,000 per year, making it rank among the highest paying white collar jobs.
Also Read: What is the salary of a software developer in 2022?
4. Research Analyst
A research analyst collects data and interprets them to make predictions about future outcomes of the company’s product. They perform market research and study competitors and consumer behavior to device reports regarding products to the company's higher management.
To become a research analyst, you should get a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. To enhance your employability, you can opt to obtain a certification in statistics, marketing, or research methods.
The average salary for a research analyst is $63,920 per year, and the job growth rate is a massive 22% between 2020 to 2030.
5. Information Security Analyst
An information security analyst safeguards an organization's computer systems. They monitor the design, implementation, and evaluation of the companies' data.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, cybersecurity, or any related field can help you make space for yourself in this white collar jobs list.
The typical annual pay for an information security analyst is $98,350, with a predicted job growth rate of 28% in the next several years.
Also Read: What are some of the best cyber security jobs in 2023?
6. Therapist
A therapist is responsible for diagnosing mental health issues and developing treatment strategies for clients. They keep track of their client's progress and, if necessary, send them to specialists.
A bachelor’s degree in psychology is necessary to pursue a career as a therapist. You can also pursue certifications in the field of psychology that are related to the area of the job you aspire to work in. You can also pursue certifications based on the nature of your work.
For example, if you are a marriage and family therapist, in that case, you can opt for the arts and science of relationships: understanding human relations offered by Coursera. If you are a school counselor, you can opt for a certificate degree such as counseling children and adolescents provided by Udemy.
The average pay for a therapist is $52,984 per year, with a predicted job growth rate of 17% from 2020 to 2030.
Also Read: What are the top occupational therapist interview questions asked by interviewers?
7. Management Consultant
A management consultant assists businesses in increasing their profits. They provide a detailed report on how the firm operates and what can be done to improve it.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science, economics, or business administration is preferred if you want to build a career in this white collar job. In fact, 67% of the management consultant workforce in the US holds a bachelor’s degree. You can improve your employability by pursuing a master's degree, such as an MBA.
The average pay for a management consultant is $106,000 per year, with a predicted job growth rate of 14% between 2018 and 2028.
Also Read: How to draft an impressive resume for management consultants?
8. Architect
Architects are experts in using architectural tools to create long-lasting, safe, and appealing buildings. Architects are trained to develop usable environments and can bring life to simple ideas. They hear the client's requirements and perform the project's construction, documentation, and design.
To build a career as an architect, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in architecture. Even though the job is in the construction sector, it is among the most popular and high paying white collar jobs.
An architect's average annual salary is $120,000, with a projected job growth rate of 7% over the next few years.
Also Read: What to write while making an architect’s resume?
9. Lawyer
A lawyer may be the perfect fit if you're searching for a high paying white collar job. As a lawyer, you can use your legal expertise to influence trial outcomes, assist people in navigating difficult situations, and more.
To become a lawyer, you must obtain a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
Once qualified enough to become a lawyer, you can easily make $122,960 a year. The job growth rate for lawyers in the US is expected to grow to 4% from 2019 to 2029.
Also Read: How much do lawyers make on an average?
10. Dentist
A dentist deals with dental concerns and takes care of the clients' oral health. They diagnose and treat disorders of the teeth, oral tissues, and mouth.
A flourishing career in dentistry would require you to pursue a four-year degree in Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD).
The dentist is among the highest paying white collar jobs, earning an average of $134,000 yearly. Between 2020 and 2030, the number of dentists employed is predicted to increase by 8%.
Also Read: What makes all the difference while writing a dentist resume?
11. Accountant
An accountant is a professional who compiles financial statements and audits financial records for accuracy and legal compliance. They are responsible for supervising finances and reconciling records to verify accuracy. You need to be excellent in mathematics to land this white collar job.
To become an accountant, you must have a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
The average salary for an accountant is $71,550 annually, and the job growth rate is 7% from 2020 to 2030.
Also Read: How to make an accountant resume stand out?
