Columbia Employment

Employment and Industries in the Columbia, Missouri Area

The tables here illustrate essential information about work and employment in the area. Information includes:

  • A table of the most numerous types of work found here, both for jobs generally requiring college degrees and jobs not requiring college degrees.
  • A table listing those careers significantly more common in Columbia than in other US cities; this is useful both for career planning and for understanding the nature of Columbia.
  • A list of the highest-paying jobs in Columbia.
  • A list of any large public companies in Columbia.

Jobs in Columbia

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations94740$46,740$22.47100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations12890$35,950$17.2813.75
3Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations10430$24,520$11.798.7
4Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations8830$81,230$39.055.85
5Sales and Related Occupations8820$36,070$17.349.5
6Educational Instruction and Library Occupations7980$59,920$28.816
7Transportation and Material Moving Occupations6370$31,140$14.976.7
8Business and Financial Operations Occupations5470$58,930$28.335.35
9Healthcare Support Occupations4720$27,370$13.162.85
10Management Occupations4570$93,580$44.996.35
11Production Occupations3630$39,650$19.065.6
12Registered Nurses3410$68,960$33.161.95
13Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations3280$41,420$19.923.75
14Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3010$28,490$13.73.6
15Cashiers3010$22,040$10.62.2
16Construction and Extraction Occupations2840$46,850$22.524.6
17Fast Food and Counter Workers2820$25,150$12.092.45
18Office Clerks, General2580$33,280$161.9
19Retail Salespersons2530$32,690$15.722.7
20Home Health and Personal Care Aides2500$23,930$11.50
21Waiters and Waitresses2340$21,130$10.161.65
22Personal Care and Service Occupations2090$28,250$13.584.65
23Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1860$36,720$17.651.4
24General and Operations Managers1710$83,750$40.261.5
25Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1570$44,950$21.611.8
26Protective Service Occupations1570$37,680$18.112.2
27Community and Social Service Occupations1540$43,860$21.081.75
28Cooks, Restaurant1370$24,920$11.980.9
29Stockers and Order Fillers1360$26,380$12.681.25
30Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1320$28,990$13.941.5
31Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations1270$66,980$32.20.8
32Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1190$31,280$15.040.9
33Customer Service Representatives1110$31,610$15.21.75
34Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1090$27,840$13.391.8
35Nursing Assistants990$25,810$12.410.95
36Architecture and Engineering Occupations960$70,460$33.881.7
37Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other880$58,240$280.7
38First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers770$35,450$17.050.6
39Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers770$41,810$20.11.2
40Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers770$29,520$14.190.75
41First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers760$55,990$26.920.95
42Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks750$35,180$16.911.05
43Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants730$31,800$15.290.4
44Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners650$23,000$11.060.9
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers640$45,450$21.850.95
46Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity640$32,760$15.750.3
47Accountants and Auditors620$59,020$28.380.9
48Family Medicine Physicians610$244,540$117.570.1
49Light Truck Drivers610$37,250$17.910.6
50Childcare Workers600$26,800$12.880.7
51Construction Laborers600$40,510$19.480.9
52Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians570$45,410$21.830.2
53Cooks, Fast Food550$23,300$11.20.3
54Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products550$66,630$32.030.85
55Driver/Sales Workers530$21,710$10.440.3
56Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics520$44,500$21.40.5
57Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators500$33,400$16.060.8
58Security Guards490$29,930$14.390.7
59Loan Interviewers and Clerks470$34,730$16.70.1
60Carpenters450$48,750$23.440.6
61Legal Occupations430$70,630$33.960.8
62Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors420$50,690$24.370.2
63Loan Officers420$77,770$37.390.2
64Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other420$43,510$20.920
65Pharmacy Technicians420$29,930$14.390.3
66Tellers420$27,980$13.450.25
67Bartenders410$25,740$12.370.4
68Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists400$30,970$14.890.4
69Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel400$49,600$23.850.7
70Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents400$46,110$22.170.3
71Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators390$63,330$30.450.2
72Dishwashers390$21,160$10.170.3
73Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks390$34,600$16.640.4
74Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants380$51,810$24.910.35
75Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses380$42,670$20.520.5
76Human Resources Specialists370$57,890$27.830.4
77Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop350$20,160$9.690.3
78Billing and Posting Clerks340$35,920$17.270.3
79Packers and Packagers, Hand340$28,030$13.480.4
80Computer User Support Specialists330$46,530$22.370.4
81Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks330$37,120$17.850.2
82Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists330$50,170$24.120.45
83Public Relations Specialists330$50,800$24.420.2
84Social Science Research Assistants330$50,180$24.120
85Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria320$26,110$12.550.3
86Insurance Underwriters320$62,510$30.050.1
87Medical and Health Services Managers320$109,490$52.640.3
88Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment310$26,110$12.550.3
89Receptionists and Information Clerks310$26,680$12.830.7
90Training and Development Specialists310$42,520$20.440.2
91Electricians300$47,990$23.070.45
92Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers300$49,280$23.690.4
93Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric290$119,470$57.440.3
94Computer Systems Analysts280$80,870$38.880.4
95Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers280$52,820$25.390.2
96Financial Managers270$129,050$62.040.4
97Food Batchmakers270$41,660$20.030.1
98New Accounts Clerks270$29,120$140
99Sales Managers270$84,790$40.770.3
100Administrative Services and Facilities Managers260$91,110$43.80
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Columbia Colleges
Columbia colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Columbia Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$46,74094,740
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$35,95012,890
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$24,52010,430
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$81,2308,830
Sales and Related Occupations$36,0708,820
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$59,9207,980
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$31,1406,370
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$58,9305,470
Healthcare Support Occupations$27,3704,720
Management Occupations$93,5804,570
Production Occupations$39,6503,630
Registered Nurses$68,9603,410
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$41,4203,280
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$28,4903,010
Cashiers$22,0403,010
Construction and Extraction Occupations$46,8502,840
Fast Food and Counter Workers$25,1502,820
Office Clerks, General$33,2802,580
Retail Salespersons$32,6902,530
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$23,9302,500
Waiters and Waitresses$21,1302,340
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,2502,090
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,7201,860
General and Operations Managers$83,7501,710
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$44,9501,570
Protective Service Occupations$37,6801,570
Community and Social Service Occupations$43,8601,540
Cooks, Restaurant$24,9201,370
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,3801,360
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,9901,320
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$66,9801,270
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$31,2801,190
Customer Service Representatives$31,6101,110
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$27,8401,090
Nursing Assistants$25,810990
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$70,460960
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$58,240880
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,450770
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$41,810770
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$29,520770
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$55,990760
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$35,180750
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$31,800730
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$23,000650
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$45,450640
Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$32,760640
Accountants and Auditors$59,020620
Family Medicine Physicians$244,540610
Light Truck Drivers$37,250610
Childcare Workers$26,800600

