Columbia Employment

Employment and Industries in the Columbia, Missouri 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 Columbia than in other US cities; this is useful both for career planning and for understanding the nature of Columbia.
A list of the highest-paying jobs in Columbia.
A list of any large public companies in Columbia.

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Most Popular Jobs in Columbia, Missouri Metro Area (2006 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	Registered nurses	2,580	52,080	$39,870 - 68,290	24%	56%
2	Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education	820	42,920	$28,370 - 60,670	6%	96%
3	Elementary school teachers, except special education	500	39,010	$26,490 - 55,570	14%	95%
4	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	490	47,320	$21,730 - 96,460	8%	51%
5	Accountants and auditors	480	49,530	$30,540 - 75,440	18%	79%
6	Teachers and instructors, all other	480	23,320	$19,270 - 25,200	9%	54%
7	Computer programmers	330	49,230	$30,560 - 69,250	0%	73%
8	Public relations specialists	310	46,910	$28,390 - 73,260	18%	81%
9	Network and computer systems administrators	240	46,610	$28,870 - 66,130	27%	50%
10	Pharmacists	230	92,420	$77,680 - 114,920	22%	97%
11	Medical and clinical laboratory technologists	200	49,730	$37,750 - 63,660	12%	51%
12	Medical and clinical laboratory technicians	200	24,860	$15,530 - 36,530	15%	51%
13	Self-enrichment education teachers	200	23,090	$16,130 - 35,580	23%	54%
14	Medical and public health social workers	190	35,740	$25,070 - 52,580	24%	77%
15	Lawyers	190	103,840	$36,500 - 0	11%	99%
16	Computer systems analysts	180	54,390	$34,140 - 83,110	29%	68%
17	Financial managers	170	92,270	$50,180 - 131,810	13%	60%
18	Physical therapists	160	55,400	$41,030 - 73,410	27%	89%
19	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	150	57,950	$36,520 - 95,440	12%	51%
20	Market research analysts	150	62,310	$36,710 - 90,040	20%	82%
21	Coaches and scouts	150	52,920	$26,950 - 98,320	15%	60%
22	Training and development specialists	140	40,490	$21,920 - 60,910	18%	56%
23	Civil engineers	140	65,250	$40,320 - 97,250	18%	87%
24	Mental health and substance abuse social workers	130	30,520	$18,470 - 43,330	30%	77%
25	Vocational education teachers, secondary school	130	47,370	$33,390 - 63,660	0%	96%
26	Librarians	130	45,060	$30,530 - 64,050	4%	85%
27	Chief executives	130	124,260	$58,200 - 0	2%	65%
28	Medical and health services managers	130	86,270	$51,840 - 136,740	16%	57%
29	Child, family, and school social workers	130	37,100	$26,890 - 53,080	19%	77%
30	Graphic designers	120	32,270	$23,050 - 52,180	10%	55%
31	Advertising sales agents	110	48,210	$20,230 - 81,410	20%	56%
32	Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school	100	38,520	$25,780 - 55,850	20%	87%
33	Architects, except landscape and naval	90	49,640	$26,060 - 82,830	18%	88%
34	Occupational therapists	90	55,210	$40,290 - 73,440	23%	90%
35	Zoologists and wildlife biologists	90	49,910	$34,370 - 69,700	9%	95%
36	Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	90	62,770	$37,480 - 90,310	8%	78%
37	Computer and information systems managers	90	84,250	$53,440 - 128,820	16%	73%
38	Social and human service assistants	80	22,010	$15,760 - 30,220	34%	58%
39	Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists	80	35,130	$20,740 - 56,280	18%	56%
40	Industrial engineers	80	59,810	$41,330 - 78,340	20%	74%
41	Database administrators	80	54,640	$29,070 - 87,940	29%	72%
42	Occupational health and safety specialists	80	47,680	$33,160 - 65,190	8%	72%
43	Speech-language pathologists	80	49,860	$37,230 - 69,640	11%	98%
44	Veterinarians	80	42,600	$22,490 - 66,440	35%	100%
45	Sales managers	80	78,380	$45,540 - 117,250	10%	69%
46	Sales and related workers, all other	80	37,310	$20,160 - 68,830	14%	62%
47	Social and community service managers	70	42,240	$31,280 - 56,180	25%	72%
48	Writers and authors	70	43,870	$27,670 - 67,860	13%	84%
49	Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents	70	70,450	$23,200 - 0	25%	67%
50	Financial analysts	70	76,500	$34,920 - 0	34%	87%
