Worcester Employment

Employment and Industries in the Worcester, Massachusetts Area

Worcester has a diversified economy and is a prominent New England center for manufacturing, trade, distribution, retail and services. Important industries include high-tech, biotechnology, manufacturing, insurance and healthcare. In addition, the city includes thriving industries such as electronics, fiber optics and advanced ceramics.

The higher education institutions are major employers. The workforce's educational level has also attracted companies in fields such as technology, health and professional services. In addition, the city includes over 5,000 firms.

The economic assistance and incentives program attract companies to Worcester and helps to keep existing businesses in the city. The Worcester Workforce Central One Stop Career Center, offers job seekers information about employment opportunities and training. The Workforce Training fund, provided by the Massachusetts Division of Employment and Training, offers resources to companies for training current and new employees. The Hiring Incentive Training Program offers incentives for companies hiring workers who have been out of work for more than a year.

Worcester's leading nonagricultural employment sectors are:

  • Educational and health services
  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Government
  • Manufacturing
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Finance

The largest employers in Worcester are shown below:

  • EMC Corporation
  • UMass Memorial Health Care
  • UMass Medical School
  • Fallon Community Health Plan
  • Bertucci's Corporation
  • Worcester Public Schools
  • Waters Corp
  • Allmerica Financial/The Hanover Insurance Company
  • Advanced Cell Technology
  • Abbot Laboratories
  • Morgan Construction
  • Wright Line
  • Saint-Gobain
  • Polar Beverages
  • Hanover Insurance
  • Paul Revere Life Insurance Company
  • Harleysville Worcester Insurance Company
  • David Clark Company
  • Opus Investment Management, Inc
  • Allegro Microsystems, Inc
  • Citizens Corporation

Noteworthy data about Worcester, Massachusetts: In 2007 the estimated median household income in the city was $45,000. In 2008 the cost of living index was 122.2 which is higher than the nation's average of 100. Regarding the population over the age of 25, about 23% have achieved a bachelor's degree or higher.

Helpful organizations offering to work with local businesses include:

Telegram.com is a good resource for keeping up-to-date regarding Worcester business and industry news.

