Champaign Employment

Employment and Industries in the Champaign, Illinois Area

Champaign is the economic center of East Central Illinois. Also, due to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and numerous well known technology startup firms, Champaign is recognized as a significant part of the Silicon Prairie. Champaign is also home to numerous Fortune 500 companies.

The city includes a prominent technology and software sector. The Research Park includes numerous prominent companies such as iCyt, Illinois State Geological Survey, Yahoo!, Science Applications International Corporation, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Riverglass Inc, State Farm Research Center and Tekion. Some of the notable technology and software firms with offices in Champaign are AMD, IBM, Intel, Wolfram Research, Power World, Phonak, the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory in Champaign and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

The city is also home to nationally known record labels, recording studios, booking agencies and artist management firms such as Undertow Music, Polyvinyl Records, Pogo Studios, Parasol Records and Nocodemus Booking Agency.

Shown below is a list of the major employers in the Champaign area:

  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Carle Clinic Association
  • Carle Foundation Hospital
  • Champaign School Districts
  • Kraft Foods
  • Parkland College
  • Provena Covenant Medical Center
  • Christie Clinic P.C.
  • Kirby Foods Inc
  • Jeld-Wen
  • Devonshire Group LLC
  • Bartlett Management Services Inc
  • City of Champaign
  • Health Alliance Medical Plans
  • Tri Star Marketing
  • Walmart
  • Health Alliance Medical Plans
  • Horizon Hobby Inc
  • News-Gazette
  • Human Kinetics
  • Conair
  • Hobbico

Some of the jobs more prevalent in Champaign than most of the nation's other cities include cooks, physical scientists; education, training and library workers; machinery maintenance workers, managers, community and social service specialists, editors; and medical and clinical laboratory technicians.

A list of the major employment sectors is shown below:

  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Technology and software
  • Accommodation and food services
  • Government
  • Construction
  • Finance and insurance

Noteworthy information about Champaign: In 2008 the cost of living index was 84 which is less than the national average of 100. The estimated median household income in Champaign in 2007 was $35,000. Regarding the population over the age of 25, approximately 44% have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Champaign companies are provided assistance by business organizations including:

The News-Gazette offers up-to-date information regarding the business activities in Champaign.

