Blacksburg Employment

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

Most Popular Jobs in Blacksburg, Virginia Metro Area (2007 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	900	50,300	$33,720 - 64,540	24%	56%
2	Elementary school teachers, except special education	670	45,750	$32,740 - 63,330	14%	95%
3	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	510	49,100	$22,540 - 81,290	8%	51%
4	Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education	420	48,620	$34,310 - 67,570	6%	96%
5	Teachers and instructors, all other	400	26,530	$19,820 - 38,180	9%	54%
6	Accountants and auditors	370	51,930	$32,120 - 80,320	18%	79%
7	Computer programmers	260	60,050	$29,670 - 98,930	0%	73%
8	Computer systems analysts	240	72,830	$39,540 - 108,660	29%	68%
9	Public relations specialists	210	38,320	$13,970 - 60,270	18%	81%
10	Mechanical engineers	210	70,380	$46,730 - 99,900	4%	78%
11	Computer software engineers, applications	190	69,100	$38,280 - 131,000	45%	85%
12	Child, family, and school social workers	180	34,540	$26,200 - 47,420	19%	77%
13	Educational, vocational, and school counselors	180	45,390	$28,010 - 67,500	13%	73%
14	Industrial engineers	160	67,180	$46,660 - 95,190	20%	74%
15	Biological technicians	160	31,680	$21,070 - 46,590	16%	60%
16	Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school	140	45,380	$29,630 - 64,290	20%	87%
17	Medical and public health social workers	140	52,330	$37,500 - 66,040	24%	77%
18	Civil engineers	140	55,640	$39,680 - 75,830	18%	87%
19	Electrical engineers	140	72,280	$45,680 - 97,940	6%	81%
20	Social and human service assistants	130	26,000	$20,980 - 32,190	34%	58%
21	Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	120	66,880	$52,110 - 83,540	8%	78%
22	Financial managers	120	75,040	$38,720 - 119,830	13%	60%
23	Pharmacists	120	101,960	$83,560 - 125,420	22%	97%
24	Vocational education teachers, secondary school	110	51,520	$38,380 - 69,160	0%	96%
25	Librarians	110	50,950	$33,460 - 70,930	4%	85%
26	Legislators	110	13,660	$11,670 - 15,390	1%	65%
27	Network and computer systems administrators	110	67,000	$41,790 - 120,350	27%	50%
28	Architects, except landscape and naval	100	75,710	$45,610 - 113,020	18%	88%
29	Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other	100	46,930	$30,350 - 72,680	17%	56%
30	Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors	90		$[?] -	34%	73%
31	Physical therapists	90	56,740	$32,540 - 82,570	27%	89%
32	Medical and health services managers	90	90,360	$37,270 -	16%	57%
33	Computer and information systems managers	90	90,140	$49,960 - 130,910	16%	73%
34	Mental health counselors	80	37,510	$27,580 - 50,420	30%	73%
35	Market research analysts	80	53,110	$28,510 - 97,750	20%	82%
36	Engineering managers	70	115,040	$60,840 -	7%	84%
37	Sales managers	70	87,110	$26,780 -	10%	69%
38	Chief executives	70	148,080	$43,540 -	2%	65%
39	Computer software engineers, systems software	60	98,510	$54,610 -	28%	85%
40	Training and development specialists	60	48,610	$21,950 - 79,660	18%	56%
41	Special education teachers, secondary school	60	43,360	$32,820 - 59,670	9%	87%
42	Chemists	60	88,610	$41,510 - 141,360	9%	93%
43	Management analysts	60	107,670	$41,040 -	22%	78%
44	Tax preparers	60	24,940	$20,130 - 29,540	0%	54%
45	Social and community service managers	50	55,350	$30,470 - 79,160	25%	72%
46	Surveyors	50	43,940	$22,780 - 68,470	24%	82%
47	Mental health and substance abuse social workers	50	36,730	$25,990 - 55,540	30%	77%
48	Medical and clinical laboratory technologists	50	37,150	$23,390 - 50,210	12%	51%
49	Sales engineers	50	88,830	$50,030 - 124,200	9%	79%
50	Detectives and criminal investigators	50	56,040	$34,290 - 83,870	17%	54%
51	Graphic designers	50	34,120	$21,350 - 48,430	10%	55%
52	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	50	55,530	$28,410 - 89,420	12%	51%
53	Lawyers	50	107,110	$50,590 -	11%	99%
54	Chemical engineers	40	88,380	$54,500 - 120,560	8%	91%
55	Floral designers	40	20,940	$15,360 - 25,890	0%	55%
56	Medical and clinical laboratory technicians	40	32,120	$20,120 - 48,420	15%	51%
