Ocala Employment

Employment and Industries in the Ocala, Florida Area

Ocala is known as the horse capital of the world. The horse breeding, training and related support provides over 40,000 jobs. Ocala has a manufacturing base which includes the production of emergency vehicles, trucks, vans, missiles and shelving and storage units. Ocala is home to the headquarters of Emergency One a worldwide designer and manufacturer of fire rescue vehicles. In addition, employment levels for manufacturing are double the statewide average.

Peanuts, fruits, vegetables and livestock, especially cattle also contribute to the economy. About 2,000 of the county's residents are employed in the agriculture industry. The tourism industry also provides numerous jobs.

Ocala's major sectors for employment are:

  • Thoroughbred industry
  • Tourism
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Government
  • Manufacturing
  • Construction
  • Finance and insurance

Occupations that are more common in Ocala than most other cities include farm workers, farm and ranch animals; animal trainers, nonfarm animal caretakers, pest control workers, medical equipment repairers, veterinary technologists and technicians; veterinarians and personal care and service workers.

The major private sector employers in the Ocala region are:

  • Munroe Regional Medical Center
  • Walmart
  • Publix Supermarkets
  • Ocala Regional Medical Center
  • AT&T
  • Taylor, Bean and Whitacker
  • Cheney Brothers Inc
  • Swift Transportation Company
  • Hospice of Marion County Inc
  • Signature Brands LLC
  • Custom Window Systems Inc
  • Townley Manufacturing Company Inc
  • SPX Dehydration and Air Filtration
  • On Top of the World Communities Inc
  • Elster AMCO Water Inc
  • Cingular Wireless
  • Kmart Corporation
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Emergency One Inc
  • Class 1
  • Closet Maid
  • Mark IV Automotive
  • Skyline Corporation

The primary government employers are shown below:

  • Marion County Public Schools
  • State of Florida
  • US Government
  • Marion County Board of County Commissioners
  • City of Ocala
  • Marion County Sheriff's Office
  • Central Florida Community College

Notable information about Ocala: About 19% of the residents in Ocala hold a bachelor's degree or better. The cost of living in 2008 was 86.4 which is less than the nation's average of 100. In 2007 the estimated median household income was $38,000.

Ocala companies may obtain assistance from business organizations such as:

The Ocala Business Journal offers up-to-date information regarding the business activities in Ocala.

