Chico Employment

Employment and Industries in the Chico, California Area

Chico is the economic center of the Northern Sacramento Valley. Much of Chico's economy is powered by the California State University, Chico. Agriculture is also a significant part of the economy. Almonds, rice, olives, kiwis, peaches and plums are the major crops. The major employers are the government, education, social services, arts and entertainment, recreation, healthcare and accommodation and food service. About 26% of the workforce are sales and office workers and about 15% are employed by the government.

The most popular occupations in Chico in which the majority of the workers have a college degree are registered nurses, teachers, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, accountants and auditors, social and human service assistants and financial managers. Jobs which are more prevalent in Chico than most of the nation's other cities are brewery machine operators, tile and marble setters, education administrators, pest control workers, farm workers, office and administrative support personnel and protective service workers.

Noteworthy data about Chico: In 2007 the estimated median household income was $36,000. The cost of living index in 2008 was 106.2. The national average is 100. For the population over the age of 25, about 33% have a bachelor's degree or higher. The daytime population expands by about 23% due to people commuting from the surrounding area for work.

The top 10 manufacturing employers in Chico are:

  • Sierra Nevada Brewery
  • Koret of California
  • SunGard Public Sector
  • Aero Union
  • Sunset Moulding Company
  • Smucker Quality Beverages
  • Lundberg Family Farms
  • Norfield Industries
  • JG Brattan
  • Wrex Products

The top 10 non-manufacturing employers in Chico are:

  • Enloe Medical Center
  • Butte County
  • California State University, Chico
  • Chico Unified School District
  • Tri Counties Bank
  • Butte-Glenn Community College District
  • Lifetouch National School Studios
  • City of Chico
  • Feather Falls Casino
  • Employment Development Department

Business organizations offering assistance to Chico companies:

The Chico Enterprise-Record provides up-to-date information about the business activities in Chico.

