Working Class Heroes: 25 Values That Have Defined America’s True Backbone

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Have you ever wondered if you’re considered “working class”? It’s a question many people have asked themselves, especially lately with all the economic shifts happening.

The truth is, 35% of American adults feel they belong to the working class according to a recent Gallup poll. That’s millions of people who identify with this group. But what does being working class actually mean?

This post looks at 25 signs that point to someone being working class. We’ll talk about things like jobs, education, health matters, and financial realities.

So what kinds of details give away if someone grows up or lives in a working class world? Keep reading to see how many apply to your own life.

1. Low to Mid-Range Income

The amount of money someone earns is often a major indicator of their class status. For the working class, incomes typically fall within the lower to middle range. Instead of an annual salary, they’re more likely to be paid by the hour.

Based on 2024 data, the average working class individual earns around $1,522 per week or $38 per hour. This income level impacts their spending power and overall financial stability.

While this pay allows for a decent quality of life, it doesn’t necessarily provide luxuries or excessive disposable income. Carefully budgeting and prioritizing essential expenses becomes necessary to make ends meet on a working class income.

2. Blue-Collar and Service Jobs

Another giveaway of working class status is the type of job someone holds. Many work in manual labor positions, service industry roles like retail or restaurants, or clerical and administrative jobs.

These occupations are vital to keeping society functioning smoothly, yet they rarely require a traditional four-year college degree. Rather, the skills are often learned through on-the-job training or vocational programs.

Unfortunately, despite their importance, these working class jobs frequently come with lower wages and limited opportunities for career advancement compared to white-collar professions. Promotions and raises can be few and far between.

3. Limited Job Security

Along with modest incomes, a lack of job security is common for the working class. They’re less likely to enjoy benefits like comprehensive health insurance, retirement plans, or paid leave compared to those who are more affluent.

This lack of a safety net can create a constant sense of insecurity. They often worry about losing their job unexpectedly or having their hours cut with little notice. The fear of suddenly being unemployed without financial support is a significant concern.

As a result, job-related stress and worries about keeping a steady job are common for many in the working class.

4. Multiple Jobs to Make Ends Meet

For many working class individuals, having just one job isn’t enough to make ends meet. They frequently find themselves juggling multiple part-time gigs or side hustles on top of their primary employment.

This could mean driving for a rideshare service, doing freelance tasks, or any other way to supplement their main income source. Balancing multiple jobs is exhausting and leaves little room for personal time or work-life balance.

Still, it’s a necessary sacrifice to make sure the bills are paid and basic needs are met. The constant hustle is just part of the reality for the working class.

5. High School or Associate’s Degree

Best Ways To Save Money in College; College Student studying in library

When it comes to educational backgrounds, working class people often max out at a high school diploma. While higher education is valued, pursuing a bachelor’s degree can be financially out of reach.

This limited academic attainment frequently restricts job prospects to lower-paying positions. For others in the working class, an associate’s degree earned at a local community college may be the highest level of education achieved.

Again, while a step above a high school diploma, this credential tends to qualify individuals for modest-income employment.

6. Vocational and Technical Training

An alternative path for developing career-specific skills is through vocational or technical training programs. Working class individuals are more likely to complete these types of certifications and hands-on courses to prepare for trades and specialized roles.

Despite this focused training, these jobs usually offer modest pay and limited opportunities for advancement compared to careers that require higher academic degrees.

While the vocational path provides practical skills and knowledge essential for specific trades or roles, it often comes with an income ceiling.

7. Education Debt Burden

For working class individuals who pursue higher education, the burden of significant student loan debt is particularly challenging given their usual income levels. Repaying these loans over many years can greatly reduce disposable income and savings.

The high cost of financing this education often leads some to question if it was worth it, especially when the career and salary benefits are modest.

Loan repayment becomes a persistent burden for working class borrowers, limiting their financial freedom in the long run.

8. Renting vs. Owning

The type of housing someone lives in often reflects their working class status. Rather than owning their residence, working class individuals frequently find themselves renting accommodations like apartments or modest single-family homes.

These housing situations can limit personal financial growth and stability by preventing them from building home equity. Renting also leads to more temporary living conditions as leases expire or rent increases.

