What is the quintessential middle class occupation?

[Anonymous]

I say schoolteacher. It's a profession that requires a college degree and is not manual labor. But there are too many (over 3 million in the USA) for it to be upper middle class. Plus they're in unions (elite liberals support unions in theory but unions are for the proles) and the degree is vocational. Pus there's more micromanagement of teachers then there is of academics, lawyers, scientists etc.

[Anonymous]

Nurses, accountants, teachers, social workers, etc

[Anonymous]

The "quintessential" middle class couples I'm friends w/ consist of teacher wives and police offer husbands. And you know what? They're amazing couples and even better parents. Some of my favorite weekends are spent in their homes.

[Anonymous]

Why do you ask? Are you looking for a new career or writing a sitcom or what?

I predict this thread goes downhill fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nurses, accountants, teachers, social workers, etc

Yes, and I would add non-retail sales occupations (real estate agents, insurance etc.), middle management and most small business owners.

[Anonymous]

I am a teacher, and I don't disagree with most of what you wrote, OP. However, I have a BA and an MA in my subject area, and it is not an easy field. What on earth makes you think that my degrees are "vocational"? And since this is DCUM, I'd like to note that my BA is from an Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nurses, accountants, teachers, social workers, etc

Yes, and I would add non-retail sales occupations (real estate agents, insurance etc.), middle management and most small business owners.

The real estate agents I know are well above middle class.

[Anonymous]

To me the quintessential middle class occupation is secretary/administrative assistant.

[Anonymous]

Think, The Office.

Worker bee for random middling company.

[Anonymous]

Some food for thought:

http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/02/05/382664837/map-the-most-common-job-in-every-state

"The most common job in D.C. is lawyer. Heh. On a related note, Northern Virginia is full of federal contractors — many of whom work as software developers."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher, and I don't disagree with most of what you wrote, OP. However, I have a BA and an MA in my subject area, and it is not an easy field. What on earth makes you think that my degrees are "vocational"? And since this is DCUM, I'd like to note that my BA is from an Ivy.

You're obviously atypical. Do you teach at Sidwell Friends or something? Elite private school teachers even if they make less or no more than public are of a higher class status (since class isn't simply determined by income).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher, and I don't disagree with most of what you wrote, OP. However, I have a BA and an MA in my subject area, and it is not an easy field. What on earth makes you think that my degrees are "vocational"? And since this is DCUM, I'd like to note that my BA is from an Ivy.

Plus 1 (minus the "ivy!)

[Anonymous]

Government worker, nurse, real estate agent, insurance agent (my grandparents and parents, basically -- the quiet solid backbone of America).

[Anonymous]

In this area, accountants, lawyers, doctors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher, and I don't disagree with most of what you wrote, OP. However, I have a BA and an MA in my subject area, and it is not an easy field. What on earth makes you think that my degrees are "vocational"? And since this is DCUM, I'd like to note that my BA is from an Ivy.

You're obviously atypical. Do you teach at Sidwell Friends or something? Elite private school teachers even if they make less or no more than public are of a higher class status (since class isn't simply determined by income).

NP here and I was under the impression that most younger teachers (the under 40 set) of middle school and high school had masters degrees. My SIL is a public HS math teacher not in this area and has her masters in Education.