Jobs in Worcester

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations287340$56,110$26.98100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations37130$45,300$21.7813.75
3Sales and Related Occupations24060$44,470$21.389.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations23920$30,700$14.768.7
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations23750$38,880$18.696.7
6Educational Instruction and Library Occupations21920$68,770$33.066
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations20760$87,520$42.085.85
8Healthcare Support Occupations19140$33,320$16.022.85
9Production Occupations19050$43,400$20.875.6
10Management Occupations18290$116,250$55.896.35
11Business and Financial Operations Occupations12430$75,360$36.235.35
12Home Health and Personal Care Aides11270$30,920$14.860
13Construction and Extraction Occupations9800$58,740$28.244.6
14Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations9790$52,920$25.443.75
15Community and Social Service Occupations8590$46,320$22.271.75
16Retail Salespersons7440$30,550$14.692.7
17Registered Nurses7310$82,960$39.891.95
18Computer and Mathematical Occupations7200$91,660$44.073
19Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations7140$35,770$17.23.6
20Fast Food and Counter Workers7110$27,020$12.992.45
21Personal Care and Service Occupations6620$35,520$17.084.65
22Cashiers6580$27,790$13.362.2
23Protective Service Occupations6090$56,250$27.042.2
24Customer Service Representatives5990$42,290$20.331.75
25General and Operations Managers5650$121,390$58.361.5
26Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand5490$33,750$16.231.8
27Office Clerks, General4700$36,870$17.731.9
28Nursing Assistants4560$31,720$15.250.95
29Architecture and Engineering Occupations4500$82,000$39.421.7
30Waiters and Waitresses4240$32,060$15.421.65
31Stockers and Order Fillers4230$32,910$15.821.25
32Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks3750$45,860$22.051.05
33Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners3640$33,980$16.341.5
34Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers3530$54,470$26.191.2
35First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers3340$63,500$30.530.95
36Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive3260$45,760$221.4
37Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations2990$79,640$38.290.8
38Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations2810$53,400$25.671.8
39Light Truck Drivers2550$39,020$18.760.6
40First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers2440$45,010$21.640.95
41Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products2330$70,270$33.790.85
42Bartenders2300$31,200$150.4
43Maintenance and Repair Workers, General2290$44,700$21.490.9
44Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators2200$36,040$17.330.8
45Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity2110$36,170$17.390.3
46Social and Human Service Assistants2110$34,070$16.380.3
47Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors2110$45,040$21.650.2
48Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers2010$108,710$52.270.65
49Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers1980$64,680$31.10.4
50Accountants and Auditors1950$75,670$36.380.9
51Construction Laborers1850$47,040$22.610.9
52Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks1850$44,130$21.210.4
53Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants1780$55,990$26.920.35
54Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses1770$56,110$26.980.5
55Cooks, Restaurant1730$31,250$15.030.9
56Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants1730$40,310$19.380.4
57Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers1710$37,840$18.190.75
58First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers1580$42,380$20.380.6
59Financial Managers1540$122,120$58.710.4
60Receptionists and Information Clerks1510$32,490$15.620.7
61Electricians1490$66,830$32.130.45
62Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics1460$47,990$23.070.5
63Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers1460$43,670$210.35
64Food Preparation Workers1400$28,760$13.830.5
65First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers1390$66,670$32.050.4
66Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators1380$37,360$17.960.4
67Childcare Workers1340$30,770$14.790.7
68Packers and Packagers, Hand1340$30,420$14.630.4
69Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel1340$74,550$35.840.7
70Security Guards1290$32,950$15.840.7
71Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians1270$52,120$25.060.2
72Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1240$31,560$15.180.9
73Medical and Health Services Managers1200$120,800$58.080.3
74Dishwashers1170$26,730$12.850.3
75Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers1150$39,820$19.140.2
76Human Resources Specialists1130$69,850$33.580.4
77Machinists1120$49,600$23.840.2
78Sales Managers1120$125,100$60.150.3
79Legal Occupations1080$93,360$44.880.8
80Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers1070$29,970$14.410.3
81Child, Family, and School Social Workers1060$46,890$22.540.2
82Carpenters1040$54,520$26.210.6
83Healthcare Social Workers1040$62,740$30.160.1
84Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks1010$52,640$25.310.2
85Food Servers, Nonrestaurant1000$29,200$14.040.2
86Computer User Support Specialists970$56,570$27.20.4
87First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers970$72,240$34.730.3
88Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters970$61,580$29.610.3
89Substitute Teachers, Short-Term970$39,990$19.230.4
90First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers960$71,800$34.520.4
91Firefighters950$58,860$28.30.2
92First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors950$58,010$27.890.3
93Medical Assistants940$39,740$19.110.45
94Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other930$84,570$40.660.7
95Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists890$69,050$33.20.45
96Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators870$72,970$35.080.2
97Management Analysts870$107,700$51.780.55
98Computer Systems Analysts850$94,400$45.390.4
99Administrative Services and Facilities Managers840$103,720$49.870
100Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric840$185,080$88.980.3
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Worcester Colleges
Worcester colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Worcester Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$56,110287,340
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$45,30037,130
Sales and Related Occupations$44,47024,060
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$30,70023,920
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$38,88023,750
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$68,77021,920
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$87,52020,760
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,32019,140
Production Occupations$43,40019,050
Management Occupations$116,25018,290
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$75,36012,430
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$30,92011,270
Construction and Extraction Occupations$58,7409,800
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$52,9209,790
Community and Social Service Occupations$46,3208,590
Retail Salespersons$30,5507,440
Registered Nurses$82,9607,310
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$91,6607,200
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$35,7707,140
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,0207,110
Personal Care and Service Occupations$35,5206,620
Cashiers$27,7906,580
Protective Service Occupations$56,2506,090
Customer Service Representatives$42,2905,990
General and Operations Managers$121,3905,650
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$33,7505,490
Office Clerks, General$36,8704,700
Nursing Assistants$31,7204,560
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$82,0004,500
Waiters and Waitresses$32,0604,240
Stockers and Order Fillers$32,9104,230
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$45,8603,750
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,9803,640
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,4703,530
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,5003,340
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$45,7603,260
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$79,6402,990
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$53,4002,810
Light Truck Drivers$39,0202,550
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$45,0102,440
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,2702,330
Bartenders$31,2002,300
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,7002,290
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$36,0402,200
Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$36,1702,110
Social and Human Service Assistants$34,0702,110
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$45,0402,110
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$108,7102,010
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$64,6801,980
Accountants and Auditors$75,6701,950

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Worcester, Massachusetts Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$56,110287,340
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$45,30037,130
Sales and Related Occupations$44,47024,060
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$30,70023,920
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$38,88023,750
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$68,77021,920
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$87,52020,760
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,32019,140
Production Occupations$43,40019,050
Management Occupations$116,25018,290
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$75,36012,430
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$30,92011,270
Construction and Extraction Occupations$58,7409,800
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$52,9209,790
Community and Social Service Occupations$46,3208,590
Retail Salespersons$30,5507,440
Registered Nurses$82,9607,310
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$91,6607,200
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$35,7707,140
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,0207,110
Personal Care and Service Occupations$35,5206,620
Cashiers$27,7906,580
Protective Service Occupations$56,2506,090
Customer Service Representatives$42,2905,990
General and Operations Managers$121,3905,650
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$33,7505,490
Office Clerks, General$36,8704,700
Nursing Assistants$31,7204,560
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$82,0004,500
Waiters and Waitresses$32,0604,240
Stockers and Order Fillers$32,9104,230
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$45,8603,750
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,9803,640
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,4703,530
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,5003,340
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$45,7603,260
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$79,6402,990
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$53,4002,810
Light Truck Drivers$39,0202,550
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$45,0102,440
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,2702,330
Bartenders$31,2002,300
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,7002,290
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$36,0402,200
Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$36,1702,110
Social and Human Service Assistants$34,0702,110
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$45,0402,110
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$108,7102,010
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$64,6801,980
Accountants and Auditors$75,6701,950

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