Jobs in Chico

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations79320$48,610$23.37100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations10220$39,300$18.913.75
3Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations8220$28,240$13.588.7
4Educational Instruction and Library Occupations7780$56,660$27.246
5Sales and Related Occupations7510$35,670$17.159.5
6Healthcare Support Occupations6600$29,560$14.212.85
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations5720$88,650$42.625.85
8Transportation and Material Moving Occupations4470$35,160$16.96.7
9Home Health and Personal Care Aides4110$26,220$12.60
10Management Occupations3970$100,800$48.466.35
11Production Occupations3230$41,350$19.885.6
12Construction and Extraction Occupations3160$53,240$25.64.6
13Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations2940$49,290$23.73.75
14Business and Financial Operations Occupations2640$65,420$31.455.35
15Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations2520$33,230$15.983.6
16Community and Social Service Occupations2500$49,030$23.571.75
17Cashiers2360$28,910$13.92.2
18Fast Food and Counter Workers2350$25,800$12.412.45
19Retail Salespersons2340$29,940$14.392.7
20Registered Nurses2250$85,080$40.911.95
21Personal Care and Service Occupations1940$32,800$15.774.65
22Office Clerks, General1650$34,310$16.51.9
23Waiters and Waitresses1290$29,560$14.211.65
24Customer Service Representatives1280$37,610$18.081.75
25Protective Service Occupations1210$61,380$29.512.2
26Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1130$37,920$18.231.4
27Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1110$28,130$13.521.8
28Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations1090$32,750$15.750.65
29General and Operations Managers1080$103,100$49.571.5
30Nursing Assistants1060$32,130$15.450.95
31Stockers and Order Fillers1050$29,980$14.411.25
32Computer and Mathematical Occupations950$73,760$35.463
33Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners920$30,470$14.651.5
34Cooks, Restaurant910$30,450$14.640.9
35Substitute Teachers, Short-Term900$40,330$19.390.4
36Architecture and Engineering Occupations860$82,140$39.491.7
37Maintenance and Repair Workers, General830$43,080$20.710.9
38Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks810$43,050$20.71.05
39First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers810$54,520$26.210.95
40Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners770$32,600$15.670.9
41First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers720$43,140$20.740.95
42Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations690$49,510$23.81.8
43Social and Human Service Assistants690$38,480$18.50.3
44Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse670$28,910$13.90.3
45Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations670$70,750$34.010.8
46Cooks, Fast Food660$26,870$12.920.3
47Construction Laborers630$45,290$21.770.9
48Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants590$35,470$17.050.4
49Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders590$35,210$16.930.2
50Light Truck Drivers580$50,140$24.110.6
51Receptionists and Information Clerks580$31,260$15.030.7
52Food Preparation Workers570$26,480$12.730.5
53Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other550$67,890$32.640.7
54Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers540$32,650$15.70.75
55Counter and Rental Clerks510$33,110$15.920.3
56Medical Assistants510$35,810$17.220.45
57Dishwashers480$25,330$12.180.3
58First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers440$37,450$18.010.6
59Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers430$46,950$22.571.2
60Legal Occupations420$73,420$35.30.8
61Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products420$56,820$27.320.85
62Electricians410$62,930$30.260.45
63Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education410$31,250$15.020.3
64Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses380$58,500$28.120.5
65Bartenders360$29,490$14.180.4
66Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators360$31,470$15.130.8
67Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics340$46,800$22.50.5
68Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers340$87,970$42.290.4
69Recreation Workers330$26,970$12.970.3
70Billing and Posting Clerks320$41,380$19.90.3
71Childcare Workers310$29,550$14.210.7
72Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers310$26,190$12.590.3
73Carpenters300$52,680$25.330.6
74Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other300$42,380$20.370
75Medical and Health Services Managers300$116,630$56.070.3
76Accountants and Auditors290$61,560$29.60.9
77Rehabilitation Counselors290$31,080$14.940.1
78Child, Family, and School Social Workers280$55,720$26.790.2
79Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors280$47,100$22.640.2
80Packers and Packagers, Hand270$27,270$13.110.4
81Self-Enrichment Teachers270$41,340$19.870.2
82Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop260$25,750$12.380.3
83Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors250$65,420$31.450.2
84Firefighters250$60,480$29.080.2
85Pharmacists250$135,110$64.960.2
86Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers250$40,230$19.340.3
87Dental Assistants240$42,240$20.310.2
88Financial Managers240$109,140$52.470.4
89Food Servers, Nonrestaurant240$31,880$15.330.2
90Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks240$39,100$18.80.2
91Pharmacy Technicians240$44,590$21.440.3
92Sales Managers240$90,730$43.620.3
93Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel240$45,900$22.070.7
94Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks240$35,650$17.140.4
95First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers230$78,890$37.930.4
96Human Resources Specialists230$57,130$27.470.4
97Civil Engineers220$102,100$49.080.2
98First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers220$76,810$36.930.4
99Management Analysts220$64,500$31.010.55
100Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists220$50,070$24.070.45
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Chico Colleges
Chico colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Chico Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$48,61079,320
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$39,30010,220
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$28,2408,220
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$56,6607,780
Sales and Related Occupations$35,6707,510
Healthcare Support Occupations$29,5606,600
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$88,6505,720
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,1604,470
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$26,2204,110
Management Occupations$100,8003,970
Production Occupations$41,3503,230
Construction and Extraction Occupations$53,2403,160
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$49,2902,940
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$65,4202,640
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$33,2302,520
Community and Social Service Occupations$49,0302,500
Cashiers$28,9102,360
Fast Food and Counter Workers$25,8002,350
Retail Salespersons$29,9402,340
Registered Nurses$85,0802,250
Personal Care and Service Occupations$32,8001,940
Office Clerks, General$34,3101,650
Waiters and Waitresses$29,5601,290
Customer Service Representatives$37,6101,280
Protective Service Occupations$61,3801,210
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$37,9201,130
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$28,1301,110
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations$32,7501,090
General and Operations Managers$103,1001,080
Nursing Assistants$32,1301,060
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,9801,050
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$73,760950
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$30,470920
Cooks, Restaurant$30,450910
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$40,330900
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$82,140860
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$43,080830
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,050810
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$54,520810
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$32,600770
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,140720
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$49,510690
Social and Human Service Assistants$38,480690
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$28,910670
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$70,750670
Cooks, Fast Food$26,870660
Construction Laborers$45,290630
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$35,470590
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$35,210590
Light Truck Drivers$50,140580

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

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$48,61079,320
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$39,30010,220
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$28,2408,220
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$56,6607,780
Sales and Related Occupations$35,6707,510
Healthcare Support Occupations$29,5606,600
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$88,6505,720
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,1604,470
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$26,2204,110
Management Occupations$100,8003,970
Production Occupations$41,3503,230
Construction and Extraction Occupations$53,2403,160
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$49,2902,940
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$65,4202,640
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$33,2302,520
Community and Social Service Occupations$49,0302,500
Cashiers$28,9102,360
Fast Food and Counter Workers$25,8002,350
Retail Salespersons$29,9402,340
Registered Nurses$85,0802,250
Personal Care and Service Occupations$32,8001,940
Office Clerks, General$34,3101,650
Waiters and Waitresses$29,5601,290
Customer Service Representatives$37,6101,280
Protective Service Occupations$61,3801,210
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$37,9201,130
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$28,1301,110
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations$32,7501,090
General and Operations Managers$103,1001,080
Nursing Assistants$32,1301,060
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,9801,050
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$73,760950
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$30,470920
Cooks, Restaurant$30,450910
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$40,330900
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$82,140860
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$43,080830
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,050810
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$54,520810
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$32,600770
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,140720
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$49,510690
Social and Human Service Assistants$38,480690
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$28,910670
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$70,750670
Cooks, Fast Food$26,870660
Construction Laborers$45,290630
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$35,470590
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$35,210590
Light Truck Drivers$50,140580

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