West Palm Beach Employment

Employment and Industries in the West Palm Beach, Florida Area

The West Palm Beach economy is primarily powered by tourism. The West Palm Beach region is also bolstered by manufacturing of computers, electrical and electronic equipment, plastics, paint, jewelry and furniture. The region includes numerous industrial parks and high technology industries. Commercial fishing is also part of the economy. West Palm Beach's economy has been ranked #4 in the Milken Institute's best performing US cities index.

The county includes numerous industry clusters such as aerospace & engineering, communications & information technology, agriculture & food processing, medical & pharmaceutical products and business & financial services.

The major employment sectors in West Palm Beach include tourism, healthcare, construction, professional, scientific and technical services; finance and insurance and education. Many of the workers are employed in blue-collar professions including building maintenance, goods transportation and electrical repair. The city also has a large number of teachers, managers and nurses. West Palm Beach is the region's employment center.

Some of the most popular jobs in West Palm Beach that are primarily filled by workers with college degrees are registered nurses, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, teachers, accountants and auditors, lawyers, management analysts, computer programmers and personal financial advisors.

The major employers in the West Palm Beach area are shown below:

  • Pratt & Whitney - Aerospace engineering
  • Columbia PB Healthcare System
  • Motorola
  • Flo-Sun Inc
  • Florida Power & Light
  • Office Depot Headquarters
  • Siemens
  • Florida Crystals - Agriculture
  • Palm Beach Newspapers - Newspaper publishing
  • Southland Forming - Concrete contractors
  • Thermo Electron North America - Professional equipment and supplies
  • C Mac Packaging Systems - Paperboard mills
  • Quality Concrete & Rental Inc - Concrete contractors
  • Jet Aviation - Aviation
  • Rinker Materials Corp - Concrete manufacturing
  • Ranger Construction Industries - Highway construction
  • Kimley-Horn - Engineering

Interesting data about West Palm Beach: About 27% of the residents over the age of 25 hold a bachelor's degree or better. In 2008 the cost of living index was 96.7. The nation's average is 100. The estimated median household income in 2007 was $45,000.

Business organizations providing assistance to West Palm Beach companies include:

The South Florida Business Journal offers up-to-date information about the business endeavors in West Palm Beach.

Jobs in West Palm Beach

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations2642310$50,060$24.07100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations405380$39,350$18.9213.75
3Sales and Related Occupations325800$41,670$20.039.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations258500$26,340$12.668.7
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations231580$38,500$18.516.7
6Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations160200$78,220$37.615.85
7Business and Financial Operations Occupations154600$71,730$34.495.35
8Management Occupations154150$114,650$55.126.35
9Educational Instruction and Library Occupations127030$53,600$25.776
10Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations106960$45,750$21.993.75
11Construction and Extraction Occupations105110$43,900$21.14.6
12Retail Salespersons100750$27,870$13.42.7
13Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations92370$28,100$13.513.6
14Protective Service Occupations87700$47,390$22.782.2
15Healthcare Support Occupations82430$31,850$15.312.85
16Production Occupations80420$35,730$17.185.6
17Customer Service Representatives78700$35,710$17.171.75
18Cashiers70900$23,190$11.152.2
19Fast Food and Counter Workers64860$21,770$10.462.45
20Personal Care and Service Occupations61900$29,600$14.234.65
21Office Clerks, General61820$34,880$16.771.9
22Computer and Mathematical Occupations57880$82,500$39.663
23Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand55270$32,710$15.731.8
24Registered Nurses54020$69,920$33.611.95
25Waiters and Waitresses53220$26,100$12.551.65
26General and Operations Managers47650$111,690$53.71.5
27Stockers and Order Fillers42580$27,310$13.131.25
28Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive40060$37,100$17.841.4
29Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners38420$26,100$12.551.5
30Security Guards38230$29,430$14.150.7
31Legal Occupations35550$109,980$52.870.8
32Community and Social Service Occupations35460$47,120$22.651.75
33Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations34330$55,350$26.611.8
34Cooks, Restaurant33570$30,430$14.630.9
35Maintenance and Repair Workers, General32830$37,470$18.010.9
36First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers32320$59,030$28.380.95
37Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products31830$61,680$29.660.85
38Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks29890$43,670$20.991.05
39Receptionists and Information Clerks27230$30,060$14.450.7
40Architecture and Engineering Occupations26900$76,800$36.921.7
41Accountants and Auditors26340$78,420$37.70.9
42Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel25740$59,630$28.670.7
43Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers24730$41,590$201.2
44Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other24680$71,080$34.170.7
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers23460$47,720$22.940.95
46Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners22770$24,340$11.70.9
47Nursing Assistants22130$27,260$13.110.95
48Home Health and Personal Care Aides21760$24,410$11.740
49Food Preparation Workers20950$25,500$12.260.5
50First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers20810$38,610$18.560.6
51Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers20640$29,530$14.20.75
52Lawyers19810$150,340$72.280.5
53Light Truck Drivers17780$36,770$17.680.6
54Construction Laborers17390$33,010$15.870.9
55Medical Assistants16530$36,040$17.330.45
56Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers15100$98,730$47.470.65
57Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists14210$66,380$31.920.45
58Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations13590$70,350$33.820.8
59Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers13050$71,400$34.320.4
60Packers and Packagers, Hand12870$25,720$12.360.4
61Management Analysts12760$82,150$39.50.55
62Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents12540$88,220$42.410.3
63Carpenters12430$42,170$20.270.6
64First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers12260$66,550$320.4
65Electricians12180$46,290$22.250.45
66Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks12100$32,530$15.640.4
67Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics12050$45,370$21.810.5
68Paralegals and Legal Assistants12030$56,560$27.190.2
69Dishwashers11760$22,900$11.010.3
70Bartenders11560$23,560$11.330.4
71Computer User Support Specialists11530$53,720$25.830.4
72Human Resources Specialists11430$59,190$28.460.4
73Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses11080$47,810$22.990.5
74Financial Managers10970$140,680$67.630.4
75Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators10800$30,690$14.760.8
76Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers10690$21,840$10.50.3
77Insurance Sales Agents10620$62,340$29.970.3
78Childcare Workers10390$25,200$12.120.7
79Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants9800$35,410$17.020.4
80Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education9750$30,540$14.680.3
81Amusement and Recreation Attendants9720$23,650$11.370.2
82Billing and Posting Clerks9190$39,150$18.820.3
83Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop9120$23,860$11.470.3
84Sales Managers9110$131,450$63.20.3
85Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other9050$98,830$47.520.7
86Pharmacy Technicians8920$34,220$16.450.3
87Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers8780$63,230$30.40.2
88Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric8690$194,130$93.330.3
89Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants8680$57,250$27.520.35
90Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers8540$45,890$22.060.2
91Parking Attendants8500$23,720$11.40.1
92Compliance Officers8480$72,200$34.710.2
93First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers8390$62,780$30.180.3
94Counter and Rental Clerks8220$29,530$14.20.3
95First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors8030$55,460$26.660.3
96Driver/Sales Workers7990$24,730$11.890.3
97Computer Systems Analysts7630$89,990$43.260.4
98Construction Managers7590$112,230$53.960.3
99Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity7530$28,020$13.470.3
100Tellers7490$33,000$15.870.25
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