This instability adds to the overall uncertainty in other areas of working class life. There is little permanence or long-term security in their living arrangements.

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9. Urban or Rural Living

The type of housing, along with the location and neighborhood, can reveal clues about someone’s social class. Working class families are more likely to live in urban areas or rural towns rather than in affluent suburbs.

These communities usually have fewer resources and amenities compared to wealthier areas. Quality education and comprehensive healthcare might be lacking in working class neighborhoods, and public services can be overstretched.

This lack of access maintains ongoing disparities, making it difficult for the working class to advance.

10. Lower Home Ownership Rates

What's Next for The Housing Market? Home Sold

Home ownership rates are noticeably lower among the working class in comparison to middle and upper economic classes. The ability to buy property and start building equity is frequently out of reach financially speaking.

As a result, renting becomes the norm, a necessity to keep housing costs relatively low, even if it means sacrificing equity and stability.

This constant renting affects long-term financial security and savings for working class families, making it harder to build wealth and plan for the future.

11. Long Daily Commutes

Living in more affordable urban or rural areas often means long commutes for the working class to get to job centers. They spend a lot of time each day using public transport or driving to and from work.

These long commutes take away personal time and make it hard to balance work and personal life. Yet it’s a tradeoff working class individuals accept in order to get to and from their places of employment.

This balancing act highlights the challenges faced by those trying to maintain a stable livelihood while managing their daily commute.

12. Affordable Leisure Activities

When it comes to leisure time and relaxation, working class individuals often prefer practical, community-focused activities. They lean towards affordable options such as attending local sports games, street fairs, or gathering with friends at nearby places.

These choices not only provide entertainment but also strengthen community bonds. Shared experiences that unite people become a common norm.

Leisure for the working class is centered around making the most of limited funds while maximizing quality time. They prioritize simple pleasures that create lasting memories.

13. Mainstream Media Preferences

A woman checking her social media on her phone near a lake.

This practical mindset also influences how they consume media. Those from working class backgrounds tend to prefer mainstream media like popular TV shows, movies, and local news that feel familiar and relatable.

Niche or more intellectual content isn’t as appealing to them. Instead, they look for entertainment that mirrors their everyday lives and real-world interests.

Working class audiences seek content that entertains but also connects to their lived experiences and practical realities in an authentic way.

14. Strong Local Community Ties

A strong community is crucial to the working class experience. People form strong bonds to the places they live, work, and raise families. Participating in local activities, groups, and community events becomes a source of pride and identity.

This community-focused mindset creates crucial support systems. When people care deeply about their hometown, they feel a strong sense of belonging, regardless of their economic situation.

These local connections are central to working class culture, providing stability and a sense of home.

15. Practical Clothing Choices

The clothing choices of the working class often prioritize practicality over trends. They prefer to buy durable, affordable basics from discount stores and outlets to get the most value for their money.

This strategy allows them to stretch their budget while ensuring they get quality items for everyday use. Their mindset values functional clothing that lasts through daily challenges like manual labor and long commutes.

Choosing timeless basics also means less frequent shopping and supports sustainable consumption habits.

16. Limited Healthcare Access

A healthcare provider measures the blood pressure of an older adult woman using a sphygmomanometer in a clinical setting, reminding her to stop doing these if 75: strenuous exercises and unapproved medications.

One of the major challenges facing many working class individuals is limited access to comprehensive healthcare services. Without employer-provided insurance or the financial flexibility for premium coverage, they often have to rely on public healthcare or go without insurance altogether.

This limited access means they might put off needed medical care and check-ups. Without a reliable healthcare safety net, the challenges for working class people become even tougher.

They face greater uncertainty and difficulty in managing their health needs, often leading to more serious health problems over time.

17. Physical Demands of Work

Working class jobs often involve tasks that require a lot of physical effort. Many workers in these jobs spend their days doing hard manual labor, standing for long periods, or repeating the same movements over and over.

Continuous physical exertion increases the likelihood of developing chronic pain, injuries to muscles and bones, and overall physical weakness.

Over time, workers may experience a decline in their overall physical health and a decrease in their quality of life.

