Fort Collins Employment

Employment and Industries in the Fort Collins, Colorado Area

Fort Collins has a well balanced economy. Fort Collins also has a well educated workforce. Fort Collins has been ranked #1 in Money Magazine's "Best Places to Live" list. The manufacturing base includes companies such as Hewlett Packard, Woodward, In-Situ, Water Pik, and Anheuser-Busch. The resources and research facilities at Colorado State University have helped to attract a variety of hi-tech firms. Fort Collins includes offices for AMD, Intel, National Semi-Conductor, Avago, Pelco and LSI. Bioscience, clean energy and agri-tech industries are also part of the local economy.

Companies in Fort Collins produce numerous goods including scientific instruments, aircraft and parts, industrial chemicals, measuring and controlling instruments, communications equipment, solar technology, Smart Grid technology, bio fuels, turbines and communications equipment.

The major non-agricultural sectors for employment in Fort Collins are:

  • Government
  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Manufacturing
  • Professional and business services
  • Education
  • Healthcare

Some of the occupations more prevalent in Fort Collins when compared to most cities are umpires, referees and other sports officials; forest and conservation technicians, boilermakers, insulation workers, biological technicians, biological scientists, veterinary technologists and technicians, natural science managers and veterinarians.

A list of the largest employers in the Fort Collins area is shown below:

  • Colorado State University
  • Poudre School District
  • Hewlett Packard
  • Agilent Technologies
  • Poudre Valley Health System
  • Thompson School District
  • Larimer County
  • City of Fort Collins
  • McKee Medical Center
  • Advanced Energy
  • Eastman Kodak
  • Water Pik Technologies
  • LSI Logic
  • Anheuser-Bush
  • Woodward Governor

The Fort Collins Technology Incubator program includes a collection of programs which focus on assisting new companies. The Northern Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with Colorado State University, helps businesses expand and encourages technology transfer to help new companies. The Colorado FIRST customized job training program helps companies with the training of current and new employees for permanent jobs and offers custom designed job specific training programs.

Noteworthy information regarding Fort Collins: On a yearly basis, the number of patents produced in Fort Collins is close to four times the Nation's city average. About 48% of the population over the age of 25 hold a bachelor's degree or higher. In 2008 the cost of living index was at 91.6. The nation's average is 100. The estimated median household income in Fort Collins in 2007 was $47,000.

Fort Collins companies have access to business organizations such as:

The Coloradoan.com offers up-to-date information regarding the business activities in Fort Collins.