51	Mechanical engineers	70	66,070	$47,730 - 93,190	4%	78%
52	Biological technicians	70	34,570	$20,590 - 55,200	16%	60%
53	Marketing managers	60	74,810	$47,690 - 117,980	14%	69%
54	Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists	60	42,150	$26,450 - 59,700	18%	56%
55	Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other	60	51,090	$31,880 - 74,930	17%	56%
56	Network systems and data communications analysts	60	53,930	$39,650 - 76,380	53%	57%
57	Merchandise displayers and window trimmers	60	25,210	$19,690 - 29,320	11%	55%
58	Surveyors	50	36,650	$22,490 - 49,250	24%	82%
59	Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other	50	45,150	$22,080 - 94,190	15%	72%
60	Environmental scientists and specialists, including health	50	54,090	$36,200 - 86,910	25%	93%
61	Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists	50	48,700	$31,920 - 66,130	16%	99%
62	Reporters and correspondents	40	24,950	$12,300 - 44,420	1%	85%
63	Health educators	40	44,100	$23,650 - 79,910	26%	58%
64	Recreational therapists	40	27,680	$20,810 - 36,050	4%	77%
65	Soil and plant scientists	40	44,280	$35,030 - 49,990	8%	82%
66	Physician assistants	40	69,830	$51,050 - 92,070	27%	67%
67	Interior designers	40	58,420	$25,050 - 0	20%	55%
68	Computer specialists, all other	40	66,230	$51,720 - 84,040	15%	68%
69	Personal financial advisors	40	66,840	$34,540 - 93,660	41%	81%
70	Computer software engineers, applications	40	50,970	$38,470 - 74,130	45%	85%
71	Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors	30	30,860	$21,000 - 39,740	34%	73%

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	Retail salespersons	3,850	24,970	$14,650 - 42,940	12%	25%
2	Waiters and waitresses	2,300	14,810	$11,610 - 21,190	11%	14%
3	Cashiers	2,080	16,640	$12,170 - 22,060	-2%	10%
4	Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	1,830	15,810	$11,860 - 21,040	18%	5%
5	Team assemblers	1,510	23,550	$18,390 - 29,270	0%	5%
6	Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	1,060	21,080	$15,140 - 29,620	15%	4%
7	Carpenters	1,010	33,180	$21,110 - 48,310	10%	6%
8	Cooks, restaurant	880	18,090	$13,390 - 22,790	12%	5%
9	Customer service representatives	850	27,160	$16,740 - 39,700	25%	22%
10	Maintenance and repair workers, general	830	30,380	$17,600 - 44,800	10%	6%
11	Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	800	27,700	$18,160 - 39,070	13%	16%
12	Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	770	25,680	$17,990 - 34,680	1%	18%
13	Truck drivers, light or delivery services	740	22,300	$12,440 - 35,580	8%	4%
14	Maids and housekeeping cleaners	730	17,420	$12,740 - 22,490	13%	5%
15	Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	730	30,650	$24,760 - 37,000	14%	7%
16	Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	710	20,150	$15,800 - 24,590	18%	7%
17	Teacher assistants	680	16,010	$12,020 - 22,400	10%	18%
18	Stock clerks and order fillers	680	19,630	$12,720 - 28,590	-7%	8%
19	Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer	640	32,170	$22,540 - 40,740	10%	4%
20	Construction laborers	630	26,760	$12,970 - 42,850	11%	5%
21	General and operations managers	600	85,540	$43,250 - 144,320	2%	48%
22	Counter and rental clerks	600	16,520	$11,590 - 27,500	23%	16%
23	Home health aides	580	19,400	$15,690 - 22,280	49%	7%
24	Child care workers	570	17,420	$12,650 - 24,230	18%	15%
25	Driver/sales workers	530	19,080	$11,710 - 33,620	-4%	4%
26	First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	510	39,140	$24,910 - 64,090	4%	25%
27	Automotive service technicians and mechanics	510	34,090	$17,970 - 48,910	14%	4%
28	Insurance sales agents	500	49,010	$29,600 - 80,180	13%	45%
29	First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	490	41,510	$25,120 - 65,610	6%	29%
30	Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	470	35,050	$26,400 - 44,770	8%	3%
31	Bartenders	470	15,610	$11,730 - 21,910	11%	17%
32	Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	470	23,510	$15,960 - 34,230	18%	6%
33	Personal and home care aides	460	16,960	$15,020 - 19,580	51%	10%
34	Computer support specialists	440	36,060	$24,170 - 50,370	13%	43%
