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.

Most Popular Jobs in Columbia, Missouri 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	Registered nurses	2,900	57,120	$38,590 - 77,830	24%	56%
2	Elementary school teachers, except special education	660	38,430	$27,980 - 54,090	14%	95%
3	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	640	48,070	$20,580 - 91,570	8%	51%
4	Accountants and auditors	610	51,110	$32,190 - 76,410	18%	79%
5	Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education	560	38,290	$27,870 - 53,040	6%	96%
6	Computer programmers	470	59,180	$40,170 - 81,820	0%	73%
7	Teachers and instructors, all other	470	27,240	$16,590 - 45,420	9%	54%
8	Public relations specialists	340	42,950	$28,190 - 61,520	18%	81%
9	Network and computer systems administrators	330	49,340	$30,640 - 67,020	27%	50%
10	Insurance underwriters	320	59,230	$39,120 - 82,400	6%	53%
11	Medical and clinical laboratory technicians	310	29,430	$17,160 - 47,190	15%	51%
12	Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education	280	47,810	$34,660 - 65,010	11%	95%
13	Educational, vocational, and school counselors	280	40,880	$27,130 - 63,020	13%	73%
14	Medical and clinical laboratory technologists	250	52,020	$39,370 - 65,380	12%	51%
15	Civil engineers	200	66,130	$47,450 - 81,400	18%	87%
16	Lawyers	190	86,170	$47,160 -	11%	99%
17	Management analysts	170	61,500	$36,510 - 92,840	22%	78%
18	Managers, all other	170	84,950	$35,730 - 141,810	7%	55%
19	Computer systems analysts	170	64,300	$39,100 - 94,130	29%	68%
20	Chief executives	170	127,400	$60,110 -	2%	65%
21	Graphic designers	160	35,160	$19,250 - 55,750	10%	55%
22	Vocational education teachers, secondary school	150	45,850	$28,560 - 66,280	0%	96%
23	Pharmacists	150	100,310	$85,360 - 126,420	22%	97%
24	Medical and health services managers	150	81,470	$40,380 - 133,310	16%	57%
25	Social and human service assistants	140	27,920	$20,000 - 38,950	34%	58%
26	Training and development specialists	140	47,700	$29,250 - 68,510	18%	56%
27	Medical scientists, except epidemiologists	140	51,520	$31,660 - 76,220	20%	99%
28	Self-enrichment education teachers	140	28,650	$17,230 - 52,130	23%	54%
29	Architects, except landscape and naval	130	53,120	$27,630 - 80,090	18%	88%
30	Librarians	130	47,020	$30,850 - 65,550	4%	85%
31	Mental health and substance abuse social workers	130	24,430	$16,560 - 39,850	30%	77%
32	Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school	130	42,040	$30,740 - 58,350	20%	87%
33	Financial managers	120	107,460	$67,550 - 165,080	13%	60%
34	Sales managers	120	84,400	$52,970 - 133,620	10%	69%
35	Child, family, and school social workers	120	34,620	$26,720 - 47,250	19%	77%
36	Rehabilitation counselors	110	33,540	$25,350 - 45,250	23%	73%
37	Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	110	71,150	$53,010 - 101,030	8%	78%
38	Physical therapists	110	57,770	$44,390 - 76,680	27%	89%
39	Medical and public health social workers	110	41,170	$29,090 - 58,330	24%	77%
40	Education administrators, postsecondary	110		$ -	14%	78%
41	Occupational health and safety specialists	100	51,530	$36,190 - 72,750	8%	72%
42	Computer and information systems managers	100	88,900	$63,160 - 126,930	16%	73%
43	Editors	100	41,930	$22,600 - 70,150	2%	81%
44	Speech-language pathologists	100	55,530	$35,260 - 77,940	11%	98%
45	Tax preparers	100	19,050	$14,560 - 26,390	0%	54%
46	Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation	90	46,970	$29,260 - 69,310	5%	58%
47	Biological technicians	90	33,630	$19,020 - 55,930	16%	60%
48	Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists	90	41,290	$26,840 - 56,520	18%	56%
49	Coaches and scouts	90	78,510	$31,120 -	15%	60%
50	Public relations managers	90	90,440	$60,380 - 124,770	17%	75%
51	Special education teachers, middle school	80	41,020	$27,690 - 58,560	16%	87%
52	Occupational therapists	80	60,650	$44,480 - 79,380	23%	90%
53	Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other	80	49,740	$29,980 - 70,550	17%	56%
54	Chemists	80	60,150	$36,330 - 96,790	9%	93%
55	Veterinarians	80	42,940	$23,230 - 70,490	35%	100%
56	Producers and directors	80	48,890	$25,410 - 91,130	11%	75%
57	Network systems and data communications analysts	80	48,040	$30,770 - 76,760	53%	57%
58	Social and community service managers	70	40,550	$29,250 - 54,500	25%	72%
59	Special education teachers, secondary school	70	37,760	$27,340 - 50,690	9%	87%
60	Dentists, general	70	173,840	$50,930 -	9%	100%
61	Cartographers and photogrammetrists	50	41,830	$25,610 - 55,690	20%	82%
62	Environmental scientists and specialists, including health	50		$ -	25%	93%
63	Natural sciences managers	50	109,390	$81,410 - 137,680	11%	93%
64	Advertising sales agents	50	40,430	$20,470 - 71,940	20%	56%
65	Reporters and correspondents	50	30,250	$17,900 - 38,460	1%	85%
66	Biological scientists, all other	50	60,740	$29,350 - 100,320	4%	95%
67	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	50		$ -	12%	51%
68	Physician assistants	50	76,500	$58,520 - 100,980	27%	67%
69	Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists	50	53,660	$35,630 - 79,090	16%	99%
70	Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents	40	101,580	$28,150 -	25%	67%
71	Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program	40	29,820	$22,460 - 38,290	24%	78%
72	Health educators	40	40,210	$26,490 - 56,220	26%	58%
73	Dietitians and nutritionists	40	50,450	$33,510 - 70,010	9%	72%
74	Market research analysts	40	41,440	$27,920 - 63,770	20%	82%
75	Electrical engineers	40	69,500	$55,120 - 99,350	6%	81%
76	Personal financial advisors	40	102,890	$29,350 -	41%	81%
77	Computer software engineers, applications	40	57,230	$36,000 - 79,600	45%	85%
78	Marketing managers	40	101,250	$67,310 - 144,550	14%	69%
79	Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists	40	46,150	$29,940 - 64,270	18%	56%
80	Surveyors	40	48,330	$35,420 - 65,230	24%	82%
81	Optometrists	40	63,650	$34,900 - 82,230	11%	100%
82	Database administrators	40	59,110	$36,450 - 82,840	29%	72%
83	Financial analysts	40	45,810	$31,550 - 63,030	34%	87%
84	Engineering managers	40	101,950	$69,250 - 136,290	7%	84%
85	Computer specialists, all other	40	58,770	$20,170 - 87,420	15%	68%
86	Statisticians	30	61,240	$38,790 - 95,600	9%	93%
87	Writers and authors	30	45,710	$35,020 - 61,110	13%	84%
88	Instructional coordinators	30	42,620	$29,910 - 58,900	23%	79%
89	Recreational therapists	30	34,700	$25,430 - 47,720	4%	77%

