City Town Info

Columbus Employment

Employment and Industries in the Columbus, Indiana Area

The tables here illustrate essential information about work and employment in the area. Information includes:

  • A table of the most numerous types of work found here, both for jobs generally requiring college degrees and jobs not requiring college degrees.
  • A table listing those careers significantly more common in Columbus than in other US cities; this is useful both for career planning and for understanding the nature of Columbus.
  • A list of the highest-paying jobs in Columbus.
  • A list of any large public companies in Columbus.

Most Popular Jobs in Columbus, Indiana Metro Area (2008 data)

Where the Majority of Workers Have College Degrees

RankTitleLocal JobsLocal Mean SalaryTypical Local SalaryNational Growth % 2006-2016National % With College Degree
1Mechanical engineers94069,850$46,720 - 99,0304%78%
2Registered nurses65058,240$43,350 - 73,92024%56%
3Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products52064,830$31,330 - 103,6508%51%
4Chief executives320150,230$97,240 - 2%65%
5Accountants and auditors30061,020$33,330 - 84,71018%79%
6Computer software engineers, applications29070,180$45,060 - 100,51045%85%
7Industrial engineers26067,580$45,540 - 96,09020%74%
8Engineers, all other25079,200$53,960 - 110,4706%82%
9Engineering managers24094,340$71,040 - 120,6107%84%
10Computer systems analysts21073,440$43,890 - 105,51029%68%
11Financial managers160103,980$60,150 - 158,16013%60%
12Computer programmers12072,520$34,180 - 108,3700%73%
13Managers, all other10088,980$57,100 - 127,0507%55%
14Computer and information systems managers10090,990$58,020 - 124,31016%73%
15Purchasing managers9090,390$70,450 - 108,1303%57%
16Network and computer systems administrators9070,290$43,250 - 105,56027%50%
17Sales managers9093,510$34,530 - 166,15010%69%
18Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other8052,720$29,750 - 81,27017%56%
19Public relations specialists8031,960$21,900 - 49,06018%81%
20Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists7064,260$24,390 - 162,99018%56%
21Lawyers7092,330$36,880 - 11%99%
22Pharmacists7098,600$84,410 - 122,11022%97%
23Medical and health services managers7074,090$52,430 - 103,14016%57%
24Financial analysts6084,750$45,430 - 34%87%
25Marketing managers50103,230$72,030 - 133,92014%69%
26Social and human service assistants5026,330$20,770 - 36,11034%58%
27Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products5088,100$37,550 - 12%51%
28Management analysts5054,370$29,820 - 94,76022%78%
29Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists4034,180$17,370 - 54,09018%56%
30Training and development specialists4045,360$30,230 - 68,09018%56%
31Civil engineers4076,110$46,130 - 104,34018%87%
32Physical therapists4077,740$64,600 - 98,32027%89%
33Human resources managers, all other4081,710$52,670 - 122,67011%58%
34Child, family, and school social workers4033,630$22,400 - 44,44019%77%
35Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents30101,890$37,330 - 25%67%
36Legislators30 $ - 1%65%
37Credit analysts30 $ - 2%60%
38Personal financial advisors30 $ - 41%81%