12. Engineer
Engineers are responsible for examining, developing, and creating equipment, buildings, materials, and systems in various areas. There are different types of engineers, such as mechanical, civil, chemical, etc.
To become an engineer, you need a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Depending on your engineering field, you can land a job in the same sector.
For example, civil engineers work with project designing, planning, and construction, while mechanical engineers can work to develop blueprints and build components of large machines.
The average annual salary of an engineer is $78,000, and the job growth rate is 4% from 2014 to 2024, adding about 65,000 new jobs.
Also Read: What makes a mechanical engineering resume different from others?
13. Executive Assistant
An executive assistant coordinates with important company officials and performs administrative roles, such as responding to phone calls and emails, organizing meetings, and making reports.
An executive assistant job is a white collar job that doesn't require a degree. You can even work your way up by acquiring a high school diploma.
The average annual salary of an executive assistant is $57,453, and the job growth rate is 18.7 percent between 2020 and 2030.
Also Read: How to prepare for an executive assistant interview in 2022?
14. Medical Services Manager
A medical services manager helps with medical service management and coordination within the medical organization. If you want to build a career in the healthcare industry that primarily involves administrative roles, this might be the right job.
A medical services manager plans and improves a medical center's overall operation to ensure that individuals receive the care they require.
To become a medical sales manager, you need a bachelor’s degree in health management, nursing, public health management, or any other related field.
You can expect to earn $101,340 as a medical services manager in the US. The demand for this white collar job is increasing, and the salary will increase in the future.
Also Read: What are some great healthcare manager reusme examples?
15. Sales Manager
The sales manager creates plans and methods to increase the company's sales. They hire and train new sales executives, develop sales strategies, measure sales growth, and oversee the effectiveness of a sales team.
A bachelor's degree in sales, marketing, economics, management, or another relevant field is essential to bag the dream white collar job.
The employment of sales managers is expected to grow 7% from 2020 to 2030 and, as a sales manager, you can expect to make $122,974 a year.
16. Financial Analyst
A financial analyst examines data to assist businesses in planning, organizing, and budgeting. As a financial analyst, you'll conduct market research to understand emerging trends better and provide data and analysis to the company.
A bachelor's degree in finance or accounting is required to work as a financial analyst.
A financial analyst’s average annual pay is $85,660, with a projected job growth rate of 6% between 2020 to 2030.
Also Read: How can you draft an exceptional financial analyst resume in 2022?
17. Pharmacist
A pharmacist is responsible for preparing and delivering medications to patients. They double-check the dose given by healthcare providers and educate people when and how to take their prescriptions.
If you want to build a career as a pharmacist, you need to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy(Pharm.D.) degree. To become eligible to get into a college for pharmacy studies, you need to have a background in science.
The average salary for a pharmacist is $128,000 per year, making it a popular white collar job.
Also Read: What are the top questions asked in the pharmacist interview?
18. Project Manager
A project manager is responsible for building a team that can function autonomously. They assign tasks and ensure that the work is delivered on time. They play a vital role in ensuring that the team members are working harmoniously, resulting in overall growth in the company's revenue.
A project manager career would require you to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Approximately 68% of project managers have a bachelor’s degree, while 14% also have a master’s degree in the US workforce.
The average salary of project managers is $96,229, and it is expected to offer a 10% career growth rate between 2018 to 2028.
Also Read: What does a project manager do on an everyday basis?
19. Dietitian
Dietitians are nutritionists that assist people in creating and sticking to dietary regimens that are tailored to their specific health needs. A dietitian's responsibilities include making meal plans, assessing client progress, and giving patients nutritional recommendations.
To become a dietician, you need a bachelor’s degree in food science, dietetics, nutrition, or a related field.
The average salary of a dietician is $51,291 per year, and it is projected that the career of dietitians and nutritionists will witness an 11 percent growth rate from 2018 to 2028.
Also Read: What is the best resume template for a dietitian resume?