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	3,130	24,650	$14,590 - 42,480	12%	25%
2	Office clerks, general	2,970	25,790	$16,570 - 36,650	13%	19%
3	Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	2,480	16,840	$14,250 - 20,870	18%	5%
4	Waiters and waitresses	2,340	17,090	$14,290 - 23,110	11%	14%
5	Cashiers	2,340	18,250	$14,440 - 24,050	-2%	10%
6	Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	1,470	21,590	$16,010 - 28,840	2%	5%
7	Executive secretaries and administrative assistants	1,200	35,370	$25,300 - 49,630	15%	18%
8	Stock clerks and order fillers	1,080	19,640	$14,380 - 29,440	-7%	8%
9	Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	1,070	22,690	$16,050 - 29,930	15%	4%
10	Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	1,010	26,840	$17,250 - 41,580	1%	18%
11	Medical secretaries	950	28,010	$21,350 - 37,400	17%	18%
12	Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	910	22,110	$17,010 - 29,120	18%	7%
13	Maids and housekeeping cleaners	900	17,600	$14,540 - 20,900	13%	5%
14	Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	890	29,240	$17,740 - 39,930	13%	16%
15	Team assemblers	880	27,550	$19,130 - 37,440	0%	5%
16	Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	860	33,430	$25,890 - 41,090	14%	7%
17	Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer	860	34,610	$18,600 - 49,300	10%	4%
18	Cooks, restaurant	790	19,870	$15,830 - 25,150	12%	5%
19	Maintenance and repair workers, general	790	30,950	$16,940 - 47,630	10%	6%
20	Teacher assistants	770	18,600	$14,310 - 24,570	10%	18%
21	Machinists	750	31,230	$24,900 - 40,430	-2%	3%
22	Carpenters	740	35,260	$21,790 - 51,600	10%	6%
23	General and operations managers	720	82,620	$32,450 -	2%	48%
24	First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	650	47,420	$26,240 - 82,150	6%	29%
25	Customer service representatives	620	29,060	$17,110 - 41,730	25%	22%
26	Truck drivers, light or delivery services	620	30,630	$15,900 - 55,160	8%	4%
27	First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	600	38,830	$22,020 - 56,980	4%	25%
28	Construction laborers	540	33,490	$15,900 - 56,240	11%	5%
29	Tellers	530	20,600	$17,090 - 24,960	14%	16%
30	Computer support specialists	520	38,740	$23,300 - 58,660	13%	43%
31	Receptionists and information clerks	520	21,060	$16,070 - 30,000	17%	13%
32	Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators	510	49,550	$33,300 - 74,590	9%	47%
33	Insurance claims and policy processing clerks	510	34,880	$25,360 - 47,470	0%	22%
34	Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	490	42,540	$27,940 - 73,750	8%	3%
35	Automotive service technicians and mechanics	480	33,530	$16,320 - 50,920	14%	4%
36	First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	470	32,920	$18,140 - 51,020	11%	14%
37	Driver/sales workers	450	21,930	$14,400 - 39,880	-4%	4%
38	Home health aides	450	23,270	$16,930 - 43,070	49%	7%
39	Food preparation workers	440	18,960	$14,820 - 24,250	15%	7%
40	Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	420	23,550	$17,420 - 31,690	18%	6%
41	Production workers, all other	420	27,010	$17,430 - 39,080	2%	5%
42	Business operations specialists, all other	400	50,780	$24,230 - 80,630	21%	49%
43	Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	400	22,960	$14,480 - 37,930	12%	6%
44	Preschool teachers, except special education	380	20,820	$14,680 - 28,180	26%	43%
45	Bill and account collectors	380	28,890	$17,390 - 41,280	23%	13%
46	Pharmacy technicians	370	23,360	$16,510 - 33,400	32%	16%
47	Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	360	28,150	$16,890 - 48,370	4%	6%
48	Bartenders	350	18,570	$14,290 - 28,730	11%	17%
49	Counter and rental clerks	350	20,540	$14,380 - 33,860	23%	16%
50	Electricians	340	37,410	$26,350 - 50,820	7%	7%