Where the Majority of Workers Do Not Have College Degrees

RankTitleLocal JobsLocal Mean SalaryTypical Local SalaryNational Growth % 2006-2016National % With College Degree
1Team assemblers1,83029,180$20,900 - 39,3600%5%
2Retail salespersons1,40022,390$13,630 - 36,02012%25%
3Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer1,15037,890$27,130 - 54,99010%4%
4Cashiers1,05016,900$13,110 - 21,680-2%10%
5Office clerks, general99024,050$14,080 - 35,13013%19%
6Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand88023,570$17,610 - 31,1202%5%
7Computer-controlled machine tool operators, metal and plastic78026,160$21,050 - 33,490-2%6%
8Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers64029,810$20,980 - 42,400-6%14%
9Waiters and waitresses63017,330$12,950 - 28,41011%14%
10Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food63017,060$13,220 - 22,48018%5%
11Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks56031,760$20,740 - 44,18013%16%
12Helpers--production workers56024,920$17,280 - 36,7000%4%
13Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive54029,340$21,140 - 43,1201%18%
14General and operations managers500101,320$55,830 - 159,6502%48%
15Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic50025,900$19,320 - 32,030-14%0%
16First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers49033,390$18,690 - 49,2504%25%
17First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers48051,410$33,280 - 79,670-4%15%
18Maintenance and repair workers, general47034,760$22,450 - 47,89010%6%
19Stock clerks and order fillers47024,990$14,910 - 39,170-7%8%
20Industrial truck and tractor operators45029,120$22,380 - 36,620-1%2%
21Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners43023,210$15,340 - 34,11015%4%
22Teacher assistants42020,190$15,030 - 25,53010%18%
23Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants42022,100$17,460 - 27,08018%7%
24Home health aides41019,580$15,070 - 25,91049%7%
25Production workers, all other41025,530$16,990 - 46,6902%5%
26Maids and housekeeping cleaners36017,120$13,380 - 20,57013%5%
27Customer service representatives34031,620$18,370 - 51,91025%22%
28Engine and other machine assemblers34031,630$22,330 - 46,710-8%0%
29Machinists34031,780$20,830 - 44,350-2%3%
30Carpenters32036,720$21,780 - 58,39010%6%
31First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers32050,330$29,380 - 77,5006%29%
32Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks31031,530$20,400 - 42,8504%6%
33Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses31036,520$26,390 - 43,28014%7%
34Executive secretaries and administrative assistants28037,950$26,590 - 52,02015%18%
35Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic28027,720$21,290 - 41,840-22%0%
36Cooks, restaurant27021,320$14,700 - 30,16012%5%
37First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers25031,840$19,830 - 43,72011%14%
38Packers and packagers, hand25023,020$14,600 - 35,680-11%3%
39Food preparation workers24017,260$13,290 - 22,16015%7%
40Receptionists and information clerks23023,650$15,380 - 33,47017%13%
41Industrial machinery mechanics22040,660$29,370 - 53,1409%5%
42Construction laborers20036,670$23,680 - 48,34011%5%
43Truck drivers, light or delivery services20033,600$19,780 - 60,4108%4%
44Electricians19041,950$33,640 - 51,2507%7%
45Counter and rental clerks19021,430$13,430 - 33,41023%16%
46Mechanical drafters18050,610$39,210 - 64,6805%25%
47Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic18025,890$17,860 - 36,630-29%0%
48Automotive service technicians and mechanics17033,230$20,660 - 59,19014%4%
49Landscaping and groundskeeping workers16024,780$16,600 - 36,76018%6%
50First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers15054,040$33,490 - 78,0007%13%
51Production, planning, and expediting clerks14037,410$27,330 - 50,5304%30%
52First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers14058,980$42,640 - 79,9209%10%
53Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders14030,190$21,450 - 40,060-12%4%
54Police and sheriff's patrol officers13047,840$41,890 - 53,92011%33%
55Computer support specialists13042,230$25,230 - 62,17013%43%
56Driver/sales workers13018,670$13,100 - 31,480-4%4%
57Industrial production managers13079,180$51,260 - 123,220-5%43%
58Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products13052,730$33,260 - 78,8600%42%
59Machine feeders and offbearers13023,190$17,800 - 29,840-14%0%
60Child care workers13016,310$13,100 - 20,12018%15%
61Tellers12022,520$17,530 - 28,61014%16%
62Cooks, institution and cafeteria12021,190$15,710 - 26,13011%5%
63Medical secretaries12028,670$23,080 - 34,60017%18%
64Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks12017,900$15,470 - 20,36017%14%
65Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic12031,180$19,610 - 47,270-15%0%
66Food servers, nonrestaurant12017,550$13,250 - 23,46016%9%
67Sales representatives, services, all other11045,760$25,230 - 86,20028%48%
68Billing and posting clerks and machine operators11028,930$22,540 - 37,9304%15%
69Assemblers and fabricators, all other11036,360$20,120 - 59,180-8%5%
70Tool and die makers11040,140$29,540 - 51,690-9%5%
71Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers11037,890$29,050 - 49,0209%3%
72Dishwashers10016,070$12,970 - 20,34010%3%
73Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists10037,040$24,620 - 50,09012%3%
74Bartenders10018,030$13,050 - 28,72011%17%
75First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand10042,180$28,760 - 58,63013%17%
76Business operations specialists, all other10042,430$18,020 - 65,55021%49%
77Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic9029,990$21,640 - 44,370-21%0%
78Medical assistants9029,210$21,870 - 39,89035%10%
79Cost estimators9052,560$29,100 - 81,11019%32%
80Postal service mail carriers90 1%11%
81Pharmacy technicians9024,040$19,440 - 29,99032%16%
82Highway maintenance workers8030,800$23,510 - 39,4509%5%
83Dental assistants8028,710$20,660 - 38,90029%9%
84Refuse and recyclable material collectors8032,620$24,630 - 39,9207%3%
85Physicians and surgeons, all other80196,230$138,980 - 0%0%
86Bakers7028,480$16,370 - 38,60010%8%
87Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators7052,770$31,260 - 67,3108%3%
88Bill and account collectors7032,700$23,970 - 43,15023%13%
89Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop7017,110$13,150 - 20,83010%17%
90Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters70 11%4%
91Dental hygienists6049,250$24,540 - 71,85030%33%
92Radiologic technologists and technicians6052,340$41,670 - 65,29015%25%
93Personal and home care aides6020,000$15,930 - 24,94051%10%
94Painters, construction and maintenance6036,650$23,180 - 49,86012%6%
95Industrial engineering technicians6041,380$27,980 - 58,17010%18%
96Parts salespersons6026,740$16,780 - 44,870-1%6%
97Medical records and health information technicians6029,010$20,930 - 43,93018%12%
98Security guards6028,390$16,270 - 55,31017%13%
99Food service managers6048,470$32,830 - 65,7505%24%
100Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists6021,330$13,680 - 26,35012%6%
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Additional Details