35	Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	440	37,960	$20,570 - 63,120	11%	4%
36	Tellers	430	21,330	$16,060 - 31,050	14%	16%
37	Cooks, fast food	390	14,030	$11,540 - 17,900	8%	5%
38	Receptionists and information clerks	380	21,130	$14,730 - 28,930	17%	13%
39	First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	370	32,560	$23,390 - 45,190	11%	14%
40	Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators	370	44,550	$25,890 - 68,060	9%	47%
41	Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	350	16,290	$12,080 - 21,670	10%	8%
42	Business operations specialists, all other	340	50,950	$24,270 - 83,990	21%	49%
43	Electricians	330	38,200	$24,590 - 55,670	7%	7%
44	Packers and packagers, hand	320	16,880	$12,080 - 24,490	-11%	3%
45	Radiologic technologists and technicians	310	43,370	$26,390 - 58,950	15%	25%
46	Dishwashers	310	15,150	$11,880 - 18,600	10%	3%
47	Bill and account collectors	310	26,060	$15,550 - 38,380	23%	13%
48	Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	300	15,410	$12,090 - 18,460	10%	17%
49	Pharmacy technicians	300	22,780	$16,250 - 30,600	32%	16%
50	Cooks, institution and cafeteria	290	20,760	$13,760 - 28,610	11%	5%
51	Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	290	25,900	$15,700 - 36,880	4%	6%
52	Security guards	280	24,970	$14,300 - 38,830	17%	13%
53	First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	280	49,920	$37,580 - 67,750	9%	10%
54	Cement masons and concrete finishers	270	42,130	$24,230 - 74,450	11%	2%
55	Food preparation workers	260	18,580	$14,840 - 23,030	15%	7%
56	Loan officers	250	50,250	$27,080 - 81,720	12%	49%
57	Order clerks	230	21,120	$15,850 - 30,300	-23%	16%
58	Dental assistants	210	28,270	$19,490 - 36,110	29%	9%
59	First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	210	44,840	$26,070 - 69,850	-4%	15%
60	Laundry and dry-cleaning workers	200	17,940	$12,560 - 25,260	10%	5%
61	Nonfarm animal caretakers	200	16,630	$11,780 - 24,010	18%	16%
62	Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	200	16,910	$13,190 - 21,040	17%	14%
63	All other information and record clerks	200	31,820	$19,280 - 44,330	-12%	21%
64	Postal service mail carriers	200	42,470	$33,290 - 50,580	1%	11%
65	Cleaners of vehicles and equipment	200	20,880	$13,640 - 34,130	14%	3%
66	Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators	190	42,810	$33,620 - 49,670	-7%	12%
67	Industrial truck and tractor operators	190	25,360	$17,220 - 34,360	-1%	2%
68	Preschool teachers, except special education	180	19,940	$16,010 - 24,800	26%	43%
69	Pipelayers	180	33,920	$24,720 - 44,820	9%	4%
70	Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers	180	14,390	$11,720 - 17,970	12%	6%
71	Production, planning, and expediting clerks	160	33,210	$24,120 - 47,920	4%	30%
72	Sales representatives, services, all other	160	53,570	$26,470 - 80,270	28%	48%
73	Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders	160	25,610	$20,680 - 34,870	-12%	4%
74	Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists	150	30,430	$20,620 - 42,080	12%	3%
75	Painters, construction and maintenance	140	29,060	$21,130 - 37,650	12%	6%
76	Word processors and typists	140	24,310	$19,350 - 31,560	-11%	19%
77	Billing and posting clerks and machine operators	140	29,150	$20,610 - 38,110	4%	15%
78	Dental hygienists	130	67,540	$45,570 - 85,460	30%	33%
79	Cooks, short order	130	15,670	$11,600 - 21,390	5%	5%
80	Telemarketers	130	17,700	$15,150 - 22,070	-9%	14%
81	Switchboard operators, including answering service	120	20,740	$16,090 - 26,730	-7%	10%
82	Data entry keyers	120	22,220	$16,790 - 29,180	-4%	18%
83	Office machine operators, except computer	110	24,600	$20,210 - 29,120	-2%	14%
84	First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	110	52,080	$35,250 - 71,120	7%	13%
85	Medical assistants	110	26,840	$20,740 - 35,850	35%	10%
86	Helpers--carpenters	110	19,490	$16,720 - 22,450	12%	3%
87	Cost estimators	110	53,460	$34,300 - 78,200	19%	32%
88	Motor vehicle operators, all other	110	15,970	$12,020 - 18,420	11%	0%
89	Automotive body and related repairers	110	37,540	$16,300 - 58,840	12%	3%
