Grand Rapids Employment

Employment and Industries in the Grand Rapids, Michigan Area

Grand Rapids' manufacturing sector has experienced a significant decline, however manufacturing still significantly contributes to the economy, especially the office furniture industry. Some of the notable office furniture manufactures in the region are Steelcase, Haworth, American Seating, Knoll and Herman Miller. Several companies also manufacture residential furniture. Jobs are also provided by businesses in industries such as industrial machinery, plastics, chemicals, automotive parts, food processing, graphic arts and printing.

The "Medical Mile" includes numerous health science related businesses and numerous jobs. In addition, Grand Rapids is also known as a Christian publishing center and is home to Baker Books, Zonervan, Eerdmans Publishing and Kregel Publications. Also, the tourism industry is becoming more important to the city due to the region becoming increasingly popular as a vacation and convention destination. The region is also known for its fruit production.

The significant job providers in the Grand Rapids region are:

  • Spectrum Health - Hospital and medical care
  • Meijer Inc - Groceries and general merchandise
  • Walmart - Retail
  • Spartan Stores Inc - Groceries
  • Steelcase Inc - Furniture, modular space systems
  • Johnson Controls
  • Herman Miller
  • Alticore
  • Farmers Insurance Group - Insurance
  • Axious Incorporated - Human resource and employment services
  • Grand Rapids Public Schools - Education
  • St Mary's Health Care - Hospital and medical care
  • City of Grand Rapids - Government
  • Roskam Baking Co - Commercial bakery, manufactures cereals; provides packaging and labeling services
  • Kent County - Government
  • Lacks Enterprises, Inc - Manufacturer of automotive, telecommunications and consumer electronics
  • U.S. Postal Service - Government
  • Calvin College - Education
  • Gordon Food Service Inc - Food services wholesaler
  • GE Aviation Systems LLC - Military and commercial avionics systems
  • Michigan Medical PC - Multi-specialty physician group
  • Consumers Energy - Public utility
  • Sara Lee Corporation - Baked goods
  • Forest Hills Public Schools - Education
  • Knoll Inc - Wood and metal office systems
  • United Parcel Service - Parcel delivery
  • Dematic Corp - Material handling systems, management information and control systems
  • Avionics Systems
  • Kellogg Co - Cookies and crackers

The significant nonagricultural employment segments are shown below:

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

Notable data about Grand Rapids, Michigan: The estimated median household income in Grand Rapids in 2007 was $38,000. Approximately 24% of the adult residents have achieved a bachelor's degree or higher. The cost of living index in the city in 2008 was 81.3. The nation's average is 100.

Grand Rapids' businesses have opportunities to team up with useful organizations such as:

The Grand Rapids Business Journal includes information regarding the local economy and the business community.

