Final answer:
The average white-collar worker in the U.S. typically has advanced skills, education, and receives a salary, often holding a position that requires less manual labor and is considered higher paying, reflecting a middle-class status.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the data presented by Nichols, the average white-collar worker in the United States is typically characterized as someone who has advanced skills and education, and is likely to receive a salary as opposed to an hourly wage. These workers tend to be members of the middle class, with historical data showing disparities in income based on ethnicity, revealing structural inequalities in the labor market. For instance, following World War II, there were significant income differentials between White and Black families, which have been the subject of studies over the decades. The concept of 'collar' jobs in America is used to differentiate among social classes and types of employment. White-collar jobs generally require a higher level of education, involve less manual labor, and pay more, while blue-collar jobs are noted as less skilled and more manual, though there are many blue-collar jobs which earn more than their white-collar counterparts. According to surveys and studies of private industry workers, wages and benefits form the bulk of compensation, with benefits constituting about a quarter of the total compensation package. Additionally, issues of income inequality and the variance in hours worked among different countries remain topics of discussion and analysis.