20. Real Estate Agent
Real estate agents advertise and sell houses, buildings, and property for homeowners and companies. They research properties, establish listings, show houses to potential purchasers, submit real estate contracts, and represent buyers and sellers.
To excel as a real estate agent, a college degree may not be as crucial as a pre-license education. However, you can obtain a bachelor’s degree or simply pursue a real estate-related certification to top up your high school diploma.
A real estate agent earns a handsome salary of $93,000 yearly and showcases a job growth rate of 7% from 2018-to 2028.
Also Read: What to keep in mind while making a real estate agent resume?
21. Banker
Bankers assist clients with services such as opening checking and savings accounts, issuing loans, and transferring money on a regular basis. They also advise on banking products and services to their customers.
To become a banker, you need a bachelor’s degree in a business discipline. Some banks are liberal enough to accept candidates with a bachelor’s degree in any stream.
The average salary of a banker is $74,500 per year and offers a career growth rate of 4% in the coming years.
Also Read: What is the job description of a personal banker?
What Are the Best White Collar Jobs for Freshers?
If you are a fresher and want to land high paying white collar jobs, you can consider the following job profiles:
Customer Care Executive
A customer care executive caters to the customer's needs and resolves any queries. These professionals assist businesses in establishing and maintaining great customer and client connections.
As a customer care executive, you need at least a bachelor’s degree. Good command of the language is preferred for a customer care executive.
The average salary of a customer care executive is $60,414 per year. You can climb up the ladder with a few years of experience and become an administrative assistant or switch professions by becoming a relationship manager.
Also Read: How to bag customer service jobs in 2023?
Marketing Executive
A marketing executive is an entry-level white collar job that you can consider if you are a fresher. The primary responsibility of a marketing executive involves creating marketing strategies for products, directing advertising campaigns, and researching to understand growing market trends.
You can land a job as a marketing executive once you have completed a bachelor’s degree and acquired some certifications in statistics, advertising, or business marketing.
A customer service executive's average annual compensation is $53,083. With a few years of experience, you may work your way up the marketing career to become a marketing manager and marketing director.
Also Read: How to write an impressive cv for a marketing graduate?
Data Entry Operator
A data entry operator enters, reviews, and sorts customer and account data into the database from source documents. They gather information and ensure that the record is kept up to date so it may be accessed at any time.
Becoming a data entry operator does not necessarily require a college degree. You can get into this white collar job after completing a high school diploma.
The average annual pay of a data entry operator is $30,000. There are currently 94,885 job openings for data entry professionals in the US.
Also Read: How to land remote data entry jobs in 2023?
Sales Executive
A sales executive is a good career option if you want to build a career in the white collar industry. Sales executives assist the sales manager in increasing the company’s revenue by achieving the sales targets.
To become a sales executive, you need a bachelor’s degree in business administration or any related field.
The average salary of a sales executive is $82,507 per year, and the job growth rate is expected to be 7% within a few years.
Also Read: What are some of the best sales resume templates that you can use in 2023?
What Is the Difference Between Blue Collar and White Collar Jobs?
While collar jobs vary from blue collar jobs based on setting, education, and pay.
While the white collar jobs are generally performed in an office environment and require mental exercise, the blue collar jobs are carried out in a non-office setting and require physical labor.
People employed in white collar jobs are salaried individuals, while in blue collar jobs, you get hourly wages. The pay also varies between the two as white collar jobs offer a higher income with several benefits.
You need to have at least a bachelor’s degree or high school diploma to get a white collar job. In a blue collar job, the focus is on the skillset than the educational degree.
Also Read: What are the highest paying blue collar jobs in 2022?
Must-have Skills and Qualifications for White Collar Jobs
Given that white collar jobs include a vast variety of job profiles, the must-have skills and qualifications for white-collar jobs can widely vary depending on the specific industry and role.
However, irrespective of the role, it is important for individuals pursuing white-collar positions to continually develop and enhance their skills through ongoing education, training programs, and staying updated with the latest industry trends and advancements.