Jobs in Fort Collins

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations164700$53,230$25.59100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations19330$40,990$19.7113.75
3Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations17820$29,520$14.198.7
4Sales and Related Occupations17660$43,850$21.089.5
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations11140$34,600$16.646.7
6Educational Instruction and Library Occupations10290$58,530$28.146
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations10290$84,240$40.55.85
8Business and Financial Operations Occupations9590$73,720$35.445.35
9Construction and Extraction Occupations9170$50,710$24.384.6
10Production Occupations8570$44,560$21.425.6
11Retail Salespersons6450$28,280$13.62.7
12Management Occupations6290$117,390$56.446.35
13Healthcare Support Occupations6220$34,040$16.362.85
14Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations5750$51,270$24.653.75
15Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations5580$31,510$15.153.6
16Architecture and Engineering Occupations5560$90,200$43.371.7
17Computer and Mathematical Occupations5020$90,750$43.633
18Personal Care and Service Occupations4240$33,540$16.134.65
19Fast Food and Counter Workers3980$26,380$12.682.45
20Registered Nurses3850$75,900$36.491.95
21Cashiers3820$28,020$13.472.2
22Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations3710$70,400$33.850.8
23Waiters and Waitresses3700$31,830$15.31.65
24Customer Service Representatives2700$35,350$16.991.75
25Office Clerks, General2560$41,200$19.811.9
26Protective Service Occupations2550$50,070$24.072.2
27Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other2510$78,110$37.550.7
28Stockers and Order Fillers2500$31,680$15.231.25
29Community and Social Service Occupations2460$55,220$26.551.75
30Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive2440$38,140$18.341.4
31General and Operations Managers2340$108,580$52.21.5
32Cooks, Restaurant2280$29,440$14.150.9
33Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations2270$50,780$24.411.8
34Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1990$30,370$14.61.5
35Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1970$42,370$20.371.05
36Home Health and Personal Care Aides1930$29,400$14.130
37Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers1860$104,720$50.350.65
38Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers1650$32,610$15.680.75
39Nursing Assistants1630$33,470$16.090.95
40Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1610$42,780$20.570.9
41Accountants and Auditors1590$74,050$35.60.9
42Construction Laborers1590$36,770$17.680.9
43Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel1470$58,880$28.310.7
44Food Preparation Workers1460$27,450$13.20.5
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers1440$52,910$25.440.95
46Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1400$81,160$39.020.85
47First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1320$58,260$28.010.95
48First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers1300$39,300$18.90.6
49Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1290$27,070$13.020.9
50Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1260$30,800$14.811.8
51Driver/Sales Workers1250$27,210$13.080.3
52Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists1190$67,950$32.670.45
53Light Truck Drivers1150$37,440$180.6
54Carpenters1140$49,190$23.650.6
55Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators1090$40,330$19.390.4
56Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1080$41,100$19.761.2
57Receptionists and Information Clerks1070$32,530$15.640.7
58Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters1020$50,410$24.230.3
59Bartenders920$32,120$15.440.4
60Electricians910$57,710$27.740.45
61First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers880$72,320$34.770.4
62Medical Assistants880$37,400$17.980.45
63Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics850$51,540$24.780.5
64Computer User Support Specialists830$59,300$28.510.4
65Legal Occupations830$99,860$48.010.8
66Machinists790$48,350$23.240.2
67Civil Engineers780$93,370$44.890.2
68Information and Record Clerks, All Other760$48,930$23.520.1
69Mechanical Engineers750$93,870$45.130.2
70Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop740$26,180$12.590.3
71Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers720$36,690$17.640.2
72Security Guards720$26,570$12.770.7
73Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks720$36,360$17.480.4
74Conservation Scientists670$72,820$35.010
75Cooks, Fast Food670$25,350$12.190.3
76Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria670$30,680$14.750.3
77Buyers and Purchasing Agents660$65,500$31.490.25
78Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors640$41,340$19.870.2
79Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators630$54,020$25.970.25
80Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education630$32,100$15.430.3
81Food Servers, Nonrestaurant610$26,510$12.750.2
82Human Resources Specialists610$65,340$31.410.4
83Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants600$54,500$26.20.35
84First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers590$72,870$35.030.4
85Computer Hardware Engineers580$135,200$650
86Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists580$34,840$16.750.4
87Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers580$53,030$25.50.35
88Computer Occupations, All Other570$92,800$44.620.3
89Industrial Engineers570$107,500$51.680.2
90Animal Caretakers560$27,010$12.990.2
91Dishwashers550$25,490$12.250.3
92Dental Assistants540$42,410$20.390.2
93Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers540$81,940$39.40.4
94Amusement and Recreation Attendants530$26,640$12.810.2
95Counter and Rental Clerks530$41,280$19.850.3
96Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents520$69,800$33.560.3
97Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors520$51,880$24.940.2
98Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity500$34,380$16.530.3
99Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors480$52,810$25.390.2
100Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators480$34,040$16.370.8
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Fort Collins Colleges
Fort Collins colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Fort Collins Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$53,230164,700
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,99019,330
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$29,52017,820
Sales and Related Occupations$43,85017,660
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,60011,140
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$58,53010,290
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$84,24010,290
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$73,7209,590
Construction and Extraction Occupations$50,7109,170
Production Occupations$44,5608,570
Retail Salespersons$28,2806,450
Management Occupations$117,3906,290
Healthcare Support Occupations$34,0406,220
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$51,2705,750
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$31,5105,580
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$90,2005,560
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$90,7505,020
Personal Care and Service Occupations$33,5404,240
Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,3803,980
Registered Nurses$75,9003,850
Cashiers$28,0203,820
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$70,4003,710
Waiters and Waitresses$31,8303,700
Customer Service Representatives$35,3502,700
Office Clerks, General$41,2002,560
Protective Service Occupations$50,0702,550
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$78,1102,510
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,6802,500
Community and Social Service Occupations$55,2202,460
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$38,1402,440
General and Operations Managers$108,5802,340
Cooks, Restaurant$29,4402,280
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$50,7802,270
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$30,3701,990
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$42,3701,970
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$29,4001,930
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$104,7201,860
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$32,6101,650
Nursing Assistants$33,4701,630
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$42,7801,610
Accountants and Auditors$74,0501,590
Construction Laborers$36,7701,590
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,8801,470
Food Preparation Workers$27,4501,460
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$52,9101,440
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$81,1601,400
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$58,2601,320
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$39,3001,300
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,0701,290
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,8001,260

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Fort Collins, Colorado Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$53,230164,700
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,99019,330
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$29,52017,820
Sales and Related Occupations$43,85017,660
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,60011,140
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$58,53010,290
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$84,24010,290
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$73,7209,590
Construction and Extraction Occupations$50,7109,170
Production Occupations$44,5608,570
Retail Salespersons$28,2806,450
Management Occupations$117,3906,290
Healthcare Support Occupations$34,0406,220
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$51,2705,750
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$31,5105,580
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$90,2005,560
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$90,7505,020
Personal Care and Service Occupations$33,5404,240
Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,3803,980
Registered Nurses$75,9003,850
Cashiers$28,0203,820
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$70,4003,710
Waiters and Waitresses$31,8303,700
Customer Service Representatives$35,3502,700
Office Clerks, General$41,2002,560
Protective Service Occupations$50,0702,550
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$78,1102,510
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,6802,500
Community and Social Service Occupations$55,2202,460
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$38,1402,440
General and Operations Managers$108,5802,340
Cooks, Restaurant$29,4402,280
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$50,7802,270
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$30,3701,990
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$42,3701,970
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$29,4001,930
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$104,7201,860
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$32,6101,650
Nursing Assistants$33,4701,630
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$42,7801,610
Accountants and Auditors$74,0501,590
Construction Laborers$36,7701,590
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,8801,470
Food Preparation Workers$27,4501,460
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$52,9101,440
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$81,1601,400
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$58,2601,320
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$39,3001,300
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,0701,290
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,8001,260

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