90	Office and administrative support workers, all other	110	23,050	$15,760 - 34,070	-8%	32%
91	Printing machine operators	110	27,130	$17,170 - 41,080	-5%	6%
92	Computer operators	110	25,520	$17,700 - 36,160	-24%	27%
93	Highway maintenance workers	100	30,840	$21,600 - 44,440	9%	5%
94	Payroll and timekeeping clerks	100	29,750	$20,470 - 43,270	3%	18%
95	Healthcare support workers, all other	100	24,740	$16,610 - 37,820	16%	10%
96	Loan interviewers and clerks	100	25,360	$17,600 - 35,190	0%	24%
97	File clerks	100	22,910	$13,850 - 32,110	-40%	20%
98	Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers	100	62,570	$29,910 - 92,500	3%	13%
99	Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers	90	32,260	$21,320 - 48,290	3%	25%
100	Architectural and civil drafters	90	34,960	$26,140 - 45,310	6%	25%

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Jobs More Common Near Columbia Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Local Jobs	Pop. vs. Avg.*
Pipelayers	33,920	180	7.9
Vocational education teachers, secondary school	47,370	130	4.4
Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders	25,610	160	4.1
Nonfarm animal caretakers	16,630	200	4
Motor vehicle operators, all other	15,970	110	3.9
Radiologic technologists and technicians	43,370	310	3.6
Medical and public health social workers	35,740	190	3.5
Insurance sales agents	49,010	500	3.4
Medical and clinical laboratory technicians	24,860	200	3.1
Office machine operators, except computer	24,600	110	3.1
Team assemblers	23,550	1,510	2.9
Public relations specialists	46,910	310	2.9
Driver/sales workers	19,080	530	2.9
Self-enrichment education teachers	23,090	200	2.9
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists	49,730	200	2.8
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	35,050	470	2.8
Mental health and substance abuse social workers	30,520	130	2.7
Counter and rental clerks	16,520	600	2.7
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators	44,550	370	2.7
Helpers--carpenters	19,490	110	2.6
Cement masons and concrete finishers	42,130	270	2.6
Highway maintenance workers	30,840	100	2.5
Teachers and instructors, all other	23,320	480	2.4
Coaches and scouts	52,920	150	2.4
Cooks, restaurant	18,090	880	2.3
Registered nurses	52,080	2,580	2.3
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	30,650	730	2.3
Pharmacy technicians	22,780	300	2.2
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	16,910	200	2.2
Word processors and typists	24,310	140	2.2
Carpenters	33,180	1,010	2.1
Physical therapists	55,400	160	2.1
Child care workers	17,420	570	2.1
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	37,960	440	2
Bartenders	15,610	470	2
Waiters and waitresses	14,810	2,300	2
Pharmacists	92,420	230	2
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers	17,940	200	1.9
Librarians	45,060	130	1.9
Cooks, institution and cafeteria	20,760	290	1.9
Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education	42,920	820	1.9
Order clerks	21,120	230	1.9
Personal and home care aides	16,960	460	1.9
Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators	42,810	190	1.8
Retail salespersons	24,970	3,850	1.8
Computer operators	25,520	110	1.8
All other information and record clerks	31,820	200	1.8
Maids and housekeeping cleaners	17,420	730	1.8
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	15,410	300	1.7
Home health aides	19,400	580	1.7

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Columbia, Missouri Metro Area (2006 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Salary Index *	Local Jobs
Coaches and scouts	52,920	1.6	150
Cement masons and concrete finishers	42,130	1.22	270
First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	32,560	1.14	370
Dental hygienists	67,540	1.13	130
Medical and health services managers	86,270	1.11	130
Security guards	24,970	1.09	280
Market research analysts	62,310	1.08	150
Lawyers	103,840	1.08	190
Sales representatives, services, all other	53,570	1.08	160
Financial managers	92,270	1.07	170
Cleaners of vehicles and equipment	20,880	1.07	200
Retail salespersons	24,970	1.07	3,850
Advertising sales agents	48,210	1.06	110
Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators	42,810	1.05	190
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	23,510	1.05	470
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	39,140	1.04	510
Food preparation workers	18,580	1.04	260
Billing and posting clerks and machine operators	29,150	1.03	140
All other information and record clerks	31,820	1.03	200
Medical assistants	26,840	1.03	110
Cost estimators	53,460	1.01	110
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	15,810	1.01	1,830
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	16,290	1	350
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists	49,730	1	200
Pipelayers	33,920	1	180
Automotive body and related repairers	37,540	1	110
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	21,080	0.99	1,060
Public relations specialists	46,910	0.99	310
Pharmacists	92,420	0.99	230
Maids and housekeeping cleaners	17,420	0.99	730
Home health aides	19,400	0.98	580
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	34,090	0.98	510
Child care workers	17,420	0.98	570
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	25,900	0.97	290
Postal service mail carriers	42,470	0.97	200
Dishwashers	15,150	0.97	310
Child, family, and school social workers	37,100	0.97	130
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	52,080	0.97	110
Civil engineers	65,250	0.96	140
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers	17,940	0.96	200
Office machine operators, except computer	24,600	0.96	110
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	41,510	0.96	490
Customer service representatives	27,160	0.96	850
Vocational education teachers, secondary school	47,370	0.96	130
Tellers	21,330	0.96	430
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	15,410	0.95	300
General and operations managers	85,540	0.95	600
Cooks, institution and cafeteria	20,760	0.95	290
Cashiers	16,640	0.95	2,080
Receptionists and information clerks	21,130	0.94	380

Highest Paying Jobs in Columbia, Missouri Metro Area (2006 data)

Title	Mean Local Salary	Local Jobs
Surgeons	187,530	40
Dentists, general	166,310
Physicians and surgeons, all other	149,050
Chief executives	124,260	130
Lawyers	103,840	190
Engineering managers	100,470
Pharmacists	92,420	230
Financial managers	92,270	170
Industrial production managers	88,540	30
Medical and health services managers	86,270	130
General and operations managers	85,540	600
Computer and information systems managers	84,250	90
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers	79,110	50
Sales managers	78,380	80
Construction managers	77,840
Financial analysts	76,500	70
Marketing managers	74,810	60
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents	70,450	70
Administrative services managers	70,070	60
Physician assistants	69,830	40
Dental hygienists	67,540	130
Personal financial advisors	66,840	40
Computer specialists, all other	66,230	40
Mechanical engineers	66,070	70
Civil engineers	65,250	140
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary	63,490
Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	62,770	90
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers	62,570	100
Market research analysts	62,310	150
Environmental engineers	60,330
Industrial engineers	59,810	80
Interior designers	58,420	40
Electrical engineers	58,360
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	57,950	150
Paralegals and legal assistants	55,900
Physical therapists	55,400	160
Occupational therapists	55,210	90
Database administrators	54,640	80
Computer systems analysts	54,390	180
Chemists	54,210
Food service managers	54,130	80
Structural iron and steel workers	54,100
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health	54,090	50
Network systems and data communications analysts	53,930	60
Sales representatives, services, all other	53,570	160
Cost estimators	53,460	110
Coaches and scouts	52,920	150
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment	52,670
Reinforcing iron and rebar workers	52,620	50
First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers	52,230	70

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