Jobs in Ocala

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations105580$39,640$19.06100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations13710$34,550$16.6113.75
3Sales and Related Occupations13570$33,820$16.269.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations11790$24,090$11.588.7
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations9460$32,220$15.496.7
6Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations7540$74,450$35.85.85
7Production Occupations6390$31,740$15.265.6
8Construction and Extraction Occupations5890$38,090$18.314.6
9Healthcare Support Occupations4740$30,070$14.462.85
10Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations4510$40,110$19.293.75
11Retail Salespersons4470$25,900$12.452.7
12Fast Food and Counter Workers3900$20,440$9.832.45
13Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3890$26,310$12.653.6
14Cashiers3760$22,160$10.652.2
15Management Occupations3640$87,080$41.876.35
16Protective Service Occupations3310$43,250$20.792.2
17Business and Financial Operations Occupations3230$58,040$27.95.35
18Personal Care and Service Occupations2950$26,150$12.574.65
19Office Clerks, General2510$34,660$16.661.9
20Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators2390$27,520$13.230.8
21Waiters and Waitresses2370$24,780$11.921.65
22Customer Service Representatives2120$29,650$14.251.75
23Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand2110$26,300$12.651.8
24Registered Nurses2020$63,420$30.491.95
25Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1950$42,020$20.21.2
26Stockers and Order Fillers1760$26,660$12.821.25
27Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1520$31,040$14.921.4
28Community and Social Service Occupations1370$41,950$20.171.75
29General and Operations Managers1360$86,690$41.681.5
30Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1360$24,800$11.921.5
31Nursing Assistants1360$27,470$13.210.95
32First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers1290$41,380$19.890.95
33Cooks, Restaurant1280$26,240$12.620.9
34Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers1230$28,080$13.50.75
35Medical Assistants1230$29,410$14.140.45
36First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1210$48,230$23.190.95
37Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1180$35,780$17.21.05
38Receptionists and Information Clerks1140$25,960$12.480.7
39Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1090$57,120$27.460.85
40Construction Laborers1070$30,560$14.690.9
41Architecture and Engineering Occupations1060$65,960$31.711.7
42Home Health and Personal Care Aides1030$23,800$11.440
43Light Truck Drivers950$35,770$17.20.6
44Maintenance and Repair Workers, General910$29,770$14.310.9
45First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers890$34,910$16.790.6
46Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners860$21,380$10.280.9
47Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers820$51,230$24.630.4
48Computer and Mathematical Occupations810$66,990$32.213
49Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations750$43,510$20.921.8
50Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel750$55,490$26.680.7
51Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics710$41,430$19.920.5
52Food Preparation Workers690$26,610$12.80.5
53First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers670$56,880$27.350.4
54Legal Occupations660$63,460$30.510.8
55Electricians630$38,810$18.660.45
56Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses630$46,030$22.130.5
57Animal Caretakers620$25,100$12.070.2
58Parts Salespersons540$30,970$14.890.2
59Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education540$25,960$12.480.3
60Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other540$59,840$28.770.7
61Driver/Sales Workers530$38,730$18.620.3
62Accountants and Auditors500$68,840$33.10.9
63Carpenters480$37,640$18.090.6
64Amusement and Recreation Attendants470$21,070$10.130.2
65Security Guards460$26,220$12.610.7
66Dishwashers450$21,690$10.430.3
67Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop450$20,010$9.620.3
68First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers430$54,670$26.280.4
69Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations420$30,170$14.50.65
70Bartenders390$25,390$12.20.4
71Packers and Packagers, Hand380$23,040$11.080.4
72Pharmacy Technicians380$37,430$180.3
73Industrial Engineers370$75,080$36.10.2
74Postal Service Mail Carriers370$53,940$25.930.2
75Billing and Posting Clerks360$35,390$17.010.3
76Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers350$36,630$17.610.2
77First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers340$55,040$26.460.3
78Painters, Construction and Maintenance340$32,570$15.660.2
79Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations330$50,750$24.40.8
80Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other330$39,960$19.210
81Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks330$28,080$13.50.4
82Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants320$34,220$16.450.4
83Tellers320$32,500$15.620.25
84Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers310$38,680$18.590.1
85Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists310$24,100$11.590.4
86Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers300$20,140$9.680.3
87Insurance Sales Agents300$45,180$21.720.3
88Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators300$35,770$17.20.25
89Roofers300$35,180$16.910.1
90Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians290$50,710$24.380.2
91First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors290$52,930$25.450.3
92Lawyers290$74,190$35.670.5
93Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors290$41,970$20.180.2
94Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers290$35,470$17.050.3
95Financial Managers280$103,030$49.530.4
96Food Servers, Nonrestaurant280$22,030$10.590.2
97Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers280$48,880$23.50.1
98Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria270$24,210$11.640.3
99Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters270$42,430$20.40.3
100Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment260$24,670$11.860.3
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Ocala Colleges
Ocala colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Ocala Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$39,640105,580
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$34,55013,710
Sales and Related Occupations$33,82013,570
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$24,09011,790
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$32,2209,460
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$74,4507,540
Production Occupations$31,7406,390
Construction and Extraction Occupations$38,0905,890
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,0704,740
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$40,1104,510
Retail Salespersons$25,9004,470
Fast Food and Counter Workers$20,4403,900
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$26,3103,890
Cashiers$22,1603,760
Management Occupations$87,0803,640
Protective Service Occupations$43,2503,310
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$58,0403,230
Personal Care and Service Occupations$26,1502,950
Office Clerks, General$34,6602,510
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$27,5202,390
Waiters and Waitresses$24,7802,370
Customer Service Representatives$29,6502,120
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$26,3002,110
Registered Nurses$63,4202,020
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$42,0201,950
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,6601,760
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,0401,520
Community and Social Service Occupations$41,9501,370
General and Operations Managers$86,6901,360
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$24,8001,360
Nursing Assistants$27,4701,360
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,3801,290
Cooks, Restaurant$26,2401,280
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$28,0801,230
Medical Assistants$29,4101,230
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$48,2301,210
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$35,7801,180
Receptionists and Information Clerks$25,9601,140
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$57,1201,090
Construction Laborers$30,5601,070
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$65,9601,060
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$23,8001,030
Light Truck Drivers$35,770950
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$29,770910
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,910890
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$21,380860
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$51,230820
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$66,990810
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$43,510750
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$55,490750

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Ocala, Florida Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$39,640105,580
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$34,55013,710
Sales and Related Occupations$33,82013,570
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$32,2209,460
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$74,4507,540
Production Occupations$31,7406,390
Construction and Extraction Occupations$38,0905,890
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,0704,740
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$40,1104,510
Retail Salespersons$25,9004,470
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$26,3103,890
Management Occupations$87,0803,640
Protective Service Occupations$43,2503,310
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$58,0403,230
Personal Care and Service Occupations$26,1502,950
Office Clerks, General$34,6602,510
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$27,5202,390
Customer Service Representatives$29,6502,120
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$26,3002,110
Registered Nurses$63,4202,020
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$42,0201,950
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,6601,760
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,0401,520
Community and Social Service Occupations$41,9501,370
General and Operations Managers$86,6901,360
Nursing Assistants$27,4701,360
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,3801,290
Cooks, Restaurant$26,2401,280
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$28,0801,230
Medical Assistants$29,4101,230
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$48,2301,210
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$35,7801,180
Receptionists and Information Clerks$25,9601,140
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$57,1201,090
Construction Laborers$30,5601,070
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$65,9601,060
Light Truck Drivers$35,770950
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$29,770910
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,910890
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$51,230820
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$66,990810
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$43,510750
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$55,490750
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$41,430710
Food Preparation Workers$26,610690
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$56,880670
Legal Occupations$63,460660
Electricians$38,810630
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$46,030630
Animal Caretakers$25,100620

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