51	Security guards	340	24,720	$14,800 - 39,050	17%	13%
52	Personal and home care aides	340	23,820	$16,430 - 38,010	51%	10%
53	Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	330	16,580	$14,310 - 20,160	10%	17%
54	Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	330	36,950	$21,740 - 55,440	11%	4%
55	First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	310	49,740	$37,400 - 64,040	9%	10%
56	Dishwashers	300	16,310	$14,310 - 19,580	10%	3%
57	Radiologic technologists and technicians	250	49,730	$36,120 - 66,990	15%	25%
58	Dental assistants	240	30,690	$23,340 - 38,990	29%	9%
59	Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers	240	17,220	$14,280 - 23,000	12%	6%
60	Medical records and health information technicians	240	31,280	$20,750 - 47,080	18%	12%
61	Laundry and dry-cleaning workers	230	18,450	$14,360 - 25,290	10%	5%
62	Cooks, short order	230	16,780	$14,310 - 20,780	5%	5%
63	Cooks, institution and cafeteria	220	22,570	$16,650 - 31,350	11%	5%
64	Sales representatives, services, all other	210	52,030	$24,320 - 80,160	28%	48%
65	Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	210	18,260	$15,100 - 21,760	17%	14%
66	Emergency medical technicians and paramedics	210	32,390	$22,360 - 42,530	19%	14%
67	Postal service mail carriers	210			1%	11%
68	Business teachers, postsecondary	210	82,140	$29,210 - 166,030	0%	0%
69	Loan officers	200	50,270	$27,530 - 84,950	12%	49%
70	Billing and posting clerks and machine operators	200	28,220	$19,170 - 38,570	4%	15%
71	Child care workers	190	22,400	$16,590 - 28,900	18%	15%
72	Respiratory therapists	190	48,820	$35,370 - 63,710	23%	28%
73	Cement masons and concrete finishers	190	49,260	$27,940 - 83,220	11%	2%
74	Insurance sales agents	190	51,580	$25,980 - 79,550	13%	45%
75	Library technicians	190	26,050	$20,230 - 33,700	9%	27%
76	All other information and record clerks	180	32,650	$22,350 - 44,460	-12%	21%
77	Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators	180			-7%	12%
78	Industrial truck and tractor operators	180	26,190	$19,410 - 33,590	-1%	2%
79	Cost estimators	170	51,270	$28,620 - 79,250	19%	32%
80	First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	170	48,470	$27,870 - 71,710	-4%	15%
81	Taxi drivers and chauffeurs	160	20,720	$15,240 - 24,880	13%	15%
82	Data entry keyers	160	23,790	$15,240 - 32,730	-4%	18%
83	Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	160	52,350	$34,310 - 67,660	9%	3%
84	First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	160	49,800	$26,460 - 69,660	7%	13%
85	Education teachers, postsecondary	150	64,040	$36,830 - 102,390	0%	0%
86	Painters, construction and maintenance	150	33,260	$24,030 - 42,220	12%	6%
87	Nonfarm animal caretakers	150	19,690	$14,400 - 25,550	18%	16%
88	Telecommunications line installers and repairers	150	32,200	$20,830 - 45,470	5%	8%
89	Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary	140	64,650	$42,090 - 90,900	0%	0%
90	Psychology teachers, postsecondary	140	64,790	$33,650 - 104,750	0%	0%
91	Cleaners of vehicles and equipment	140	18,290	$14,350 - 24,570	14%	3%
92	Bus drivers, school	140			9%	4%
93	Payroll and timekeeping clerks	140	31,020	$14,690 - 46,620	3%	18%
94	Medical assistants	130	26,240	$21,430 - 34,690	35%	10%
95	Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists	130	36,930	$22,880 - 49,900	12%	3%
96	Loan interviewers and clerks	130	29,370	$19,600 - 39,610	0%	24%
97	Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary	130	58,870	$38,480 - 81,750	0%	0%
98	Industrial machinery mechanics	130	42,370	$25,190 - 52,010	9%	5%
99	Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors	130	30,260	$16,040 - 48,830	27%	47%
100	Family and general practitioners	120	145,670	$67,910 -	0%	0%