West Palm Beach Colleges
West Palm Beach colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near West Palm Beach Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$50,0602,642,310
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$39,350405,380
Sales and Related Occupations$41,670325,800
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$26,340258,500
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$38,500231,580
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$78,220160,200
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$71,730154,600
Management Occupations$114,650154,150
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$53,600127,030
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$45,750106,960
Construction and Extraction Occupations$43,900105,110
Retail Salespersons$27,870100,750
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$28,10092,370
Protective Service Occupations$47,39087,700
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,85082,430
Production Occupations$35,73080,420
Customer Service Representatives$35,71078,700
Cashiers$23,19070,900
Fast Food and Counter Workers$21,77064,860
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,60061,900
Office Clerks, General$34,88061,820
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$82,50057,880
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,71055,270
Registered Nurses$69,92054,020
Waiters and Waitresses$26,10053,220
General and Operations Managers$111,69047,650
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,31042,580
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$37,10040,060
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$26,10038,420
Security Guards$29,43038,230
Legal Occupations$109,98035,550
Community and Social Service Occupations$47,12035,460
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$55,35034,330
Cooks, Restaurant$30,43033,570
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$37,47032,830
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,03032,320
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,68031,830
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,67029,890
Receptionists and Information Clerks$30,06027,230
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$76,80026,900
Accountants and Auditors$78,42026,340
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,63025,740
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$41,59024,730
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$71,08024,680
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,72023,460
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$24,34022,770
Nursing Assistants$27,26022,130
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$24,41021,760
Food Preparation Workers$25,50020,950
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$38,61020,810

Work Paying Relatively Well in the West Palm Beach, Florida Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$50,0602,642,310
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$39,350405,380
Sales and Related Occupations$41,670325,800
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$26,340258,500
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$38,500231,580
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$78,220160,200
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$71,730154,600
Management Occupations$114,650154,150
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$53,600127,030
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$45,750106,960
Construction and Extraction Occupations$43,900105,110
Retail Salespersons$27,870100,750
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$28,10092,370
Protective Service Occupations$47,39087,700
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,85082,430
Production Occupations$35,73080,420
Customer Service Representatives$35,71078,700
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,60061,900
Office Clerks, General$34,88061,820
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$82,50057,880
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,71055,270
Registered Nurses$69,92054,020
Waiters and Waitresses$26,10053,220
General and Operations Managers$111,69047,650
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,31042,580
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$37,10040,060
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$26,10038,420
Security Guards$29,43038,230
Legal Occupations$109,98035,550
Community and Social Service Occupations$47,12035,460
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$55,35034,330
Cooks, Restaurant$30,43033,570
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$37,47032,830
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,03032,320
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,68031,830
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,67029,890
Receptionists and Information Clerks$30,06027,230
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$76,80026,900
Accountants and Auditors$78,42026,340
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,63025,740
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$41,59024,730
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$71,08024,680
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,72023,460
Nursing Assistants$27,26022,130
Food Preparation Workers$25,50020,950
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$38,61020,810
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$29,53020,640
Lawyers$150,34019,810
Light Truck Drivers$36,77017,780
Construction Laborers$33,01017,390

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