57	Network systems and data communications analysts	40	65,070	$29,800 - 98,120	53%	57%
58	Database administrators	40		$[?] -	29%	72%
59	Managers, all other	40	59,390	$38,560 - 87,670	7%	55%
60	Environmental scientists and specialists, including health	40	64,110	$40,830 - 90,810	25%	93%
61	Editors	40	21,360	$11,670 - 42,640	2%	81%
62	Veterinarians	40	60,910	$29,180 - 97,200	35%	100%
63	Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists	40	43,510	$34,410 - 54,660	11%	58%
64	Advertising sales agents	30	23,760	$12,150 - 52,520	20%	56%
65	Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists	30	38,210	$27,290 - 48,960	18%	56%
66	Financial analysts	30	65,270	$32,030 - 95,810	34%	87%
67	Occupational health and safety specialists	30	48,720	$32,560 - 71,570	8%	72%

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	Cashiers	2,290	16,440	$12,060 - 21,690	-2%	10%
2	Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	2,120	16,190	$11,960 - 21,470	18%	5%
3	Retail salespersons	2,020	25,720	$12,680 - 47,610	12%	25%
4	Office clerks, general	1,760	22,870	$13,650 - 32,610	13%	19%
5	Waiters and waitresses	1,340	16,310	$11,730 - 24,020	11%	14%
6	Team assemblers	970	28,200	$15,940 - 43,160	0%	5%
7	Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	810	18,360	$12,700 - 25,450	15%	4%
8	Stock clerks and order fillers	760	20,130	$12,670 - 29,850	-7%	8%
9	Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	710	28,400	$17,550 - 39,260	13%	16%
10	Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	710	22,070	$15,650 - 29,640	2%	5%
11	Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer	680	33,920	$22,920 - 49,550	10%	4%
12	Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers	610	29,830	$19,780 - 40,920	-26%	6%
13	First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	600	39,750	$22,890 - 60,050	4%	25%
14	Carpenters	560	29,340	$18,700 - 42,060	10%	6%
15	Maids and housekeeping cleaners	560	16,770	$12,620 - 20,670	13%	5%
16	Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	530	21,460	$16,810 - 27,150	18%	7%
17	Maintenance and repair workers, general	530	32,200	$20,350 - 47,470	10%	6%
18	Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	480	21,400	$16,050 - 28,430	18%	6%
19	Cooks, fast food	470	19,800	$12,210 - 30,900	8%	5%
20	Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	470	28,040	$20,920 - 36,410	1%	18%
21	Customer service representatives	460	24,840	$13,710 - 37,610	25%	22%
22	Machinists	460	35,810	$25,570 - 45,830	-2%	3%
23	First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	450	43,350	$23,620 - 69,250	6%	29%
24	Automotive service technicians and mechanics	410	30,400	$17,550 - 48,200	14%	4%
25	First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	410	30,850	$18,170 - 45,870	11%	14%
26	First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	410	54,180	$30,280 - 87,990	-4%	15%
27	Receptionists and information clerks	410	21,950	$16,410 - 29,430	17%	13%
28	Food preparation workers	400	17,090	$12,290 - 23,170	15%	7%
29	Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	400	31,540	$22,160 - 43,510	14%	7%
30	Tellers	390	22,150	$17,070 - 29,250	14%	16%
31	Helpers--production workers	390	18,880	$14,450 - 25,800	0%	4%
32	General and operations managers	390	78,640	$38,330 - 141,920	2%	48%
33	Truck drivers, light or delivery services	380	18,610	$11,960 - 29,410	8%	4%
34	Cooks, restaurant	380	19,690	$14,070 - 27,060	12%	5%
35	Child care workers	380	16,180	$11,860 - 22,190	18%	15%
36	Electricians	370	42,160	$27,230 - 72,120	7%	7%
37	Teacher assistants	360	22,680	$17,020 - 29,070	10%	18%
38	Police and sheriff's patrol officers	330	39,340	$28,010 - 54,640	11%	33%
39	First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	330	37,220	$19,890 - 63,870	9%	10%
40	Dishwashers	290	15,360	$11,990 - 19,020	10%	3%
41	Business operations specialists, all other	290	45,640	$26,850 - 74,040	21%	49%
42	Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	290	25,250	$13,000 - 43,470	12%	6%
43	Bus drivers, school	250	23,720	$11,940 - 35,940	9%	4%