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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.*
Psychology teachers, postsecondary	64,790	140	10.6
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary	64,650	140	7.8
Education teachers, postsecondary	64,040	150	6.6
Business teachers, postsecondary	82,140	210	6.6
Insurance underwriters	59,230	320	5.7
Vocational education teachers, secondary school	45,850	150	3.9
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary	58,870	130	3.9
Insurance claims and policy processing clerks	34,880	510	3.8
Medical and clinical laboratory technicians	29,430	310	3.7
Occupational health and safety specialists	51,530	100	3.7
Medical secretaries	28,010	950	3.7
Tax preparers	19,050	100	3.6
Personal care and service workers, all other	15,110	110	3.6
Machinists	31,230	750	3.5
Respiratory therapists	48,820	190	3.5
Production workers, all other	27,010	420	3.4
Library technicians	26,050	190	3.3
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators	49,550	510	3.1
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists	51,520	140	2.9
Cooks, short order	16,780	230	2.8
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists	52,020	250	2.7
Medical records and health information technicians	31,280	240	2.6
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	42,540	490	2.5
New accounts clerks	25,560	110	2.5
Education administrators, postsecondary		110	2.4
Public relations specialists	42,950	340	2.3
Veterinary technologists and technicians	26,450	100	2.3
Family and general practitioners	145,670	120	2.3
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	33,430	860	2.2
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics	32,390	210	2.2
Office machine operators, except computer	25,260	100	2.2
Driver/sales workers	21,930	450	2.2
Radiologic technologists and technicians	49,730	250	2.1
Rehabilitation counselors	33,540	110	2.1
Educational, vocational, and school counselors	40,880	280	2.1
Nonfarm animal caretakers	19,690	150	2.1
Pharmacy technicians	23,360	370	2
Registered nurses	57,120	2,900	2
Mental health and substance abuse social workers	24,430	130	2
Architects, except landscape and naval	53,120	130	1.9
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	22,960	400	1.9
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers	18,450	230	1.9
Computer programmers	59,180	470	1.9
Couriers and messengers	22,320	100	1.8
Maids and housekeeping cleaners	17,600	900	1.8
Office clerks, general	25,790	2,970	1.8
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	18,260	210	1.8
Teachers and instructors, all other	27,240	470	1.7
Waiters and waitresses	17,090	2,340	1.7
Preschool teachers, except special education	20,820	380	1.7