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Columbus colleges and trade schools.
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Columbus property, mortgage, and real estate.

Jobs More Common Near Columbus Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal JobsPop. vs. Avg.*
Engine and other machine assemblers31,63034079.9
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic25,89018040.4
Computer-controlled machine tool operators, metal and plastic26,16078023.8
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic27,72028023
Mechanical engineers69,85094015.2
Mechanical drafters50,6101809.5
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic25,9005008.6
Production workers, all other25,5304106.8
Team assemblers29,1801,8306.7
Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders30,1901406.2
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic31,1801205.8
Engineers, all other79,2002505.7
Tool and die makers40,1401105.4
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers29,8106405.3
Machine feeders and offbearers23,1901304.8
Industrial engineers67,5802604.7
Helpers--production workers24,9205604.7
Engineering managers94,3402404.6
Chief executives150,2303204
Machinists31,7803403.2
Industrial production managers79,1801303.2
Industrial machinery mechanics40,6602203.2
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers51,4104802.9
Industrial truck and tractor operators29,1204502.8
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer37,8901,1502.7
Food servers, nonrestaurant17,5501202.4
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks17,9001202.1
First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand42,1801002
Computer software engineers, applications70,1802901.9
Production, planning, and expediting clerks37,4101401.8
Home health aides19,5804101.7
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses36,5203101.7
Assemblers and fabricators, all other36,3601101.6
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products52,7301301.6
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists37,0401001.5
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers37,8901101.5
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers33,3904901.5
Counter and rental clerks21,4301901.5
Maids and housekeeping cleaners17,1203601.5
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks31,5303101.5
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand23,5708801.4
Computer systems analysts73,4402101.4
Cooks, institution and cafeteria21,1901201.4
Maintenance and repair workers, general34,7604701.3
Carpenters36,7203201.3
Driver/sales workers18,6701301.3
Teacher assistants20,1904201.3
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers54,0401501.3
Office clerks, general24,0509901.2
Packers and packagers, hand23,0202501.2