44	Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	240	26,470	$15,770 - 36,910	4%	6%
45	Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	240	15,030	$11,820 - 19,160	10%	8%
46	Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	230	35,810	$19,840 - 49,730	11%	4%
47	Executive secretaries and administrative assistants	220	37,970	$27,070 - 48,270	15%	18%
48	Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers	210	29,640	$18,630 - 39,890	-6%	14%
49	Industrial truck and tractor operators	210	24,870	$18,950 - 34,210	-1%	2%
50	Real estate sales agents	210	28,510	$14,270 - 49,100	11%	45%
51	Construction laborers	200	21,140	$16,650 - 27,050	11%	5%
52	Computer support specialists	190	38,540	$26,000 - 51,610	13%	43%
53	Medical assistants	190	24,360	$19,310 - 30,670	35%	10%
54	Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	190	31,760	$21,450 - 50,180	-15%	0%
55	Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	180	15,570	$11,990 - 19,390	10%	17%
56	Industrial machinery mechanics	180	37,430	$27,530 - 47,740	9%	5%
57	Pharmacy technicians	180	25,240	$17,340 - 31,230	32%	16%
58	Postal service mail carriers	170	43,390	$33,470 - 56,910	1%	11%
59	Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	170	27,220	$20,200 - 34,830	-14%	0%
60	Tool and die makers	170	45,870	$28,410 - 72,950	-9%	5%
61	Maintenance workers, machinery	160	40,920	$30,270 - 50,540	0%	0%
62	Counter and rental clerks	160	18,830	$11,920 - 30,470	23%	16%
63	Cooks, institution and cafeteria	150	21,490	$15,420 - 30,590	11%	5%
64	Correctional officers and jailers	150	37,020	$27,550 - 52,180	17%	11%
65	Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing	150	22,130	$17,710 - 27,830	6%	0%
66	First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	140	57,510	$36,000 - 85,870	7%	13%
67	Cooks, short order	140	17,800	$12,150 - 24,400	5%	5%
68	Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products	140	51,700	$26,530 - 82,410	0%	42%
69	Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	140	16,760	$12,850 - 20,070	17%	14%
70	Recreation workers	140	24,350	$13,930 - 32,290	13%	47%
71	Insurance sales agents	130	35,800	$20,600 - 60,390	13%	45%
72	Billing and posting clerks and machine operators	130	27,880	$21,250 - 36,660	4%	15%
73	Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	120	28,750	$21,740 - 37,020	8%	3%
74	Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators	120	31,400	$19,810 - 45,970	14%	8%
75	Food servers, nonrestaurant	120	15,570	$12,190 - 18,980	16%	9%
76	Personal and home care aides	110	18,830	$12,080 - 23,520	51%	10%
77	Highway maintenance workers	110	32,490	$24,900 - 44,080	9%	5%
78	Amusement and recreation attendants	110	16,460	$11,950 - 20,980	24%	22%
79	Office and administrative support workers, all other	110	27,420	$19,740 - 38,210	-8%	32%
80	Paralegals and legal assistants	110	33,530	$21,280 - 55,000	22%	45%
81	Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	100	20,250	$16,220 - 25,640	-12%	0%
82	Radiologic technologists and technicians	100	43,210	$23,620 - 60,380	15%	25%
83	Production, planning, and expediting clerks	100	40,060	$26,810 - 55,450	4%	30%
84	Bartenders	100	18,750	$11,960 - 30,050	11%	17%
85	Automotive body and related repairers	100	32,350	$18,960 - 47,760	12%	3%
86	Packers and packagers, hand	100	21,040	$13,200 - 30,920	-11%	3%
87	Telecommunications line installers and repairers	90	45,310	$21,810 - 71,840	5%	8%
88	Order clerks	90	22,180	$13,120 - 32,190	-23%	16%
89	Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters	90	22,010	$16,650 - 28,420	3%	4%
90	Loan officers	90	42,780	$22,610 - 64,000	12%	49%
91	Library assistants, clerical	90	24,580	$16,600 - 35,730	8%	37%
92	First-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers	80	31,730	$18,400 - 50,610	16%	26%
93	Electrical and electronic engineering technicians	80	45,110	$26,330 - 66,770	4%	18%
94	Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers	80	27,840	$21,760 - 34,950	14%	11%
95	Driver/sales workers	80	38,630	$22,060 - 64,800	-4%	4%
96	Painters, construction and maintenance	80	33,980	$19,890 - 68,140	12%	6%