Jobs in Grand Rapids

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations567640$47,010$22.6100
2Production Occupations89780$37,520$18.045.6
3Office and Administrative Support Occupations68830$39,110$18.813.75
4Transportation and Material Moving Occupations56810$34,300$16.496.7
5Sales and Related Occupations48330$44,460$21.389.5
6Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations44400$27,440$13.198.7
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations34260$72,490$34.855.85
8Business and Financial Operations Occupations27020$65,000$31.255.35
9Management Occupations26130$110,030$52.96.35
10Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations24720$48,810$23.473.75
11Educational Instruction and Library Occupations24680$53,810$25.876
12Healthcare Support Occupations20750$30,950$14.882.85
13Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations19610$29,620$14.243.6
14Construction and Extraction Occupations19100$46,210$22.224.6
15Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators18680$34,020$16.360.8
16Retail Salespersons15540$28,280$13.62.7
17Architecture and Engineering Occupations14900$76,630$36.841.7
18Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand14230$31,320$15.061.8
19Fast Food and Counter Workers14120$23,620$11.362.45
20Registered Nurses12820$68,220$32.81.95
21Office Clerks, General12250$37,230$17.91.9
22Customer Service Representatives11060$37,730$18.141.75
23Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners10890$27,870$13.41.5
24Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers10020$44,910$21.591.2
25Computer and Mathematical Occupations9900$69,940$33.623
26Personal Care and Service Occupations9640$29,720$14.294.65
27Cashiers8920$24,100$11.592.2
28Waiters and Waitresses8510$30,090$14.471.65
29Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products8100$74,150$35.650.85
30General and Operations Managers7970$117,710$56.591.5
31Nursing Assistants7970$29,470$14.170.95
32Community and Social Service Occupations7880$47,650$22.911.75
33Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations7820$47,430$22.81.8
34Packers and Packagers, Hand7740$25,840$12.430.4
35Protective Service Occupations7530$42,260$20.322.2
36Stockers and Order Fillers7150$28,790$13.841.25
37Home Health and Personal Care Aides6060$26,150$12.570
38Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive5860$37,790$18.171.4
39Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers5840$34,540$16.60.35
40First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers5580$63,850$30.70.4
41Maintenance and Repair Workers, General5390$37,980$18.260.9
42Cooks, Restaurant5190$26,730$12.850.9
43Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators4920$34,200$16.440.4
44Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders4920$32,030$15.40.2
45Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks4860$34,140$16.420.4
46Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks4740$38,490$18.511.05
47Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other4460$68,640$330.7
48First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers4250$56,960$27.380.95
49Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4200$31,700$15.240.1
50Mechanical Engineers4170$77,490$37.250.2
51Industrial Machinery Mechanics4160$50,390$24.220.2
52Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4140$34,110$16.40.1
53Machinists4070$42,370$20.370.2
54Accountants and Auditors4050$68,560$32.960.9
55Light Truck Drivers3880$39,690$19.080.6
56First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers3810$47,130$22.660.95
57Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers3760$32,020$15.40.75
58First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers3600$38,850$18.680.6
59Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants3560$34,240$16.460.4
60Helpers--Production Workers3550$26,130$12.560.2
61Industrial Engineers3540$81,030$38.960.2
62Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners3530$26,060$12.530.9
63Electricians3270$48,470$23.30.45
64Receptionists and Information Clerks3190$31,420$15.110.7
65Security Guards3190$28,690$13.790.7
66Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel3110$65,730$31.60.7
67Construction Laborers2990$37,350$17.960.9
68Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers2940$77,580$37.30.65
69Bartenders2790$31,120$14.960.4
70Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics2740$41,350$19.880.5
71Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists2670$60,060$28.870.45
72Tool and Die Makers2650$52,790$25.380
73Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers2600$39,710$19.090.3
74Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians2550$45,320$21.790.2
75Carpenters2510$44,990$21.630.6
76Medical Assistants2500$34,510$16.590.45
77Human Resources Specialists2490$54,850$26.370.4
78Legal Occupations2330$84,110$40.440.8
79Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations2280$66,470$31.960.8
80First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers2090$60,840$29.250.4
81Childcare Workers2080$24,490$11.770.7
82Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity2020$35,390$17.020.3
83Child, Family, and School Social Workers2010$48,710$23.420.2
84Buyers and Purchasing Agents2000$62,910$30.250.25
85Production Workers, All Other1990$29,670$14.260.15
86Financial Managers1970$116,900$56.20.4
87Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks1940$44,860$21.570.2
88Computer User Support Specialists1900$51,260$24.640.4
89First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers1900$74,580$35.850.3
90Insurance Sales Agents1900$70,710$340.3
91Industrial Production Managers1880$115,200$55.390.1
92Dishwashers1850$22,470$10.810.3
93Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses1780$46,780$22.490.5
94Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters1720$50,070$24.070.3
95Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists1710$46,820$22.510.2
96Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters1700$38,490$18.510.1
97Tellers1690$31,100$14.950.25
98Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment1680$26,730$12.850.3
99First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors1520$53,500$25.720.3
100Food Preparation Workers1520$26,270$12.630.5
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Grand Rapids Colleges
Grand Rapids colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Grand Rapids Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$47,010567,640
Production Occupations$37,52089,780
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$39,11068,830
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,30056,810
Sales and Related Occupations$44,46048,330
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$27,44044,400
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$72,49034,260
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$65,00027,020
Management Occupations$110,03026,130
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$48,81024,720
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$53,81024,680
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,95020,750
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$29,62019,610
Construction and Extraction Occupations$46,21019,100
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$34,02018,680
Retail Salespersons$28,28015,540
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$76,63014,900
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,32014,230
Fast Food and Counter Workers$23,62014,120
Registered Nurses$68,22012,820
Office Clerks, General$37,23012,250
Customer Service Representatives$37,73011,060
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,87010,890
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,91010,020
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$69,9409,900
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,7209,640
Cashiers$24,1008,920
Waiters and Waitresses$30,0908,510
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74,1508,100
General and Operations Managers$117,7107,970
Nursing Assistants$29,4707,970
Community and Social Service Occupations$47,6507,880
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$47,4307,820
Packers and Packagers, Hand$25,8407,740
Protective Service Occupations$42,2607,530
Stockers and Order Fillers$28,7907,150
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$26,1506,060
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$37,7905,860
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$34,5405,840
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$63,8505,580
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$37,9805,390
Cooks, Restaurant$26,7305,190
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$34,2004,920
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$32,0304,920
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$34,1404,860
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$38,4904,740
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$68,6404,460
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$56,9604,250
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$31,7004,200
Mechanical Engineers$77,4904,170

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Grand Rapids, Michigan Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$47,010567,640
Production Occupations$37,52089,780
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$39,11068,830
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,30056,810
Sales and Related Occupations$44,46048,330
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$27,44044,400
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$72,49034,260
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$65,00027,020
Management Occupations$110,03026,130
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$48,81024,720
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$53,81024,680
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,95020,750
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$29,62019,610
Construction and Extraction Occupations$46,21019,100
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$34,02018,680
Retail Salespersons$28,28015,540
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$76,63014,900
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,32014,230
Registered Nurses$68,22012,820
Office Clerks, General$37,23012,250
Customer Service Representatives$37,73011,060
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,87010,890
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,91010,020
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$69,9409,900
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,7209,640
Waiters and Waitresses$30,0908,510
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74,1508,100
General and Operations Managers$117,7107,970
Nursing Assistants$29,4707,970
Community and Social Service Occupations$47,6507,880
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$47,4307,820
Packers and Packagers, Hand$25,8407,740
Protective Service Occupations$42,2607,530
Stockers and Order Fillers$28,7907,150
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$26,1506,060
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$37,7905,860
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$34,5405,840
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$63,8505,580
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$37,9805,390
Cooks, Restaurant$26,7305,190
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$34,2004,920
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$32,0304,920
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$34,1404,860
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$38,4904,740
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$68,6404,460
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$56,9604,250
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$31,7004,200
Mechanical Engineers$77,4904,170
Industrial Machinery Mechanics$50,3904,160
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$34,1104,140

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