Given below is a breakdown of the general skills and qualifications required for white collar jobs:
Education and Knowledge
- College Degree: Many white-collar jobs require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, although the specific degree may vary depending on the industry.
- Specialized Education: Some roles may require advanced degrees, such as master's or doctoral degrees, particularly in fields like law, medicine, or engineering.
- Industry-Specific Knowledge: White-collar professionals need a deep understanding of their industry, including its trends, regulations, and best practices.
Also Read: How to list education on resume?
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Verbal and Written Communication: Effective communication skills, both in person and in writing, are crucial for white-collar professionals to convey information clearly, collaborate with colleagues, and interact with clients.
- Active Listening: Active listening skills help professionals understand others' perspectives, gather relevant information, and build strong relationships.
- Negotiation and Persuasion: White-collar roles often involve negotiating deals, persuading stakeholders, and influencing decisions, so having strong negotiation and persuasion skills is essential.
Also Read: What are some of the must have interpersonal skills in 2023?
Analytical and Problem-Solving Abilities
- Critical Thinking: White-collar professionals need to analyze complex problems, evaluate information, and make informed decisions based on logic and evidence.
- Problem-Solving: They should possess the ability to identify issues, develop innovative solutions, and implement strategies to overcome challenges.
- Data Analysis: Proficiency in analyzing data, using statistical tools, and drawing meaningful insights is increasingly important in white-collar jobs.
Also Read: How to leverage analytical skills to solve business problems in 2023?
Adaptability and Flexibility
- Change Management: As industries evolve, white-collar professionals must be adaptable to new technologies, processes, and market dynamics.
- Learning Agility: The ability to quickly acquire new skills and knowledge is valuable for staying relevant and effective in a rapidly changing work environment.
- Flexibility: White-collar jobs often involve juggling multiple tasks, priorities, and deadlines, so being flexible and adaptable to shifting demands is crucial.
Technology Proficiency
- Digital Literacy: Proficiency in using computers, productivity software, collaboration tools, and industry-specific software is vital in most white-collar roles.
- Tech-Savviness: White-collar professionals should be comfortable adopting new technologies, staying updated with digital advancements, and leveraging technology to improve work efficiency.
Also Read: How to master IT skills in 2023?
Leadership and Teamwork
- Leadership Skills: Demonstrating leadership qualities, such as decision-making, problem-solving, and motivating others, is essential for managerial and supervisory positions.
- Team Collaboration: Working effectively as part of a team, collaborating with colleagues, and fostering a positive and productive work environment are important skills in white-collar jobs.
Also Read: What type of leadership skills do you require to succeed in a workplace?
Attention to Detail and Time Management
- Attention to Detail: White-collar professionals often deal with complex information, contracts, and legal documents, so having a keen eye for detail is crucial to avoid errors or oversights.
- Time Management: Effectively managing time, prioritizing tasks, and meeting deadlines are key skills for white-collar professionals to ensure productivity and efficiency.
Also Read: What skills should you put in your resume in 2023?
FAQs on White Collar Jobs
- What job is white collar?
A white-collar job refers to a professional or office-based job typically performed in an administrative, managerial, or professional capacity, often in corporate or business settings.
- What are yellow collar jobs?
Yellow-collar jobs are a category of jobs that fall between white-collar and blue-collar jobs, typically involving skilled or semi-skilled work that does not require a formal college degree.
- What is a blue collar job?
A blue-collar job refers to manual labor or skilled trade jobs that often require physical work and are typically associated with industries such as manufacturing, construction, or maintenance.
- What are white or blue collar jobs?
White-collar jobs typically involve professional, managerial, or administrative work, while blue-collar jobs are more focused on manual labor or skilled trades. Some jobs may fall into both categories depending on the specific tasks and responsibilities involved.
- What are the highest paying white-collar jobs?
The highest paying white-collar jobs include positions such as surgeons, CEOs, and lawyers.
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