Sacramento Employment

Employment and Industries in the Sacramento, California Area

As one might expect of a city that is both the capital of the State of California, as well as the county seat for Sacramento County, government plays a very large role in the economy of the Sacramento area. While federal, state and local government remain the largest employers in the Sacramento area, Sacramento has a diverse economy which includes:

  • Agriculture
  • Construction
  • Education
  • Government
  • Healthcare
  • Information technology
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Manufacturing
  • Mining
  • Professional, technical, scientific, and management services
  • Wholesale trade and transportation

Sacramento is also home to a deep water port that is connected to San Francisco Bay by a via a 43-mile channel. The port supports agriculture and industry throughout Northern California.

Providing a driving force behind the Sacramento economy is a very well educated work force. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, over 24% of the Sacramento area population has a college degree or higher. According to a 2005 Central Connecticut State University study, Sacramento ranked as the 22nd most literate city in the United States.

Business honors and awards received by the Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville metropolitan area include:

  • The Sacramento-Yolo area was ranked 34th among the top 50 large U.S. cities/metropolitan areas on Entrepreneur magazine's 2005 list of "Hot Cities for Entrepreneurs".
  • The Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville metropolitan area ranked 19th among large U.S. Cities in Inc. magazine's 2006 list of "Best Cities for Doing Business" (out of 393 population centers across the United States).
  • The Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville metropolitan area was ranked the 34th best performing city in the United States on the Milken Institute's "2005 Best Performing Cities" report studying the 200 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.
  • According to SustainLane, Sacramento is ranked 13th among 50 major U.S. cities for sustainable services and economics.

For business commuters, the Sacramento area is is served by five major freeways and highways. For air travel, Sacramento is served by the Sacramento International Airport (SMF) which provides service from 13 major carriers and one commuter airline.

Some major employers in the Sacramento metropolitan area include:

  • Aerojet Fine Chemicals
  • American River College
  • California State University Sacramento
  • Ben Corp. Inc.
  • Kaiser Foundation Hospital
  • Mercy San Juan Medical center
  • Sacramento Bee Newspaper
  • Sacramento City College
  • The Sacramento Kings
  • Sutter Memorial Hospital
  • UC Davis Health System
  • University of California Surgery Clinic

Business and economic development organizations in the Sacramento area include:

The Sacramento Business Journal, and the "Business Section" of the Sacramento Bee are both good sources of information on the Sacramento area business community.

