El Centro Employment

Employment and Industries in the El Centro, California Area

Retail, wholesale, transportation and agriculture are the major elements of El Centro's economy. The major employment sectors are the government, wholesale, agriculture, construction, education, healthcare and transportation. About 27% of the workforce is employed by the government and approximately 22% of the workforce is employed in sales and office jobs.

Some of the most popular jobs in El Centro primarily filled by college graduates are teachers, registered nurses, accountants and auditors, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, sales managers and child, family and school social workers. Occupations which are more common in El Central when compared to most of the nation's other cities are agricultural equipment operators, farm workers, farm equipment mechanics, power plant operators, machinery maintenance workers and electrical power-line installers and repairers.

Notable data regarding Chico: In 2007 the estimated median household income in El Centro was $33,000. The cost of living index in 2008 was very close to the national average. For the population over the age of 25, about 14% have a bachelor's degree or higher.

The main employers in the area are provided below:

All Star Seed Co - Wholesale Seeds & Bulbs
ARC - Disabled persons equipment and supplies
ARC Imperial Valley - Transportation lines
Central Union High School - Education
El Centro Naval Air Facility - Federal government, national security
El Centro Regional Medical CTR - Hospitals
Imperial County Behavioral - Government
Imperial County OFC of Education - Computer training
United States Gypsum Co - Gypsum & gypsum products
US Border Patrol
Walmart Supercenter
Altar Produce LLC
Ametza LLC
Imperial Irrigation District
Vessey & Company

El Centro companies are provided assistance by business organizations such as:

The Imperial Valley Press Online provides up-to-date information about the business activities in El Centro.

Most Popular Jobs in El Centro, California Metro Area (2008 data)

Where the Majority of Workers Have College Degrees

Rank	Title	Local Jobs	Local Mean Salary	Typical Local Salary	National Growth % 2006-2016	National % With College Degree
1	Elementary school teachers, except special education	980	62,420	$38,840 - 84,100	14%	95%
2	Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education	780	65,300	$43,760 - 89,190	6%	96%
3	Registered nurses	660	69,400	$49,300 - 96,220	24%	56%
4	Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation	640	54,940	$33,320 - 75,820	5%	58%
5	Accountants and auditors	300	49,930	$26,000 - 77,130	18%	79%
6	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	270	62,100	$35,360 - 103,230	8%	51%
7	Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school	240	65,540	$43,970 - 100,990	20%	87%
8	Educational, vocational, and school counselors	160	57,080	$29,370 - 89,630	13%	73%
9	Special education teachers, secondary school	140	73,250	$45,070 - 111,100	9%	87%
10	Sales managers	140	82,170	$36,370 - 129,850	10%	69%
11	Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	120	103,460	$77,710 - 144,430	8%	78%
12	Managers, all other	120	85,790	$63,160 - 114,140	7%	55%
13	Child, family, and school social workers	120	40,850	$20,010 - 59,020	19%	77%
14	Financial managers	100	73,650	$44,590 - 109,550	13%	60%
15	Management analysts	90	62,570	$38,280 - 89,110	22%	78%
16	Special education teachers, middle school	80		$ -	16%	87%
17	Teachers and instructors, all other	80	60,310	$36,690 - 82,000	9%	54%
18	Lawyers	70	105,980	$71,000 - 144,670	11%	99%
19	Vocational education teachers, secondary school	50	68,450	$52,310 - 81,330	0%	96%
20	Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program	50	50,750	$25,350 - 108,120	24%	78%
21	Legislators	50	43,690	$30,760 - 65,110	1%	65%
22	Instructional coordinators	50	62,040	$41,400 - 88,360	23%	79%
23	Engineering managers	50	100,910	$68,560 - 130,950	7%	84%
24	Speech-language pathologists	50	56,020	$36,230 - 81,120	11%	98%
25	Sales and related workers, all other	50	38,730	$16,640 - 80,010	14%	62%
26	Librarians	40	52,300	$18,530 - 83,830	4%	85%
27	Pharmacists	40	140,800	$109,280 -	22%	97%
28	Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists	40	44,380	$21,840 - 67,600	18%	56%
29	Floral designers	40	25,680	$17,440 - 42,030	0%	55%
30	Medical and clinical laboratory technicians	40	28,910	$21,030 - 46,170	15%	51%
31	Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists	40	86,760	$57,520 - 126,710	16%	99%
32	Chief executives	40	151,060	$74,670 -	2%	65%
33	Medical and health services managers	40	92,780	$44,790 - 157,560	16%	57%
34	Engineers, all other	30		$ -	6%	82%
35	Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other	30	51,340	$37,530 - 74,690	17%	56%
36	Network and computer systems administrators	30	74,230	$51,940 - 101,140	27%	50%