97	Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists	80	35,480	$26,280 - 47,310	12%	3%
98	Industrial production managers	80	85,140	$48,530 - 142,740	-5%	43%
99	Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers	80	14,910	$11,620 - 18,640	19%	31%
100	Cost estimators	80	53,670	$30,490 - 83,200	19%	32%

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Jobs More Common Near Blacksburg Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Local Jobs	Pop. vs. Avg.*
Legislators	13,660	110	8.4
Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers	29,830	610	8.1
Biological technicians	31,680	160	7.7
Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing	22,130	150	7
Maintenance workers, machinery	40,920	160	6.6
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	31,760	190	6.2
Tool and die makers	45,870	170	5.7
Vocational education teachers, secondary school	51,520	110	4.4
Family and general practitioners	191,900	150	4
Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators	31,400	120	3.8
Highway maintenance workers	32,490	110	3.5
Machinists	35,810	460	3.3
Real estate sales agents	28,510	210	3.2
Medical and public health social workers	52,330	140	3.2
Mechanical engineers	70,380	210	2.7
Team assemblers	28,200	970	2.6
Electrical engineers	72,280	140	2.5
Cooks, short order	17,800	140	2.4
Architects, except landscape and naval	75,710	100	2.4
Public relations specialists	38,320	210	2.3
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	20,250	100	2.3
Cooks, fast food	19,800	470	2.3
Helpers--production workers	18,880	390	2.3
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	25,250	290	2.2
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	16,190	2,120	2.2
Industrial engineers	67,180	160	2.2
Teachers and instructors, all other	26,530	400	2.2
Educational, vocational, and school counselors	45,390	180	2.1
Correctional officers and jailers	37,020	150	2.1
Industrial machinery mechanics	37,430	180	2.1
Librarians	50,950	110	2.1
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	27,220	170	2
Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school	45,380	140	1.9
Child, family, and school social workers	34,540	180	1.9
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	16,760	140	1.9
Tellers	22,150	390	1.8
Automotive body and related repairers	32,350	100	1.8
Cashiers	16,440	2,290	1.8
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	54,180	410	1.8
Child care workers	16,180	380	1.8
Food servers, nonrestaurant	15,570	120	1.8
Bus drivers, school	23,720	250	1.8
Maids and housekeeping cleaners	16,770	560	1.7
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	30,400	410	1.7
Police and sheriff's patrol officers	39,340	330	1.6
Pharmacy technicians	25,240	180	1.6
Computer programmers	60,050	260	1.6
Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	66,880	120	1.6
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	31,540	400	1.6
Carpenters	29,340	560	1.6

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Blacksburg, Virginia Metro Area (2007 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Salary Index *	Local Jobs
Family and general practitioners	191,900	1.22	150
Cooks, fast food	19,800	1.18	470
Medical and public health social workers	52,330	1.16	140
Network and computer systems administrators	67,000	1.11	110
Maintenance workers, machinery	40,920	1.11	160
Computer systems analysts	72,830	1.09	240
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	31,760	1.08	190
Team assemblers	28,200	1.07	970
Retail salespersons	25,720	1.07	2,020
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	54,180	1.06	410
Teacher assistants	22,680	1.05	360
Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers	29,830	1.05	610
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	39,750	1.05	600
First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	30,850	1.04	410
Tool and die makers	45,870	1.04	170
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	57,510	1.04	140
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	25,250	1.04	290
