El Centro Employment

Employment and Industries in the El Centro, California Area

Retail, wholesale, transportation and agriculture are the major elements of El Centro's economy. The major employment sectors are the government, wholesale, agriculture, construction, education, healthcare and transportation. About 27% of the workforce is employed by the government and approximately 22% of the workforce is employed in sales and office jobs.

Some of the most popular jobs in El Centro primarily filled by college graduates are teachers, registered nurses, accountants and auditors, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, sales managers and child, family and school social workers. Occupations which are more common in El Central when compared to most of the nation's other cities are agricultural equipment operators, farm workers, farm equipment mechanics, power plant operators, machinery maintenance workers and electrical power-line installers and repairers.

Notable data regarding Chico: In 2007 the estimated median household income in El Centro was $33,000. The cost of living index in 2008 was very close to the national average. For the population over the age of 25, about 14% have a bachelor's degree or higher.

The main employers in the area are provided below:

  • All Star Seed Co - Wholesale Seeds & Bulbs
  • ARC - Disabled persons equipment and supplies
  • ARC Imperial Valley - Transportation lines
  • Central Union High School - Education
  • El Centro Naval Air Facility - Federal government, national security
  • El Centro Regional Medical CTR - Hospitals
  • Imperial County Behavioral - Government
  • Imperial County OFC of Education - Computer training
  • United States Gypsum Co - Gypsum & gypsum products
  • US Border Patrol
  • Walmart Supercenter
  • Altar Produce LLC
  • Ametza LLC
  • Imperial Irrigation District
  • Vessey & Company

El Centro companies are provided assistance by business organizations such as:

The Imperial Valley Press Online provides up-to-date information about the business activities in El Centro.

Jobs in El Centro

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations58900$47,030$22.61100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations6670$38,880$18.6913.75
3Sales and Related Occupations6220$34,580$16.639.5
4Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations5710$28,550$13.730.65
5Healthcare Support Occupations5080$27,320$13.142.85
6Educational Instruction and Library Occupations4960$67,500$32.456
7Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse4640$26,150$12.570.3
8Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations4400$27,890$13.418.7
9Transportation and Material Moving Occupations4240$36,270$17.446.7
10Home Health and Personal Care Aides4060$25,330$12.180
11Protective Service Occupations3500$70,050$33.682.2
12Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations2570$85,490$41.15.85
13Retail Salespersons2480$27,460$13.22.7
14Management Occupations2460$94,690$45.526.35
15Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations2190$49,870$23.983.75
16Business and Financial Operations Occupations2080$68,080$32.735.35
17Cashiers1930$28,060$13.492.2
18Community and Social Service Occupations1710$50,960$24.51.75
19Production Occupations1680$43,260$20.85.6
20Office Clerks, General1660$33,160$15.941.9
21Fast Food and Counter Workers1610$26,280$12.632.45
22Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations1450$31,740$15.263.6
23Construction and Extraction Occupations1450$58,140$27.954.6
24Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1020$45,330$21.791.2
25Registered Nurses960$89,480$43.021.95
26Personal Care and Service Occupations930$30,660$14.744.65
27Stockers and Order Fillers860$30,580$14.71.25
28Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners810$30,790$14.81.5
29General and Operations Managers680$91,230$43.861.5
30Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive660$40,490$19.471.4
31Detectives and Criminal Investigators620$84,780$40.760.1
32Waiters and Waitresses620$26,800$12.891.65
33Agricultural Equipment Operators610$28,160$13.540
34First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers610$53,390$25.670.95
35Compliance Officers600$75,930$36.510.2
36First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers590$46,580$22.390.95
37Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks570$38,220$18.371.05
38Security Guards550$26,650$12.810.7
39Packers and Packagers, Hand540$29,690$14.270.4
40Social and Human Service Assistants540$44,970$21.620.3
41Maintenance and Repair Workers, General500$41,090$19.750.9
42Customer Service Representatives410$37,770$18.161.75
43Cooks, Fast Food390$25,380$12.20.3
44Cooks, Restaurant380$30,400$14.620.9
45Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand380$31,490$15.141.8
46Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses380$48,270$23.210.5
47Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other380$62,700$30.140.7
48Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products370$72,380$34.80.85
49Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations360$77,380$37.20.8
50Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other360$102,280$49.170.7
51Substitute Teachers, Short-Term360$46,390$22.30.4
52Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations340$55,990$26.921.8
53Computer and Mathematical Occupations330$66,960$32.193
54First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers330$36,400$17.50.6
55Architecture and Engineering Occupations320$82,920$39.871.7
56Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics320$39,230$18.860.5
57Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators320$37,080$17.830.4
58Medical Assistants300$30,820$14.820.45
59Childcare Workers290$26,490$12.730.7
60Nursing Assistants290$29,460$14.170.95
61Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders290$30,340$14.580.2
62Food Preparation Workers280$29,580$14.220.5
63Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers250$35,100$16.880.75
64Light Truck Drivers250$29,530$14.20.6
65Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants250$34,690$16.680.4
66Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers250$77,230$37.130.4
67Legal Occupations240$73,670$35.420.8
68Accountants and Auditors230$67,280$32.350.9
69First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers230$54,170$26.040
70Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners230$26,280$12.630.9
71Parts Salespersons230$35,430$17.030.2
72Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity230$30,850$14.830.3
73Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment220$26,910$12.940.3
74Construction Laborers220$43,400$20.870.9
75Tellers220$32,610$15.680.25
76School Bus Monitors and Protective Service Workers, All Other210$39,170$18.830.1
77Butchers and Meat Cutters200$30,760$14.790.1
78Receptionists and Information Clerks200$29,700$14.280.7
79Management Analysts190$76,960$370.55
80Dental Assistants170$47,460$22.820.2
81Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators170$54,090$26.010.25
82Billing and Posting Clerks160$41,140$19.780.3
83First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers160$78,620$37.80.3
84First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors160$53,300$25.630.3
85Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other160$41,180$19.80
86Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers160$39,240$18.860.1
87Counter and Rental Clerks150$37,780$18.160.3
88Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers150$26,870$12.920.3
89Dishwashers150$27,150$13.060.3
90Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs150$45,660$21.950.1
91Firefighters150$39,660$19.070.2
92Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers140$60,400$29.040.2
93Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop140$27,870$13.40.3
94Pharmacy Technicians140$37,980$18.260.3
95First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers130$76,990$37.020.4
96Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks130$30,640$14.730.4
97Social and Community Service Managers130$63,590$30.570.1
98Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators130$68,100$32.740.1
99Bartenders120$25,730$12.370.4
100Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists120$38,030$18.280.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