Where the Majority of Workers Do Not Have College Degrees

Rank	Title	Local Jobs	Local Mean Salary	Typical Local Salary	National Growth % 2006-2016	National % With College Degree
1	Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse	7,470	18,280	$16,670 - 20,820	-2%	4%
2	Retail salespersons	2,910	21,350	$16,640 - 29,910	12%	25%
3	Teacher assistants	1,320	27,100	$17,820 - 40,250	10%	18%
4	Office clerks, general	1,080	25,960	$17,600 - 37,130	13%	19%
5	Cashiers	1,070	19,070	$16,640 - 23,160	-2%	10%
6	Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	950	20,820	$16,880 - 25,970	2%	5%
7	Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	880	18,320	$16,640 - 20,000	18%	5%
8	Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer	790	33,070	$21,520 - 45,660	10%	4%
9	Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	720	21,890	$16,640 - 32,070	15%	4%
10	Stock clerks and order fillers	680	20,650	$16,640 - 27,440	-7%	8%
11	Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	630	30,200	$19,170 - 42,610	13%	16%
12	General and operations managers	630	80,020	$39,020 - 133,630	2%	48%
13	First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	610	36,780	$24,360 - 51,580	4%	25%
14	First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	590	43,460	$25,790 - 63,880	6%	29%
15	Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	580	28,030	$18,090 - 42,740	1%	18%
16	Maintenance and repair workers, general	560	31,150	$19,070 - 49,300	10%	6%
17	Agricultural equipment operators	550	19,260	$17,130 - 21,110	-4%	4%
18	Cooks, fast food	540	18,320	$16,690 - 20,180	8%	5%
19	Waiters and waitresses	520	17,710	$16,640 - 19,550	11%	14%
20	Construction laborers	510	28,550	$17,750 - 45,550	11%	5%
21	Security guards	490	21,180	$17,070 - 29,780	17%	13%
22	Business operations specialists, all other	460	52,700	$37,970 - 73,140	21%	49%
23	Executive secretaries and administrative assistants	390	42,110	$28,160 - 59,590	15%	18%
24	Tellers	350	23,660	$17,460 - 34,580	14%	16%
25	Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	330	19,700	$16,710 - 25,810	10%	8%
26	First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	320	25,870	$18,280 - 37,330	11%	14%
27	Medical secretaries	320	23,650	$17,490 - 33,740	17%	18%
28	Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	310	23,450	$16,740 - 32,320	4%	6%
29	Cooks, restaurant	300	20,390	$16,640 - 25,330	12%	5%
30	Customer service representatives	300	30,580	$20,160 - 45,240	25%	22%
31	Food preparation workers	290	19,650	$16,640 - 26,010	15%	7%
32	Automotive service technicians and mechanics	280	37,200	$20,790 - 55,660	14%	4%
33	Police and sheriff's patrol officers	270	64,190	$43,620 - 91,080	11%	33%
34	Truck drivers, light or delivery services	260	29,270	$17,770 - 55,710	8%	4%
35	Maids and housekeeping cleaners	230	18,230	$16,700 - 20,040	13%	5%
36	Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	230	27,760	$17,650 - 43,900	18%	6%
37	Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	230	48,190	$29,420 - 64,390	8%	3%
38	Industrial truck and tractor operators	230	32,520	$19,160 - 47,410	-1%	2%
39	Receptionists and information clerks	230	21,910	$16,760 - 31,510	17%	13%
40	Power plant operators	220	46,850	$34,700 - 62,580	3%	20%
41	First-line supervisors/managers of farming, fishing, and forestry workers	210	36,620	$18,440 - 52,770	0%	0%
42	Counter and rental clerks	210	22,330	$16,640 - 35,940	23%	16%
43	Billing and posting clerks and machine operators	210	27,270	$20,140 - 35,530	4%	15%
44	Electricians	200	48,010	$28,550 - 67,750	7%	7%
45	Preschool teachers, except special education	180	28,030	$17,900 - 39,420	26%	43%
46	Kindergarten teachers, except special education	170	59,550	$38,580 - 81,260	16%	43%
47	Dental assistants	160	30,680	$22,120 - 40,850	29%	9%
48	Packers and packagers, hand	160	18,390	$16,670 - 20,350	-11%	3%
49	First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	160	57,230	$30,120 - 82,300	7%	13%
