Oakland Employment

Employment and Industries in the Oakland, California Area

Part of the San Francisco Bay area, the Oakland-Fremont-Hayward metropolitan area has a strong economy that provides ample opportunities for business and professional advancement. The Oakland area is home to ten Fortune 1000 company headquarters. The largest company with their headquarters in the Oakland area is Chevron. Probably the most famous companies headquartered in the area are Chevron, Clorox, Intuit, Google, and VeriSign.

Business honors and awards received by the Oakland metropolitan area include:

  • The entire Bay area, including the Oakland area, ranked 25th among the 50 top large cities on Entrepreneur magazine's 2005 list of "Hot Cities for Entrepreneurs".
  • The Oakland metropolitan area has ranked 41st among U.S. Cities in the large cities category on Inc. magazine's 2006 list of "Best Cities for Doing Business".
  • In a 2005 study done by the Milikin Institute, the Oakland-Fremont-Hayward area ranked 88th among 200 U.S. cities as a "2005 Best Performing Cities - 200 Largest Metros".

The Oakland area has a very well educated work force. According to a U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, the Oakland area has almost 38% of its workforce with a college degree or higher, placing it 12th among large cities in the United States. Oakland ranks among the top thirty most literate cities according to a 2005 Central Connecticut State University study. The Oakland area was also ranked 19th among U.S. cities in educational attainment on Forbes magazine's 2006 "Best Places For Business And Careers" list.

Major industries in the Oakland area include:

  • Business services
  • Entertainment
  • Food processing
  • Government
  • Health care services
  • Light manufacturing
  • Transportation

The Port of Oakland is also a major economic driver for the area. It is responsible for nearly 200,000 jobs and is he fourth busiest container port in the United States.

For business travelers, the Oakland area is served by the Oakland International Airport (OAK). OAK is one of the faster growing airports in the United States form the standpoint of passenger volume as well as air cargo volumes.

Companies with headquarters in the Oakland-Fremont-Hayward metropolitan area include:

  • Chevron
  • Chiron
  • Clorox
  • Golden West Financial
  • Google
  • Intuit
  • Lam Research
  • Longs Drug Stores
  • UTStarcom
  • VeriSign

Business and trade organizations and associations in the Oakland area include:

The Oakland Business Review, and the "Business Section" of the Oakland Tribune are sources of information on the business community in the Oakland area.