El Centro Colleges
El Centro colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near El Centro Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$47,03058,900
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,8806,670
Sales and Related Occupations$34,5806,220
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations$28,5505,710
Healthcare Support Occupations$27,3205,080
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$67,5004,960
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$26,1504,640
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$27,8904,400
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,2704,240
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$25,3304,060
Protective Service Occupations$70,0503,500
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$85,4902,570
Retail Salespersons$27,4602,480
Management Occupations$94,6902,460
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$49,8702,190
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$68,0802,080
Cashiers$28,0601,930
Community and Social Service Occupations$50,9601,710
Production Occupations$43,2601,680
Office Clerks, General$33,1601,660
Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,2801,610
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$31,7401,450
Construction and Extraction Occupations$58,1401,450
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$45,3301,020
Registered Nurses$89,480960
Personal Care and Service Occupations$30,660930
Stockers and Order Fillers$30,580860
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$30,790810
General and Operations Managers$91,230680
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$40,490660
Detectives and Criminal Investigators$84,780620
Waiters and Waitresses$26,800620
Agricultural Equipment Operators$28,160610
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$53,390610
Compliance Officers$75,930600
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$46,580590
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$38,220570
Security Guards$26,650550
Packers and Packagers, Hand$29,690540
Social and Human Service Assistants$44,970540
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$41,090500
Customer Service Representatives$37,770410
Cooks, Fast Food$25,380390
Cooks, Restaurant$30,400380
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,490380
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$48,270380
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$62,700380
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,380370
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$77,380360
Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other$102,280360

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

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$47,03058,900
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,8806,670
Sales and Related Occupations$34,5806,220
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations$28,5505,710
Healthcare Support Occupations$27,3205,080
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$67,5004,960
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$26,1504,640
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$27,8904,400
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,2704,240
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$25,3304,060
Protective Service Occupations$70,0503,500
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$85,4902,570
Retail Salespersons$27,4602,480
Management Occupations$94,6902,460
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$49,8702,190
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$68,0802,080
Cashiers$28,0601,930
Community and Social Service Occupations$50,9601,710
Production Occupations$43,2601,680
Office Clerks, General$33,1601,660
Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,2801,610
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$31,7401,450
Construction and Extraction Occupations$58,1401,450
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$45,3301,020
Registered Nurses$89,480960
Personal Care and Service Occupations$30,660930
Stockers and Order Fillers$30,580860
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$30,790810
General and Operations Managers$91,230680
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$40,490660
Detectives and Criminal Investigators$84,780620
Waiters and Waitresses$26,800620
Agricultural Equipment Operators$28,160610
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$53,390610
Compliance Officers$75,930600
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$46,580590
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$38,220570
Security Guards$26,650550
Packers and Packagers, Hand$29,690540
Social and Human Service Assistants$44,970540
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$41,090500
Customer Service Representatives$37,770410
Cooks, Fast Food$25,380390
Cooks, Restaurant$30,400380
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,490380
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$48,270380
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$62,700380
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,380370
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$77,380360
Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other$102,280360

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