50	First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	150	53,140	$26,250 - 80,920	-4%	15%
51	Fire fighters	140	39,390	$27,710 - 56,340	12%	18%
52	Cleaners of vehicles and equipment	130	19,030	$16,900 - 20,340	14%	3%
53	First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	130	60,480	$42,990 - 84,860	9%	10%
54	First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives	130	79,220	$66,340 - 104,950	9%	33%
55	Dishwashers	120	17,520	$16,640 - 19,360	10%	3%
56	Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance	120	27,450	$17,350 - 44,190	2%	11%
57	Postal service mail carriers	120			1%	11%
58	Medical assistants	110	26,390	$19,980 - 31,820	35%	10%
59	Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	110	22,930	$18,580 - 29,050	18%	7%
60	Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists	110	29,750	$21,670 - 40,700	12%	3%
61	Cement masons and concrete finishers	110	33,300	$23,150 - 52,520	11%	2%
62	Word processors and typists	100	30,510	$25,640 - 37,980	-11%	19%
63	Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	100	19,030	$16,760 - 23,320	17%	14%
64	Farm equipment mechanics	100	29,890	$18,680 - 40,560	1%	3%
65	Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	100	18,360	$17,030 - 19,820	10%	17%
66	Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	100	40,230	$33,550 - 49,060	14%	7%
67	Cooks, institution and cafeteria	100	35,850	$17,680 - 48,830	11%	5%
68	Food service managers	100	44,380	$33,900 - 52,540	5%	24%
69	Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	100	33,480	$23,460 - 49,140	5%	2%
70	Pharmacy technicians	100	34,730	$24,470 - 45,730	32%	16%
71	Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators	90	54,470	$35,410 - 73,210	14%	8%
72	Sales representatives, services, all other	90	46,980	$27,100 - 72,390	28%	48%
73	All other information and record clerks	90	32,130	$19,640 - 45,090	-12%	21%
74	Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	90	47,920	$31,030 - 64,110	11%	4%
75	Computer support specialists	90	44,260	$28,990 - 61,290	13%	43%
76	Insurance sales agents	90	38,570	$26,730 - 52,470	13%	45%
77	Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers	80	23,030	$17,360 - 30,090	12%	0%
78	Bartenders	80	18,130	$16,700 - 19,940	11%	17%
79	Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping	80	21,340	$16,640 - 26,660	-10%	13%
80	First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators	80	47,450	$27,680 - 69,080	10%	17%
81	First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand	80	45,490	$26,160 - 73,600	13%	17%
82	Payroll and timekeeping clerks	80	28,170	$18,370 - 39,880	3%	18%
83	Carpenters	80	50,020	$19,560 - 67,230	10%	6%
84	Administrative services managers	80	75,310	$37,540 - 119,270	12%	40%
85	Bill and account collectors	70	27,170	$20,570 - 34,250	23%	13%
86	File clerks	70	21,350	$17,020 - 25,640	-40%	20%
87	Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers	70	17,920	$16,750 - 19,560	12%	6%
88	Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products	70	58,870	$37,790 - 82,240	0%	42%
89	Team assemblers	70	23,350	$17,400 - 32,520	0%	5%
90	Emergency medical technicians and paramedics	70	24,230	$18,450 - 31,950	19%	14%
91	Parts salespersons	70	27,640	$21,080 - 33,000	-1%	6%
92	Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers	70	55,920	$36,660 - 68,040	3%	13%
93	Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines	60	42,790	$19,930 - 63,170	12%	3%
94	Taxi drivers and chauffeurs	60	21,460	$17,530 - 25,420	13%	15%
95	Cargo and freight agents	60	34,970	$18,450 - 58,540	17%	16%
96	Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping	60	40,300	$24,050 - 55,310	11%	29%
97	Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	60	40,760	$28,850 - 56,920	9%	3%
98	Legal secretaries	60	27,770	$18,180 - 38,550	12%	18%
99	Radiologic technologists and technicians	60	51,510	$21,460 - 73,090	15%	25%
100	Order clerks	60	30,330	$20,930 - 38,390	-23%	16%