Jobs in Oakland

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations2472110$75,890$36.49100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations284830$53,290$25.6213.75
3Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations221270$35,750$17.198.7
4Sales and Related Occupations215620$56,850$27.339.5
5Management Occupations206800$158,880$76.386.35
6Business and Financial Operations Occupations195700$97,010$46.645.35
7Transportation and Material Moving Occupations178230$47,560$22.866.7
8Computer and Mathematical Occupations163630$124,630$59.923
9Educational Instruction and Library Occupations134130$70,160$33.736
10Healthcare Support Occupations117080$36,740$17.662.85
11Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations111570$116,380$55.955.85
12Construction and Extraction Occupations100140$75,000$36.064.6
13Production Occupations91610$48,020$23.085.6
14Home Health and Personal Care Aides75780$30,320$14.580
15Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations69640$63,440$30.53.75
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations66440$41,940$20.163.6
17Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers65790$145,250$69.830.65
18Architecture and Engineering Occupations57780$106,210$51.061.7
19Personal Care and Service Occupations56180$39,350$18.924.65
20Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations53790$76,360$36.711.8
21Cashiers52380$32,150$15.462.2
22Fast Food and Counter Workers51020$31,610$15.22.45
23Retail Salespersons47760$34,810$16.742.7
24Protective Service Occupations47550$67,240$32.332.2
25Waiters and Waitresses45000$37,810$18.181.65
26General and Operations Managers44500$155,850$74.931.5
27Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other39570$93,010$44.720.7
28Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand39290$39,930$19.21.8
29Office Clerks, General38970$46,920$22.561.9
30Registered Nurses38580$138,000$66.351.95
31Community and Social Service Occupations36320$65,000$31.251.75
32Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations35660$100,560$48.350.8
33Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners32370$38,870$18.691.5
34Customer Service Representatives31300$49,200$23.661.75
35Cooks, Restaurant29590$38,430$18.480.9
36Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive28810$51,170$24.61.4
37Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel27950$81,320$39.10.7
38Stockers and Order Fillers27280$36,170$17.391.25
39Legal Occupations25540$149,940$72.090.8
40Accountants and Auditors25500$93,590$450.9
41Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks23350$54,980$26.441.05
42First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers23180$71,190$34.230.95
43Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists22650$91,350$43.920.45
44Computer Occupations, All Other22250$120,370$57.870.3
45Computer and Information Systems Managers21980$201,960$97.090.3
46Security Guards21400$38,580$18.550.7
47Maintenance and Repair Workers, General19080$56,230$27.040.9
48Financial Managers18640$182,190$87.590.4
49Carpenters18490$71,490$34.370.6
50Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products17740$81,830$39.340.85
51Management Analysts17340$113,750$54.690.55
52Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators17220$43,160$20.750.8
53Computer Systems Analysts16980$121,300$58.320.4
54Computer User Support Specialists16980$75,640$36.370.4
55Lawyers16750$188,910$90.820.5
56Light Truck Drivers16560$48,790$23.460.6
57Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other16220$168,900$81.20.7
58Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners15200$41,430$19.920.9
59Construction Laborers14900$55,970$26.910.9
60Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants14770$82,480$39.660.35
61Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other14760$119,100$57.260.2
62Food Preparation Workers14640$31,820$15.30.5
63Human Resources Specialists13870$89,820$43.190.4
64Sales Managers13810$159,720$76.790.3
65Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity13450$40,610$19.520.3
66First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers13420$46,980$22.590.95
67Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers13340$51,440$24.731.2
68Substitute Teachers, Short-Term12860$42,940$20.640.4
69Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers12850$43,940$21.120.75
70Dishwashers12750$31,680$15.230.3
71First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers12480$44,560$21.430.6
72Medical Assistants12320$48,920$23.520.45
73Marketing Managers11620$181,720$87.370.2
74Electricians11550$100,400$48.270.45
75Cooks, Fast Food11440$27,060$13.010.3
76Receptionists and Information Clerks11370$39,990$19.230.7
77Nursing Assistants11140$45,100$21.680.95
78Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants11110$49,140$23.620.4
79Civil Engineers10930$120,110$57.750.2
80Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents10660$101,770$48.930.3
81Counter and Rental Clerks10580$40,320$19.380.3
82Bartenders10480$37,310$17.940.4
83Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education10080$45,050$21.660.3
84Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers9700$35,040$16.850.3
85Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks9660$42,910$20.630.4
86Packers and Packagers, Hand9570$32,950$15.840.4
87Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity9010$58,860$28.30.1
88Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers8580$119,260$57.330.4
89Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics8550$58,630$28.190.5
90First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers8420$99,580$47.880.4
91Recreation Workers8150$36,490$17.540.3
92Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters8010$87,230$41.940.3
93Childcare Workers7500$35,590$17.110.7
94Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other7310$45,160$21.710.1
95Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment7280$33,470$16.090.3
96Administrative Services and Facilities Managers7180$132,020$63.470
97Personal Financial Advisors7100$157,720$75.830.2
98Network and Computer Systems Administrators7070$104,370$50.180.2
99Dental Assistants6980$51,510$24.760.2
100Architectural and Engineering Managers6940$186,500$89.660.1
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Oakland Colleges
Oakland colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Oakland Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$75,8902,472,110
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$53,290284,830
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$35,750221,270
Sales and Related Occupations$56,850215,620
Management Occupations$158,880206,800
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$97,010195,700
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$47,560178,230
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$124,630163,630
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$70,160134,130
Healthcare Support Occupations$36,740117,080
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$116,380111,570
Construction and Extraction Occupations$75,000100,140
Production Occupations$48,02091,610
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$30,32075,780
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$63,44069,640
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$41,94066,440
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$145,25065,790
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$106,21057,780
Personal Care and Service Occupations$39,35056,180
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$76,36053,790
Cashiers$32,15052,380
Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,61051,020
Retail Salespersons$34,81047,760
Protective Service Occupations$67,24047,550
Waiters and Waitresses$37,81045,000
General and Operations Managers$155,85044,500
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$93,01039,570
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$39,93039,290
Office Clerks, General$46,92038,970
Registered Nurses$138,00038,580
Community and Social Service Occupations$65,00036,320
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$100,56035,660
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$38,87032,370
Customer Service Representatives$49,20031,300
Cooks, Restaurant$38,43029,590
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$51,17028,810
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$81,32027,950
Stockers and Order Fillers$36,17027,280
Legal Occupations$149,94025,540
Accountants and Auditors$93,59025,500
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$54,98023,350
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$71,19023,180
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$91,35022,650
Computer Occupations, All Other$120,37022,250
Computer and Information Systems Managers$201,96021,980
Security Guards$38,58021,400
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$56,23019,080
Financial Managers$182,19018,640
Carpenters$71,49018,490
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$81,83017,740

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

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$75,8902,472,110
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$53,290284,830
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$35,750221,270
Sales and Related Occupations$56,850215,620
Management Occupations$158,880206,800
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$97,010195,700
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$47,560178,230
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$124,630163,630
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$70,160134,130
Healthcare Support Occupations$36,740117,080
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$116,380111,570
Construction and Extraction Occupations$75,000100,140
Production Occupations$48,02091,610
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$30,32075,780
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$63,44069,640
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$41,94066,440
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$145,25065,790
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$106,21057,780
Personal Care and Service Occupations$39,35056,180
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$76,36053,790
Cashiers$32,15052,380
Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,61051,020
Retail Salespersons$34,81047,760
Protective Service Occupations$67,24047,550
Waiters and Waitresses$37,81045,000
General and Operations Managers$155,85044,500
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$93,01039,570
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$39,93039,290
Office Clerks, General$46,92038,970
Registered Nurses$138,00038,580
Community and Social Service Occupations$65,00036,320
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$100,56035,660
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$38,87032,370
Customer Service Representatives$49,20031,300
Cooks, Restaurant$38,43029,590
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$51,17028,810
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$81,32027,950
Stockers and Order Fillers$36,17027,280
Legal Occupations$149,94025,540
Accountants and Auditors$93,59025,500
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$54,98023,350
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$71,19023,180
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$91,35022,650
Computer Occupations, All Other$120,37022,250
Computer and Information Systems Managers$201,96021,980
Security Guards$38,58021,400
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$56,23019,080
Financial Managers$182,19018,640
Carpenters$71,49018,490
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$81,83017,740

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