Jobs in Champaign

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations101140$51,560$24.79100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations13970$40,250$19.3513.75
3Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations10490$24,700$11.878.7
4Educational Instruction and Library Occupations10210$66,840$32.136
5Sales and Related Occupations8400$35,110$16.889.5
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations7370$35,680$17.156.7
7Management Occupations6910$94,290$45.336.35
8Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations6730$83,350$40.075.85
9Production Occupations6050$40,070$19.265.6
10Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations4410$47,100$22.643.75
11Office Clerks, General3760$38,230$18.381.9
12Business and Financial Operations Occupations3580$67,980$32.685.35
13Construction and Extraction Occupations3450$61,570$29.64.6
14Computer and Mathematical Occupations3440$79,240$38.13
15Cashiers3150$23,210$11.162.2
16Healthcare Support Occupations3120$33,200$15.962.85
17Fast Food and Counter Workers3070$21,830$10.492.45
18Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations2780$30,560$14.693.6
19Registered Nurses2300$61,460$29.551.95
20Retail Salespersons2280$32,290$15.522.7
21Maintenance and Repair Workers, General2130$42,350$20.360.9
22Personal Care and Service Occupations2080$30,850$14.834.65
23Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1970$29,150$14.011.8
24Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations1790$60,590$29.130.8
25Community and Social Service Occupations1740$48,260$23.21.75
26General and Operations Managers1700$96,630$46.461.5
27Waiters and Waitresses1610$22,880$111.65
28Customer Service Representatives1580$34,450$16.561.75
29Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1420$29,560$14.211.5
30Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1390$52,790$25.381.8
31Protective Service Occupations1380$59,310$28.512.2
32Architecture and Engineering Occupations1290$77,280$37.151.7
33Cooks, Restaurant1190$25,680$12.350.9
34Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers1180$89,790$43.170.65
35Nursing Assistants1130$28,890$13.890.95
36Stockers and Order Fillers1130$29,890$14.371.25
37Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1090$39,110$18.811.4
38Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers940$41,620$20.011.2
39Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants920$64,370$30.950.35
40Light Truck Drivers900$42,240$20.310.6
41Medical Assistants900$34,580$16.620.45
42First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers830$33,840$16.270.6
43Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks810$41,830$20.111.05
44Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products790$56,910$27.360.85
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers770$43,830$21.070.95
46Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators750$33,410$16.060.8
47Receptionists and Information Clerks720$29,050$13.970.7
48Bartenders700$25,270$12.150.4
49Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria620$30,950$14.880.3
50Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants620$36,760$17.680.4
51Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other620$69,010$33.180.7
52Accountants and Auditors610$65,500$31.490.9
53Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners610$24,950$120.9
54Recreation Workers600$29,100$13.990.3
55Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education580$29,970$14.410.3
56Financial Managers570$108,410$52.120.4
57Tellers560$29,390$14.130.25
58Construction Laborers550$46,600$22.40.9
59First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers550$56,270$27.050.95
60Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics540$41,440$19.920.5
61Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters530$71,680$34.460.3
62Computer User Support Specialists510$55,410$26.640.4
63Substitute Teachers, Short-Term470$30,800$14.810.4
64Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers450$33,070$15.90.75
65Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other450$79,500$38.220.7
66Electricians430$79,050$38.010.45
67Carpenters420$56,910$27.360.6
68Home Health and Personal Care Aides420$28,930$13.910
69Dishwashers410$22,740$10.930.3
70Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop410$21,730$10.450.3
71Human Resources Specialists390$58,220$27.990.4
72Legal Occupations390$123,870$59.550.8
73Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity390$32,100$15.430.3
74Childcare Workers380$25,430$12.230.7
75Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors380$52,310$25.150.2
76Food Preparation Workers380$25,260$12.140.5
77Computer Occupations, All Other370$90,630$43.570.3
78Computer and Information Systems Managers370$115,790$55.670.3
79First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers340$58,120$27.940.4
80Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks340$57,280$27.540.2
81First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers330$60,750$29.20.3
82Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers330$37,120$17.850.35
83Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel330$48,800$23.460.7
84Administrative Services and Facilities Managers320$87,390$42.010
85Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses310$48,620$23.380.5
86Management Analysts310$99,400$47.790.55
87Network and Computer Systems Administrators310$75,660$36.380.2
88Painters, Construction and Maintenance310$49,270$23.690.2
89Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity290$51,010$24.520.1
90Child, Family, and School Social Workers290$54,830$26.360.2
91Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors290$44,660$21.470.2
92Nurse Practitioners290$108,120$51.980.1
93Pharmacy Technicians290$31,930$15.350.3
94Library Technicians280$41,980$20.180.1
95Postal Service Mail Carriers280$50,810$24.430.2
96First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors270$56,130$26.990.3
97Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists260$27,050$130.4
98Highway Maintenance Workers260$49,080$23.60.1
99Librarians and Media Collections Specialists260$54,650$26.280.1
100Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks260$36,080$17.350.4
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Champaign Colleges
Champaign colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Champaign Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,560101,140
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,25013,970
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$24,70010,490
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$66,84010,210
Sales and Related Occupations$35,1108,400
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,6807,370
Management Occupations$94,2906,910
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$83,3506,730
Production Occupations$40,0706,050
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,1004,410
Office Clerks, General$38,2303,760
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$67,9803,580
Construction and Extraction Occupations$61,5703,450
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$79,2403,440
Cashiers$23,2103,150
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,2003,120
Fast Food and Counter Workers$21,8303,070
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$30,5602,780
Registered Nurses$61,4602,300
Retail Salespersons$32,2902,280
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$42,3502,130
Personal Care and Service Occupations$30,8502,080
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$29,1501,970
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$60,5901,790
Community and Social Service Occupations$48,2601,740
General and Operations Managers$96,6301,700
Waiters and Waitresses$22,8801,610
Customer Service Representatives$34,4501,580
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,5601,420
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$52,7901,390
Protective Service Occupations$59,3101,380
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$77,2801,290
Cooks, Restaurant$25,6801,190
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$89,7901,180
Nursing Assistants$28,8901,130
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,8901,130
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$39,1101,090
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$41,620940
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$64,370920
Light Truck Drivers$42,240900
Medical Assistants$34,580900
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$33,840830
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$41,830810
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$56,910790
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,830770
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$33,410750
Receptionists and Information Clerks$29,050720
Bartenders$25,270700
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$30,950620
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$36,760620

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Champaign, Illinois Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,560101,140
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,25013,970
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$66,84010,210
Sales and Related Occupations$35,1108,400
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,6807,370
Management Occupations$94,2906,910
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$83,3506,730
Production Occupations$40,0706,050
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,1004,410
Office Clerks, General$38,2303,760
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$67,9803,580
Construction and Extraction Occupations$61,5703,450
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$79,2403,440
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,2003,120
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$30,5602,780
Registered Nurses$61,4602,300
Retail Salespersons$32,2902,280
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$42,3502,130
Personal Care and Service Occupations$30,8502,080
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$29,1501,970
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$60,5901,790
Community and Social Service Occupations$48,2601,740
General and Operations Managers$96,6301,700
Customer Service Representatives$34,4501,580
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,5601,420
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$52,7901,390
Protective Service Occupations$59,3101,380
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$77,2801,290
Cooks, Restaurant$25,6801,190
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$89,7901,180
Nursing Assistants$28,8901,130
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,8901,130
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$39,1101,090
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$41,620940
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$64,370920
Light Truck Drivers$42,240900
Medical Assistants$34,580900
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$33,840830
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$41,830810
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$56,910790
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,830770
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$33,410750
Receptionists and Information Clerks$29,050720
Bartenders$25,270700
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$30,950620
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$36,760620
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$69,010620
Accountants and Auditors$65,500610
Recreation Workers$29,100600
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$29,970580

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