Below is a Quora response I wanted to share. The original is here.
I don’t think experts think these two jobs (desk or labor) will exist for the long term. It might be time to reframe the question and the discussion at large. For right now, we still talk about white collar vs. blue collar jobs.
The short answer is contingent on training, certifications, and industry experience often determines salary. Traditional labor and desk jobs are paying $100,000+ depending on location. This article features five blue collar jobs paying six figures (5 blue-collar jobs that pay $100,000 a year ).
It would be helpful to know your aspirations and experience to customize an answer for you.
Both types of jobs, desk or labor, require some technology and with robots on the verge of taking over office and labor jobs, makes pursuing either job a futile goal. It requires research, and it’s best to do it before pursuing the career of your choice.
Studies in recent years say 40% (or a little less) will be contractors or freelancers by 2020. (Here’s Why The Freelancer Economy Is On The Rise) It’s possible everyone will spend time at a desk at some point. I would recommend a mind shift to think about the company you want to work for, deep dive into your “why” and then determine the type of job you’re best suited.
You should also look at sites like Salary.com (Salary.com), PayScale (PayScale – Salary Comparison, Salary Survey, Search Wages), and Glassdoor (Glassdoor Job Search | Find the job that fits your life) to study job, location, hazards (if it applies). Depending on where you are in the world, you may need to look by country. The site JobMob (All Together Now To Get Jobs in Israel and Around the World.) has salary surveys and calculators for careers around the world ( Where to Research Job Market Salaries in 2016).
Finally, chasing a career because of money will mean you’ll ignore any learning curves, hazards, or lifestyle considerations. Although I would never recommend chasing the money, under those circumstances, today’s job seeker should consider a career with strings of options or a portfolio career (several mini-careers as multiple streams of income). This way, you aren’t reliant on a single option or income.
About Mark Anthony Dyson
I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers," career consultant, job seeker advocate, career writer, and founder of this award-winning blog. I help the employed, unemployed, underemployed, and under-appreciated find jobs using job search strategies to navigate the new job market. I aim to give a safe place online to those with different needs, cultures, and ethnicities to find their voice in the job market. Thousands have read my career advice throughout the web as I write about everything from job search strategies to the mobile job search. I have published more than 400 articles on this blog and some of the largest career sites such as Recruiter.com, YouTern, and Come Recommended. I've been quoted in major online publications such as Monster, TIME/Money, Fortune, Business Insider and MSN. FlexJobs, JobMonkey, Aerotek, Career Pivot, and CareerSherpa listed my podcast as one of the top podcasts to help your job search. Love for you to sign up for the weekly newsletter. I share the latest articles I've written, new podcast episodes, and answer any questions you may have. The new job search is scary and if you need help, I am here for it!
