Musick: I'm not sure. Are asking a prescriptive question or a descriptive question? My answers are from a descriptive point of view.

If you had asked me when I was working full time as a baker if I considered myself to be in the professional class, or if I was "a professional," I would have said no. For one thing, I just can't see "a professional" punching in to a time clock and getting paid by the hour. So if you're talking about the floor manager who rose from the ranks of the paid-by-the-hour employees, I'd say no. He or she is more analogous to a non-commisioned officer in the miltary. If you're talking about someone with a college degree who is paid a salary, wears a tie or other business attire, and basically doesn't get his hands dirty at work (except for maybe changing the toner cartridge), then I'd say that person is someone who probably sees themself as "a professional," which as I said, seems to no longer mean a member of one of the traditional professions.