Jobs in Sacramento

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations1013730$58,390$28.07100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations135700$44,270$21.2813.75
3Sales and Related Occupations91670$44,350$21.329.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations91100$28,770$13.838.7
5Business and Financial Operations Occupations81380$77,480$37.255.35
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations76230$37,680$18.126.7
7Educational Instruction and Library Occupations60420$64,000$30.776
8Healthcare Support Occupations58160$33,370$16.042.85
9Management Occupations57820$119,310$57.366.35
10Construction and Extraction Occupations52640$58,030$27.94.6
11Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations51160$109,410$52.65.85
12Home Health and Personal Care Aides35460$27,110$13.040
13Computer and Mathematical Occupations33970$96,190$46.253
14Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations33320$54,580$26.243.75
15Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations31670$35,830$17.233.6
16Production Occupations30920$42,670$20.525.6
17Office Clerks, General28750$37,400$17.981.9
18Fast Food and Counter Workers25840$26,840$12.92.45
19Personal Care and Service Occupations25370$32,740$15.744.65
20Retail Salespersons24670$30,660$14.742.7
21Protective Service Occupations24480$60,900$29.282.2
22Cashiers23820$29,400$14.132.2
23Management Analysts23510$78,940$37.950.55
24Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand23440$33,510$16.111.8
25Registered Nurses19860$126,560$60.851.95
26Community and Social Service Occupations19270$59,190$28.461.75
27Architecture and Engineering Occupations17850$100,080$48.121.7
28Stockers and Order Fillers15710$31,780$15.281.25
29Waiters and Waitresses15560$29,800$14.331.65
30Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations15540$78,650$37.810.8
31Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners14790$32,910$15.821.5
32General and Operations Managers14540$121,970$58.641.5
33Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive12880$42,490$20.431.4
34Customer Service Representatives12000$42,150$20.271.75
35Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations11810$60,610$29.141.8
36Accountants and Auditors11540$80,760$38.830.9
37Carpenters11210$57,450$27.620.6
38Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other10530$78,410$37.70.7
39First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers9860$63,280$30.430.95
40Cooks, Restaurant9770$28,700$13.80.9
41Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks9630$46,360$22.291.05
42Security Guards9440$31,190$150.7
43Cooks, Fast Food9090$26,070$12.540.3
44Legal Occupations9010$117,150$56.320.8
45Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers8090$50,520$24.291.2
46Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers8000$38,370$18.450.75
47Construction Laborers7860$49,020$23.570.9
48First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers7730$46,310$22.270.95
49Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers7680$119,030$57.220.65
50Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants6940$47,270$22.720.4
51Medical Assistants6870$42,330$20.350.45
52Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products6600$74,140$35.640.85
53Maintenance and Repair Workers, General6590$44,080$21.190.9
54Light Truck Drivers6580$40,920$19.670.6
55Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel6450$67,900$32.640.7
56Counter and Rental Clerks6060$34,990$16.820.3
57Lawyers5900$140,930$67.750.5
58Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners5840$34,180$16.440.9
59First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers5730$36,970$17.780.6
60Substitute Teachers, Short-Term5680$41,900$20.140.4
61Nursing Assistants5670$39,340$18.910.95
62Receptionists and Information Clerks5620$32,400$15.580.7
63Electricians4910$59,540$28.630.45
64Civil Engineers4870$116,490$56.010.2
65Food Preparation Workers4850$28,420$13.660.5
66Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators4620$33,720$16.210.8
67Financial Managers4580$133,490$64.180.4
68Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers4310$97,600$46.920.4
69Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations4250$30,150$14.490.65
70Social and Human Service Assistants4220$48,540$23.330.3
71Dishwashers4180$25,840$12.420.3
72Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics4160$50,890$24.470.5
73Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks4140$36,930$17.750.4
74Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists4010$71,430$34.340.45
75Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other3970$33,930$16.310.1
76Packers and Packagers, Hand3920$30,810$14.810.4
77Amusement and Recreation Attendants3870$27,320$13.130.2
78Dental Assistants3810$47,500$22.840.2
79Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers3770$26,310$12.650.3
80First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers3730$83,210$400.4
81Bartenders3670$30,730$14.770.4
82Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants3620$65,910$31.690.35
83Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses3610$60,290$28.990.5
84Computer Occupations, All Other3590$93,690$45.040.3
85Sales Managers3590$135,930$65.350.3
86Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents3550$62,250$29.930
87Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators3470$74,940$36.030.2
88Insurance Sales Agents3470$91,690$44.080.3
89Computer and Information Systems Managers3450$150,910$72.550.3
90Human Resources Specialists3430$73,350$35.270.4
91Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education3430$33,470$16.090.3
92Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks3350$50,590$24.320.2
93Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other3220$127,080$61.10.7
94Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters3150$63,470$30.510.3
95Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents3110$74,440$35.790.3
96Computer Systems Analysts3020$99,030$47.610.4
97Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse3000$27,260$13.10.3
98Childcare Workers2990$28,280$13.60.7
99Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment2980$28,750$13.820.3
100Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers2980$60,140$28.910.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Sacramento Colleges
Sacramento colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Sacramento Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$58,3901,013,730
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$44,270135,700
Sales and Related Occupations$44,35091,670
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$28,77091,100
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$77,48081,380
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$37,68076,230
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$64,00060,420
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,37058,160
Management Occupations$119,31057,820
Construction and Extraction Occupations$58,03052,640
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$109,41051,160
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,11035,460
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$96,19033,970
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$54,58033,320
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$35,83031,670
Production Occupations$42,67030,920
Office Clerks, General$37,40028,750
Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,84025,840
Personal Care and Service Occupations$32,74025,370
Retail Salespersons$30,66024,670
Protective Service Occupations$60,90024,480
Cashiers$29,40023,820
Management Analysts$78,94023,510
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$33,51023,440
Registered Nurses$126,56019,860
Community and Social Service Occupations$59,19019,270
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$100,08017,850
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,78015,710
Waiters and Waitresses$29,80015,560
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$78,65015,540
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$32,91014,790
General and Operations Managers$121,97014,540
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$42,49012,880
Customer Service Representatives$42,15012,000
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$60,61011,810
Accountants and Auditors$80,76011,540
Carpenters$57,45011,210
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$78,41010,530
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,2809,860
Cooks, Restaurant$28,7009,770
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,3609,630
Security Guards$31,1909,440
Cooks, Fast Food$26,0709,090
Legal Occupations$117,1509,010
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,5208,090
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$38,3708,000
Construction Laborers$49,0207,860
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$46,3107,730
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$119,0307,680
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$47,2706,940

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

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$58,3901,013,730
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$44,270135,700
Sales and Related Occupations$44,35091,670
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$28,77091,100
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$77,48081,380
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$37,68076,230
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$64,00060,420
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,37058,160
Management Occupations$119,31057,820
Construction and Extraction Occupations$58,03052,640
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$109,41051,160
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,11035,460
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$96,19033,970
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$54,58033,320
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$35,83031,670
Production Occupations$42,67030,920
Office Clerks, General$37,40028,750
Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,84025,840
Personal Care and Service Occupations$32,74025,370
Retail Salespersons$30,66024,670
Protective Service Occupations$60,90024,480
Cashiers$29,40023,820
Management Analysts$78,94023,510
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$33,51023,440
Registered Nurses$126,56019,860
Community and Social Service Occupations$59,19019,270
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$100,08017,850
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,78015,710
Waiters and Waitresses$29,80015,560
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$78,65015,540
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$32,91014,790
General and Operations Managers$121,97014,540
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$42,49012,880
Customer Service Representatives$42,15012,000
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$60,61011,810
Accountants and Auditors$80,76011,540
Carpenters$57,45011,210
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$78,41010,530
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,2809,860
Cooks, Restaurant$28,7009,770
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,3609,630
Security Guards$31,1909,440
Cooks, Fast Food$26,0709,090
Legal Occupations$117,1509,010
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,5208,090
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$38,3708,000
Construction Laborers$49,0207,860
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$46,3107,730
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$119,0307,680
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$47,2706,940

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