Cedar Rapids Employment

Employment and Industries in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Area

Cedar Rapids is located in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Technology Corridor and is a prominent economic center in the state of Iowa. The city is home to numerous large companies including Cargill, General Mills, Allient Energy, Quaker Oats, Rockwell Collins, GE Commercial Finance and Archer Daniels Midland. Rockwell Collins is the region's largest employer. The company produces aviation electronic and communication technology for the government, airline customers and aircraft manufacturers.

Numerous high-tech industries are situated in the area's Technology Corridor. The Technology Corridor is one of the primary centers in the nation for the defense electronics industry. The city also has more than 275 manufacturing facilities. Agribusiness as well as food manufacturing and processing are integral parts of the economy. Telecommunications and telemarketing also provide a significant number of jobs. Local firms are involved in electronic design and consultation, equipment manufacturing and systems planning.

A combination of research and development facilities, a mid-nation location and an educated and productive workforce has attracted new companies and industries. The productivity rate of the workforce is considerably above the nation's average. In addition, the city has ties with companies from all over the world including France, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Cedar Rapids top employers are:

  • Rockwell Collins, Inc
  • Cedar Rapids Community School District
  • AEGON USA, Inc
  • St. Luke's Hospital
  • Maytag Appliances
  • Mercy Medical Center
  • Hy-Vee Food Stores
  • City of Cedar Rapids
  • MCI, Inc
  • McLeod USA Incorporated
  • Kirkwood Community College
  • Alliant Energy
  • Amana Refrigeration Products
  • Linn County Offices
  • Walmart Stores, Inc
  • Nash Finch Company
  • Linn-Mar Community Schools
  • General Mills Inc
  • Gazette Communications

The primary manufacturing employers in the Cedar Rapids area:

  • Maytag
  • Gazette
  • PMX Industries
  • Cargill Inc
  • Schneider Electric
  • ADM-Corn Processing Division
  • Cryovac Division, Sealed Air Corporation
  • Cedar Rapids Inc
  • Cedar River Paper
  • H.J. Heinz Company

Cedar Rapids top non-agricultural job providing sectors are:

  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Manufacturing
  • Education and health services
  • Government
  • Professional and business services
  • Finance
  • Information

Pertinent data about Cedar Rapids: In 2008 the cost of living index in the city was 78.8 which is low when compared to the country's average of 100. About 28% of the adult population has achieved a bachelor's degree or better. In 2007 the estimated median household income in Cedar Rapids was $47,000.

Cedar Rapids businesses collaborate with organizations including:

The GazetteOnline.com provides information about local businesses and industries.