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Columbus, Indiana Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalarySalary Index *Local Jobs
Assemblers and fabricators, all other36,3601.37110
Construction laborers36,6701.18200
Truck drivers, light or delivery services33,6001.16200
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products64,8301.15520
Packers and packagers, hand23,0201.13250
Computer programmers72,5201.13120
Financial managers103,9801.12160
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers50,3301.12320
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks31,5301.11310
Stock clerks and order fillers24,9901.09470
Computer systems analysts73,4401.07210
Team assemblers29,1801.071,830
Customer service representatives31,6201.07340
Mechanical drafters50,6101.06180
Helpers--production workers24,9201.05560
First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers31,8401.05250
General and operations managers101,3201.05500
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic31,1801.02120
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers24,7801.02160
Accountants and auditors61,0201.02300
Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders30,1901.02140
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers58,9801.01140
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners23,2101.01430
Maintenance and repair workers, general34,7601.01470
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer37,8901.011,150
Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive29,3401.01540
Computer support specialists42,2301.01130
Chief executives150,2301320
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products52,7300.99130
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks31,7600.99560
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food17,0600.99630
Receptionists and information clerks23,6500.99230
Medical secretaries28,6700.99120
Police and sheriff's patrol officers47,8400.99130
Engineers, all other79,2000.98250
Cooks, restaurant21,3200.98270
Executive secretaries and administrative assistants37,9500.98280
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand23,5700.98880
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers51,4100.97480
Industrial truck and tractor operators29,1200.97450
Billing and posting clerks and machine operators28,9300.95110
Tellers22,5200.95120
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers54,0400.95150
Office clerks, general24,0500.95990
Registered nurses58,2400.94650
Mechanical engineers69,8500.94940
Carpenters36,7200.94320
Industrial engineers67,5800.93260
Waiters and waitresses17,3300.93630
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers37,8900.92110

Highest Paying Jobs in Columbus, Indiana Metro Area (2008 data)

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
Physicians and surgeons, all other196,23080
Chief executives150,230320
First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers105,34050
Financial managers103,980160
Marketing managers103,23050
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents101,89030
General and operations managers101,320500
Pharmacists98,60070
Engineering managers94,340240
Sales managers93,51090
Lawyers92,33070
Computer and information systems managers90,990100
Purchasing managers90,39090
Managers, all other88,980100
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products88,10050
Financial analysts84,75060
Human resources managers, all other81,71040
Engineers, all other79,200250
Industrial production managers79,180130
Physical therapists77,74040
Civil engineers76,11040
Medical and health services managers74,09070
Computer systems analysts73,440210
Computer programmers72,520120
Loan officers71,61050
Network and computer systems administrators70,29090
Computer software engineers, applications70,180290
Mechanical engineers69,850940
Administrative services managers68,71050
Industrial engineers67,580260
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products64,830520
Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists64,26070
Accountants and auditors61,020300
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers58,980140
First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators58,51040
Registered nurses58,240650
Electrical power-line installers and repairers55,84040
Management analysts54,37050
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers54,040150
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators52,77070
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products52,730130
Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other52,72080
Educational, vocational, and school counselors52,720 
Cost estimators52,56090
Radiologic technologists and technicians52,34060
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers51,410480
Mechanical drafters50,610180
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers50,330320
Dental hygienists49,25060
Food service managers48,47060

Large Companies Headquartered in Columbus

CompanyRevenue 2005 (billions)
Cummins 9.9

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