Recreation workers	24,350	1.04	140
Pharmacists	101,960	1.02	120
Executive secretaries and administrative assistants	37,970	1.02	220
Vocational education teachers, secondary school	51,520	1.01	110
Librarians	50,950	1.01	110
Correctional officers and jailers	37,020	1.01	150
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products	51,700	1	140
Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	28,040	0.99	470
Machinists	35,810	0.99	460
Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education	48,620	0.99	420
Postal service mail carriers	43,390	0.99	170
Mechanical engineers	70,380	0.98	210
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	16,190	0.98	2,120
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	43,350	0.98	450
Maintenance and repair workers, general	32,200	0.97	530
Personal and home care aides	18,830	0.97	110
Computer programmers	60,050	0.96	260
Elementary school teachers, except special education	45,750	0.96	670
Tellers	22,150	0.96	390
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	27,220	0.96	170
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	26,470	0.96	240
Industrial engineers	67,180	0.95	160
Highway maintenance workers	32,490	0.95	110
Billing and posting clerks and machine operators	27,880	0.95	130
Electrical engineers	72,280	0.95	140
Receptionists and information clerks	21,950	0.95	410
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	22,070	0.94	710
Cooks, institution and cafeteria	21,490	0.94	150
Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school	45,380	0.94	140
Computer support specialists	38,540	0.94	190
Social and human service assistants	26,000	0.94	130
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer	33,920	0.93	680
Electricians	42,160	0.93	370

Highest Paying Jobs in Blacksburg, Virginia Metro Area (2007 data)

Title	Mean Local Salary	Local Jobs
Family and general practitioners	191,900	150
Chief executives	148,080	70
Engineering managers	115,040	70
Management analysts	107,670	60
Lawyers	107,110	50
Pharmacists	101,960	120
Computer software engineers, systems software	98,510	60
Medical and health services managers	90,360	90
Computer and information systems managers	90,140	90
Sales engineers	88,830	50
Chemists	88,610	60
Chemical engineers	88,380	40
Sales managers	87,110	70
Industrial production managers	85,140	80
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary	82,150	50
General and operations managers	78,640	390
Architects, except landscape and naval	75,710	100
Financial managers	75,040	120
Computer systems analysts	72,830	240
Electrical engineers	72,280	140
Psychology teachers, postsecondary	72,230	60
Computer and information scientists, research	71,850
First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers	71,560	80
Mechanical engineers	70,380	210
Computer software engineers, applications	69,100	190
Industrial engineers	67,180	160
Network and computer systems administrators	67,000	110
Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	66,880	120
Environmental engineers	66,700
Construction managers	65,600	70
Financial analysts	65,270	30
Network systems and data communications analysts	65,070	40
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health	64,110	40
Veterinarians	60,910	40
Computer programmers	60,050	260
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary	59,470	80
Managers, all other	59,390	40
First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives	58,330	60
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	57,510	140
Administrative services managers	56,920	50
Physical therapists	56,740	90
Detectives and criminal investigators	56,040	50
Civil engineers	55,640	140
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	55,530	50
Social and community service managers	55,350	50
Dental hygienists	55,220
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	54,180	410
Cost estimators	53,670	80
Market research analysts	53,110	80
Medical and public health social workers	52,330	140

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