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Columbia, Missouri Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$46,74094,740
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$35,95012,890
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$81,2308,830
Sales and Related Occupations$36,0708,820
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$59,9207,980
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$31,1406,370
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$58,9305,470
Healthcare Support Occupations$27,3704,720
Management Occupations$93,5804,570
Production Occupations$39,6503,630
Registered Nurses$68,9603,410
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$41,4203,280
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$28,4903,010
Construction and Extraction Occupations$46,8502,840
Fast Food and Counter Workers$25,1502,820
Office Clerks, General$33,2802,580
Retail Salespersons$32,6902,530
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,2502,090
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,7201,860
General and Operations Managers$83,7501,710
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$44,9501,570
Protective Service Occupations$37,6801,570
Community and Social Service Occupations$43,8601,540
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,3801,360
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,9901,320
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$66,9801,270
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$31,2801,190
Customer Service Representatives$31,6101,110
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$27,8401,090
Nursing Assistants$25,810990
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$70,460960
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$58,240880
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,450770
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$41,810770
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$29,520770
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$55,990760
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$35,180750
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$31,800730
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$45,450640
Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$32,760640
Accountants and Auditors$59,020620
Family Medicine Physicians$244,540610
Light Truck Drivers$37,250610
Childcare Workers$26,800600
Construction Laborers$40,510600
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$45,410570
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,630550
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$44,500520
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$33,400500
Security Guards$29,930490

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