Chicago Blue Collar Jobs Overview
Blue-collar workers are the backbone to our infrastructure. They're responsible for building houses, schools, facilities, and commercial establishments. They maintain our roads, manufacture products, fix cars, replace water pipes, and connect wires. Blue-collar jobs for skilled tradespersons and manual laborers are vital to keep our society running.
As a blue-collar worker, you'll likely work with your hands, use hand tools and power tools, and operate machinery. You may work in construction, automotive, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, or maintenance. You may also be licensed as an HVAC technician, plumber, electrician, or welder.
You can expand your search for production jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Chicago, Illinois
If you're going to Chicago to experience "da Bears," deep-dish pizza, and windy streets, native Chicagoans say "fogetta 'bout it!" While these have made Chicago famous, you'll find many locals eating thin-crust, tavern-style pie. Plus, the city isn't on any list of the windiest cities in the U.S.—a local newspaper named it "The Windy City" after the Chicago elite's propensity toward boastfulness and self-promotion. And while the Chicago jobs list (hit jobs, that is) includes notorious mobsters from Chicago like Al Capone, John Dillinger, and Baby Face Nelson, linguists are noticing that the "Chicago accent" is disappearing.
However, there's a reason Condé Nast Traveler has named Chicago the "best big city in the U.S." Chicago is home to top universities, including Northwestern University, Wheaton College, and Valparaiso. And if you're looking for Chicago jobs, you can relocate to any one of the city's unique neighborhoods, such as North Center with its cozy Irish pubs and breweries or Uptown, the lively entertainment district. For those who want to live further out from the city, you can also find jobs in popular suburbs including Cicero, Oak Park, and Evanston.
Update Your Chicago Blue Collar Resume
Don't think you need a resume for a blue-collar job? Resumes for blue-collar workers were once unheard of, but times have changed. Today, more blue-collar workers are recognizing the benefit of having a resume. It allows you to highlight specific skills you want potential employers to see. To help you write a quality resume, Monster has laid out five tips for how to write a blue-collar resume. Cover letters aren't typically required for blue-collar jobs, but some jobs may ask for them when you apply. If you're not sure how to write a cover letter, simply refer to our cover letter tips. You can also find some blue-collar cover letter samples for janitors, truck drivers, mechanics, welders, and custodians in our cover letter template collection.
How Much Do Blue Collar Jobs Pay in Chicago, Illinois?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in blue collar jobs in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median assembly machine operator pay in Chicago is $29,801 per year, which is 8% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Chicago Blue Collar Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in blue collar? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those blue collar jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Chicago, how to nail your job interview, and more.