work one's way up

work one's way up (third-person singular simple present works one's way up, present participle working one's way up, simple past and past participle worked one's way up)

1. to climb something effortfully
2. to reach higher positions through effort after starting at lower levels or the very bottom

   He worked his way up from janitor to regional manager.

   1. to climb the figurative corporate ladder
   2. to rise within a hierarchical order

• rise through the ranks