Jobs in Cedar Rapids

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations143820$51,240$24.63100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations17820$40,110$19.2813.75
3Transportation and Material Moving Occupations15970$35,430$17.036.7
4Sales and Related Occupations13990$38,040$18.299.5
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations11000$24,820$11.938.7
6Educational Instruction and Library Occupations9440$47,050$22.626
7Management Occupations8830$111,080$53.46.35
8Production Occupations8350$45,770$225.6
9Business and Financial Operations Occupations8290$68,050$32.725.35
10Computer and Mathematical Occupations7000$89,870$43.213
11Construction and Extraction Occupations6850$52,930$25.454.6
12Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations6740$70,850$34.065.85
13Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations6150$52,390$25.193.75
14Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers5190$37,220$17.91.2
15Healthcare Support Occupations5000$31,920$15.342.85
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3810$31,890$15.333.6
17Cashiers3740$22,960$11.042.2
18Architecture and Engineering Occupations3720$83,060$39.931.7
19Customer Service Representatives3660$39,870$19.171.75
20Retail Salespersons3510$28,180$13.552.7
21Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers3330$107,530$51.70.65
22Fast Food and Counter Workers3190$22,050$10.62.45
23Stockers and Order Fillers3040$32,170$15.471.25
24General and Operations Managers2720$111,910$53.81.5
25Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand2530$31,390$15.091.8
26Community and Social Service Occupations2490$45,870$22.051.75
27Registered Nurses2490$59,820$28.761.95
28Personal Care and Service Occupations2460$28,420$13.674.65
29Office Clerks, General2450$36,750$17.671.9
30Protective Service Occupations2150$51,480$24.752.2
31Home Health and Personal Care Aides2100$27,540$13.240
32Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations2070$56,010$26.931.8
33Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1900$31,650$15.211.5
34Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1770$41,010$19.711.05
35Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1730$66,180$31.820.85
36Waiters and Waitresses1710$21,910$10.531.65
37Cooks, Restaurant1540$23,480$11.290.9
38Nursing Assistants1530$29,950$14.40.95
39Substitute Teachers, Short-Term1350$28,980$13.930.4
40Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1340$38,240$18.391.4
41Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other1200$67,730$32.560.7
42First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1130$55,410$26.640.95
43Construction Laborers1110$41,800$20.10.9
44Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1100$47,040$22.610.9
45Light Truck Drivers1080$31,750$15.260.6
46Accountants and Auditors1030$71,770$34.510.9
47Electricians1020$58,310$28.030.45
48First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers1000$40,020$19.240.95
49Bartenders940$27,930$13.430.4
50First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers940$34,420$16.550.6
51Financial Managers870$123,400$59.330.4
52Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks860$36,820$17.70.2
53Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations840$65,400$31.440.8
54First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers810$70,340$33.820.4
55Computer Systems Analysts790$86,500$41.590.4
56Computer User Support Specialists780$46,070$22.150.4
57Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators750$36,400$17.50.8
58Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other730$75,890$36.480.2
59Electrical Engineers720$105,350$50.650.1
60Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners710$24,750$11.90.9
61Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters710$61,900$29.760.3
62Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders700$50,360$24.210.2
63Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education700$29,650$14.260.3
64Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics680$44,240$21.270.5
65First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers680$63,080$30.330.4
66Security Guards680$39,450$18.970.7
67Legal Occupations670$81,920$39.390.8
68Architectural and Engineering Managers650$140,550$67.570.1
69Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists640$60,730$29.20.45
70Receptionists and Information Clerks640$30,400$14.620.7
71Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers590$32,570$15.660.75
72Carpenters580$49,130$23.620.6
73Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants570$35,930$17.270.4
74Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers560$42,450$20.410.2
75First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors560$59,080$28.40.3
76Human Resources Specialists560$61,500$29.570.4
77Social and Human Service Assistants560$32,210$15.490.3
78Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria540$29,500$14.190.3
79Food Batchmakers540$52,470$25.230.1
80Insurance Sales Agents540$55,980$26.910.3
81Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel540$59,110$28.420.7
82Driver/Sales Workers530$26,590$12.790.3
83Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity530$34,600$16.630.3
84Buyers and Purchasing Agents520$68,260$32.820.25
85Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers520$55,080$26.480.35
86Medical and Health Services Managers520$93,030$44.730.3
87Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks520$39,040$18.770.4
88Industrial Machinery Mechanics510$59,570$28.640.2
89Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators510$50,930$24.480.25
90Industrial Engineers500$92,220$44.340.2
91Management Analysts490$85,490$41.10.55
92Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators480$42,270$20.320.4
93First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers470$70,190$33.750.3
94Network and Computer Systems Administrators470$80,580$38.740.2
95Packers and Packagers, Hand470$32,100$15.430.4
96Training and Development Specialists470$47,920$23.040.2
97Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers460$58,550$28.150.1
98Tellers460$28,510$13.710.25
99Cooks, Fast Food450$32,380$15.570.3
100Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers430$63,290$30.430.4
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Cedar Rapids Colleges
Cedar Rapids colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Cedar Rapids Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,240143,820
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,11017,820
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,43015,970
Sales and Related Occupations$38,04013,990
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$24,82011,000
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$47,0509,440
Management Occupations$111,0808,830
Production Occupations$45,7708,350
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$68,0508,290
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$89,8707,000
Construction and Extraction Occupations$52,9306,850
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$70,8506,740
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$52,3906,150
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$37,2205,190
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,9205,000
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$31,8903,810
Cashiers$22,9603,740
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$83,0603,720
Customer Service Representatives$39,8703,660
Retail Salespersons$28,1803,510
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$107,5303,330
Fast Food and Counter Workers$22,0503,190
Stockers and Order Fillers$32,1703,040
General and Operations Managers$111,9102,720
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,3902,530
Community and Social Service Occupations$45,8702,490
Registered Nurses$59,8202,490
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,4202,460
Office Clerks, General$36,7502,450
Protective Service Occupations$51,4802,150
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,5402,100
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$56,0102,070
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,6501,900
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$41,0101,770
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,1801,730
Waiters and Waitresses$21,9101,710
Cooks, Restaurant$23,4801,540
Nursing Assistants$29,9501,530
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$28,9801,350
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$38,2401,340
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$67,7301,200
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$55,4101,130
Construction Laborers$41,8001,110
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$47,0401,100
Light Truck Drivers$31,7501,080
Accountants and Auditors$71,7701,030
Electricians$58,3101,020
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$40,0201,000
Bartenders$27,930940
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,420940

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,240143,820
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,11017,820
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,43015,970
Sales and Related Occupations$38,04013,990
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$47,0509,440
Management Occupations$111,0808,830
Production Occupations$45,7708,350
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$68,0508,290
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$89,8707,000
Construction and Extraction Occupations$52,9306,850
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$70,8506,740
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$52,3906,150
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$37,2205,190
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,9205,000
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$31,8903,810
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$83,0603,720
Customer Service Representatives$39,8703,660
Retail Salespersons$28,1803,510
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$107,5303,330
Stockers and Order Fillers$32,1703,040
General and Operations Managers$111,9102,720
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,3902,530
Community and Social Service Occupations$45,8702,490
Registered Nurses$59,8202,490
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,4202,460
Office Clerks, General$36,7502,450
Protective Service Occupations$51,4802,150
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,5402,100
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$56,0102,070
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,6501,900
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$41,0101,770
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,1801,730
Nursing Assistants$29,9501,530
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$28,9801,350
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$38,2401,340
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$67,7301,200
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$55,4101,130
Construction Laborers$41,8001,110
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$47,0401,100
Light Truck Drivers$31,7501,080
Accountants and Auditors$71,7701,030
Electricians$58,3101,020
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$40,0201,000
Bartenders$27,930940
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,420940
Financial Managers$123,400870
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$36,820860
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$65,400840
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$70,340810
Computer Systems Analysts$86,500790

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