You’ve seen the videos. A guy in high-vis gear or oil-stained Carhartt pants walks toward the camera while a country-trap remix plays in the background. Suddenly, a neon-colored score pops up on the screen. Working man rating: 8.5/10. He’s got the "boots with the story," the "thousand-yard stare," and a "faded tan line" from his safety glasses. It’s a trend that feels both incredibly specific and weirdly universal.
But what exactly is a working man rating?
It’s not just about how hard you work. Honestly, it’s mostly about how much you look like you work. This subculture has exploded on TikTok and Instagram, turning the grit of manual labor into a quantifiable aesthetic. It’s part satire, part genuine pride, and a whole lot of gatekeeping. Some people find it hilarious. Others think it’s a weird way to romanticize a 12-hour shift in the rain.
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Where Did the Working Man Rating Actually Come From?
Trends like this don't just happen. They usually start in the niche corners of "WorkTok," where linemen, oil riggers, and carpenters share snippets of their daily grind. Initially, these guys were just showing off their specialized gear or complaining about a bad boss. Then, the internet did what the internet does. It turned the lifestyle into a scoreboard.
The "working man rating" usually evaluates several key metrics.
First, there’s the patina of the gear. If your boots are too clean, you’re a "weekend warrior" or a "DIY-er" who spends more time at Home Depot than on a job site. You’ll get a 2/10 immediately. Second, there’s the coffee-to-water ratio. If you’re seen with a fancy latte, your rating drops. It has to be a battered Thermos or a gas station cup that’s seen better days.
Then comes the "aura." This is harder to define. It’s that exhausted, slightly annoyed, but ultimately capable vibe that comes from knowing exactly how to fix a hydraulic leak at 3:00 AM.
The Carhartt Contradiction
We have to talk about the clothes. Brands like Carhartt, Dickies, and Red Wing have been around forever, but their cultural stock has never been higher.
There’s a massive tension here. On one hand, you have the actual laborers who need these clothes to survive the elements. On the other, you have urban fashionistas buying $200 "distressed" chore coats to wear to a brunch spot in Brooklyn. This is where the working man rating gets spicy.
The internet loves to "rate" people who are clearly LARPing as laborers. If you’re wearing a pristine $300 work jacket with no grease stains, the comments section will let you know. In fact, some of the highest-performing videos in this niche are "ratings" of celebrities or influencers trying to pull off the blue-collar look. It’s a way for the actual working class to reclaim their identity from the fashion world.
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It’s kind of deep when you think about it. For decades, the cultural "ideal" was the guy in the suit. The tech mogul in a hoodie. The "knowledge worker." But lately, there’s been a massive shift. People are tired of screens. They’re tired of "deliverables" and "synergy."
There is a visceral, tactile satisfaction in seeing someone build a bridge or weld a pipe. The working man rating taps into that collective nostalgia for tangible results. Even if the person doing the rating is just an office worker in a cubicle, they’re participating in a celebration of the physical world. It’s a rejection of the digital fluff.
Also, it's just funny. The humor is dry. It's the kind of jokes you hear on a job site—self-deprecating but also slightly arrogant.
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The 10/10 Score: What Does it Take?
What does a perfect 10/10 working man rating look like? It’s rarely about the clothes themselves.
It’s about the hands. Callouses. Scars. Nails that have been smashed by a hammer at least twice in the last year. A real 10/10 doesn't care about the rating. He’s usually too busy actually working to film himself, which is the ultimate irony of the trend. The moment you try too hard to get a high rating, you've already lost points for "trying too hard."
Beyond the Aesthetic: The Real Blue-Collar Renaissance
While the working man rating is a lighthearted social media trend, it’s happening against a backdrop of a very real labor shortage. According to data from organizations like the ManpowerGroup, skilled trades are consistently among the hardest positions to fill globally.
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We’re seeing a renewed interest in trade schools. Gen Z is starting to realize that you can make six figures as an electrician without the crushing weight of student debt. The "rating" videos are just the surface-level noise of a much larger cultural re-evaluation of what a "good job" actually looks like.
Actionable Insights for Navigating the Trend
If you’re looking to engage with this niche—either for fun or because you actually work in the trades—keep a few things in mind.
- Authenticity is the only currency that matters. If you're going to use the "working man" aesthetic, don't fake the wear and tear. People can smell "factory-distressed" clothing a mile away.
- Respect the expertise. A high working man rating isn't just about looking tired; it's about the skill behind the grime. Take the time to learn about the specialized tools and techniques shown in these videos.
- Acknowledge the grit. Manual labor is hard on the body. While the videos make it look cool, the reality involves chronic pain, long hours away from family, and physical risk. The best way to "rate" a working man is to support policies and businesses that treat them well.
- Differentiate between "Workwear" and "Work." It’s fine to wear a chore coat because it looks good. Just don't pretend you've been hauling lumber if you've been typing on a MacBook all day.
The working man rating might be a passing fad, but the respect for the person who keeps the lights on and the water running isn't going anywhere. It’s a weird, digital tribute to the people who build the world we live in. Next time you see a guy in a dirty vest, don't just scroll past. Think about the score.