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18. Financial Stress Impact

In addition to physical impacts, the mental health of the working class deserves attention. Economic instability, job insecurity, and the immense pressure to make ends meet on limited incomes all lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety.

These financial worries and uncertainties about employment can worsen existing mental health issues such as depression, substance abuse, and other psychological problems.

They may find it hard to afford basic self-care, such as therapy or medication, which are essential for managing these problems.

19. Budget-Conscious Diet

Dietary patterns also shape the health profiles of the working class. With limited financial resources, fresh and healthy foods are often seen as something they can only have on special occasions.

So instead, they end up eating a lot of cheap, processed foods, fast food, and other unhealthy options that don’t give them the nutrients they need.

This kind of diet not only fails to provide good nutrition but also increases the chances of problems like obesity, diabetes, and other long-term health issues related to food.

20. Strong Work Ethic

A defining trait of the working class mindset is an unwavering work ethic and belief in the value of an honest day’s labor. This mindset comes from the need to support oneself and one’s family through determination and self-reliance.

No task is seen as too hard, and no job is considered too small if it means providing food and necessities. For them, hard work is a source of pride and respect.

People in the working class take great pride in getting their hands dirty and doing whatever is necessary, even if it’s tough.

21. Practical View on Education

How To Save Money in College; Girl on Campus

Education is universally respected within the working class, yet the reality is that finding a job right away often becomes more important than pursuing higher education. When finances are limited, investing in further schooling is often postponed.

The pressing need to start earning money and support oneself or family members outweighs the potential advantages of getting an advanced degree.

It’s more practical to focus on stable career paths that don’t involve taking on too much student debt.

22. Economic-Focused Politics

Given their financial situations, it’s not surprising that working class people often support political candidates and policies that promise more job security, protections for workers, and stable economic conditions.

Their political choices are mostly influenced by issues that directly affect their jobs and income. For the working class, things like protecting wages, benefits, and workplace rights are most important, often more so than social or ideological concerns.

At the end of the day, their main goal is to secure a steady income to support their families and they prioritize economic stability above everything else.

23. Complex Relationship with Wealth

How to Turn your Money into More Money. Briefcase of cash

The connection between the working class and societal wealth is quite complex. On one hand, many hope to improve their lives and become financially secure. Wealth represents a symbol of security and a better future.

But these dreams are often clouded by doubts that real wealth is only for the rich upper class. The challenges they face in moving up in society can make them feel skeptical towards wealthy people.

These conflicting feelings lead to different views on wealth within working class communities, shaping how people see success and opportunity.

24. Careful Spending Habits

The spending habits of the working class show a careful way of handling their limited money. They prioritize essential needs such as rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation over optional purchases.

Each dollar is assigned with great care to make sure basic needs are covered before thinking about anything extra or luxurious. This practical budgeting approach often leads to skipping vacations, new gadgets, or eating out.

Instead, the working class are skilled at finding clever ways to make their money go further. They use coupons and deals, and DIY solutions as a matter of habit. Making the most out of every paycheck is both a matter of pride and a necessity for them.

25. Limited Savings and Investments

Building up significant savings or investment portfolios is difficult for many working class individuals. Since most of their income goes towards immediate expenses, saving money for the future can seem very hard.

Emergency funds, if they exist, are usually small. Planning for long-term finances becomes less important compared to getting through each day. Saving for retirement or investing in stocks often feels like something far off.

Instead, the working class often rely on more accessible choices such as employer-sponsored 401k plans, if available or small personal savings accounts. They prioritize short-term financial security over building wealth for the future.

The Working Class Life

So there you have it, 25 signs that paint a picture of working class life in America today. It’s a world of hard work, tight budgets, and community bonds. If a bunch of these experiences sound familiar to you, chances are you’re part of this hardworking group.

Remember, being working class isn’t just about your paycheck or job title. It’s a whole way of life that shapes your daily experiences, challenges, and values.

So if you’re working class yourself or just gaining a new perspective, hopefully this list has shed some light on what it really means to be part of this important community.

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AI was used for light editing, formatting, and readability. But a human (me!) wrote and edited this.