You are visiting:
All States > California > El Centro > Work

Additional Details

El Centro Colleges
El Centro colleges and trade schools.

El Centro Hotels & Travel
El Centro hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.

El Centro Mortgage
El Centro property, mortgage, and real estate.

Jobs More Common Near El Centro Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Local Jobs	Pop. vs. Avg.*
Agricultural equipment operators	19,260	550	164.8
Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse	18,280	7,470	91.2
First-line supervisors/managers of farming, fishing, and forestry workers	36,620	210	51.1
Power plant operators	46,850	220	40
Farm equipment mechanics	29,890	100	28.2
Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation	54,940	640	7.5
First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives	79,220	130	5.2
Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school	65,540	240	3.5
Teacher assistants	27,100	1,320	3.3
Kindergarten teachers, except special education	59,550	170	3.2
Special education teachers, secondary school	73,250	140	3.2
Cooks, fast food	18,320	540	3.1
Word processors and typists	30,510	100	2.5
Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education	65,300	780	2.4
Elementary school teachers, except special education	62,420	980	2.1
Medical secretaries	23,650	320	2.1
Educational, vocational, and school counselors	57,080	160	2
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	48,190	230	2
Retail salespersons	21,350	2,910	1.9
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	19,700	330	1.9
Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance	27,450	120	1.8
Tellers	23,660	350	1.8
Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	103,460	120	1.8
Fire fighters	39,390	140	1.7
Cement masons and concrete finishers	33,300	110	1.6
Dental assistants	30,680	160	1.6
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	36,780	610	1.6
Construction laborers	28,550	510	1.5
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer	33,070	790	1.5
Food service managers	44,380	100	1.5
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	19,030	100	1.4
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists	29,750	110	1.4
Child, family, and school social workers	40,850	120	1.4
Counter and rental clerks	22,330	210	1.4
Preschool teachers, except special education	28,030	180	1.3
Police and sheriff's patrol officers	64,190	270	1.3
Maintenance and repair workers, general	31,150	560	1.3
Security guards	21,180	490	1.3
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	37,200	280	1.3
Business operations specialists, all other	52,700	460	1.3
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	20,820	950	1.2
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	43,460	590	1.2
Billing and posting clerks and machine operators	27,270	210	1.2
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	23,450	310	1.2
First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	25,870	320	1.2
Cleaners of vehicles and equipment	19,030	130	1.2
Sales managers	82,170	140	1.2
Industrial truck and tractor operators	32,520	230	1.2
General and operations managers	80,020	630	1.1
Office clerks, general	25,960	1,080	1.1

Work Paying Relatively Well in the El Centro, California Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Salary Index *	Local Jobs
Special education teachers, secondary school	73,250	1.42	140
Police and sheriff's patrol officers	64,190	1.32	270
Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school	65,540	1.31	240
Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education	65,300	1.28	780
Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	103,460	1.27	120
Kindergarten teachers, except special education	59,550	1.25	170
Elementary school teachers, except special education	62,420	1.25	980
Teacher assistants	27,100	1.22	1,320
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	27,760	1.14	230
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	48,190	1.13	230
Registered nurses	69,400	1.13	660
Educational, vocational, and school counselors	57,080	1.11	160
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	19,700	1.1	330
Preschool teachers, except special education	28,030	1.1	180
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	62,100	1.1	270
Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation	54,940	1.09	640
First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives	79,220	1.09	130
Executive secretaries and administrative assistants	42,110	1.09	390
Industrial truck and tractor operators	32,520	1.08	230
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	18,320	1.06	880
Cooks, fast food	18,320	1.05	540
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	60,480	1.04	130
Managers, all other	85,790	1.04	120
Customer service representatives	30,580	1.03	300
Cashiers	19,070	1.03	1,070
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	37,200	1.03	280
Electricians	48,010	1.02	200
Food preparation workers	19,650	1.02	290
Office clerks, general	25,960	1.02	1,080
Dishwashers	17,520	1.02	120
Truck drivers, light or delivery services	29,270	1.01	260
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	57,230	1.01	160
Child, family, and school social workers	40,850	1.01	120
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	53,140	1	150
Tellers	23,660	1	350
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	43,460	0.96	590
Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	28,030	0.96	580
Counter and rental clerks	22,330	0.96	210
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	21,890	0.96	720
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	22,930	0.95	110
Maids and housekeeping cleaners	18,230	0.95	230
Dental assistants	30,680	0.95	160
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	36,780	0.95	610
Waiters and waitresses	17,710	0.95	520
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	30,200	0.94	630
Medical assistants	26,390	0.94	110
Cooks, restaurant	20,390	0.94	300
Fire fighters	39,390	0.94	140
Construction laborers	28,550	0.92	510
Receptionists and information clerks	21,910	0.92	230