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Columbia, Missouri Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Salary Index *	Local Jobs
Cement masons and concrete finishers	49,260	1.33	190
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	52,350	1.28	160
Personal and home care aides	23,820	1.19	340
Child care workers	22,400	1.16	190
Financial managers	107,460	1.16	120
Business teachers, postsecondary	82,140	1.12	210
Home health aides	23,270	1.1	450
First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	32,920	1.09	470
Construction laborers	33,490	1.08	540
Education teachers, postsecondary	64,040	1.08	150
Truck drivers, light or delivery services	30,630	1.06	620
Insurance claims and policy processing clerks	34,880	1.05	510
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	47,420	1.05	650
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary	64,650	1.04	140
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics	32,390	1.03	210
Managers, all other	84,950	1.03	170
Insurance underwriters	59,230	1.02	320
Office clerks, general	25,790	1.01	2,970
Retail salespersons	24,650	1.01	3,130
Team assemblers	27,550	1.01	880
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	38,830	1	600
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors	30,260	1	130
Sales representatives, services, all other	52,030	1	210
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	42,540	0.99	490
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary	58,870	0.99	130
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	22,690	0.99	1,070
Medical records and health information technicians	31,280	0.99	240
Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers	17,220	0.99	240
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	28,150	0.99	360
All other information and record clerks	32,650	0.99	180
Food preparation workers	18,960	0.99	440
Cashiers	18,250	0.98	2,340
Social and human service assistants	27,920	0.98	140
Security guards	24,720	0.98	340
Customer service representatives	29,060	0.98	620
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	16,840	0.98	2,480
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists	52,020	0.98	250
Radiologic technologists and technicians	49,730	0.97	250
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	23,550	0.97	420
Painters, construction and maintenance	33,260	0.97	150
Medical secretaries	28,010	0.97	950
Medical and health services managers	81,470	0.96	150
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs	20,720	0.96	160
Bartenders	18,570	0.96	350
Pharmacists	100,310	0.96	150
Cooks, institution and cafeteria	22,570	0.96	220
Nonfarm animal caretakers	19,690	0.95	150
Industrial machinery mechanics	42,370	0.95	130
Dental assistants	30,690	0.95	240
Psychology teachers, postsecondary	64,790	0.95	140

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

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".

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.

Colleges by Major City. Browse cities with multiple college options.

Online Colleges. Colleges with online degree programs.

Graduate Schools by State. Colleges offering graduate degree programs.

Graduate Schools by Major City. Find cities with multiple graduate school options.

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