Highest Paying Jobs in El Centro, California Metro Area (2008 data)

Title	Mean Local Salary	Local Jobs
Chief executives	151,060	40
Pharmacists	140,800	40
Lawyers	105,980	70
Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	103,460	120
Engineering managers	100,910	50
Civil engineers	94,550
Medical and health services managers	92,780	40
Loan officers	92,030
Vocational education teachers, postsecondary	87,210	40
Construction managers	87,070	40
Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists	86,760	40
Managers, all other	85,790	120
Sales managers	82,170	140
Industrial production managers	80,600	40
General and operations managers	80,020	630
First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives	79,220	130
Administrative services managers	75,310	80
Network and computer systems administrators	74,230	30
Financial managers	73,650	100
Special education teachers, secondary school	73,250	140
Logisticians	71,150	50
Registered nurses	69,400	660
Vocational education teachers, secondary school	68,450	50
Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school	65,540	240
Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education	65,300	780
Police and sheriff's patrol officers	64,190	270
Management analysts	62,570	90
Elementary school teachers, except special education	62,420	980
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	62,100	270
Instructional coordinators	62,040	50
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	60,480	130
Teachers and instructors, all other	60,310	80
Kindergarten teachers, except special education	59,550	170
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products	58,870	70
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	57,230	160
Educational, vocational, and school counselors	57,080	160
Farm, ranch, and other agricultural managers	56,510	40
Speech-language pathologists	56,020	50
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers	55,920	70
Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation	54,940	640
Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators	54,470	90
Cost estimators	54,070	30
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	53,140	150
Business operations specialists, all other	52,700	460
Librarians	52,300	40
Radiologic technologists and technicians	51,510	60
Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other	51,340	30
Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program	50,750	50
Carpenters	50,020	80
Accountants and auditors	49,930	300

Career and College Resources on CityTownInfo

Real-World Career Reports

Career Stories from workers: daily activities, job tips, best/worst job aspects, training, etc.

Career Videos. Professional videos on 800+ jobs, featuring actual employees.

Daily Career & Education News from our staff. We're an approved Google News provider!

Career Reference and Data

Resource Center. A starting point for all CityTownInfo career and college resources.

Career Overviews of hundreds of careers: descriptions, salaries, forecasts, schools, more.

Top Cities for each career. Lists and maps; salaries by city.

Top Industries. Lists of major hiring industries by career, with salaries.

City Comparisons, showing most common jobs, highest paying, etc.

Original Career Articles and Studies

Best Careers Not Requiring Degrees: Good pay, job growth, low need for degrees.

Helpful Articles, many in "how-to" format; e.g., "How to Become a Chef".

Interactive College Search Tools

College Search Scout™. Search by degree, location, major, athletics, etc.

CollegeMatch™. Find school most similar to one of interest.

College Directories and Lists

These lists link to thousands of detailed school profiles.

Colleges by State. Nearly every college and trade school in the country.

Colleges Listed Alphabetically. About 7,000 colleges & trade schools, including online schools.

Exceptional Schools. Lists of the "best/most/highest/lowest" schools.

HTML For Linking To This Page

Please share this employment resource