Asheville Employment

Employment and Industries in the Asheville, North Carolina Area

Asheville is the economic hub for the western part of North Carolina. Asheville's economy includes manufacturing industries such as furniture, textiles, electrical products and printed products. Other sectors playing important roles for the economy include healthcare, tourism, and the government. The developing technology sector has also been adding jobs in the city.

The major fields of employment in Asheville are healthcare, education, construction, professional, scientific and technical services; social assistance, and accommodation and food services. Management, professional and related occupations comprise 36% of the workforce. Sales and office occupations comprise 21% of the labor force.

Praise for Asheville: The city has been ranked as the #1 place to live by Relocate-America.com. Rated the 7th best place to live in the nation in Frommer's "Cities Ranked and Rated" list. Ranked 23rd out of 200 metro areas for business and careers by Forbes.

Facts about Asheville, North Carolina: Regarding the adult residents, 30% have earned a bachelor's degree or higher. In 2008 the cost of living index was 91.3 (nation's average: 100). In 2009 the average salary in Asheville was $30,000.

The Asheville region's primary employers are provided below:

  • Mission-St. Joseph's Health System
  • Baxter Healthcare
  • Drexel Heritage
  • Cone Mills Corp
  • Champion International
  • Ingles Markets Inc
  • ITT Automotive, Sterling Diagnostic Imaging, Inc
  • General Electric Lighting Systems
  • Grove Park Inn Resort
  • Pillowtex Corp., Sonopress, Inc
  • Eaton Culter Hammer
  • J. Crew Group
  • Biltmore Estate
  • Collins & Aikman
  • Wilsonart International
  • VA Hospital
  • American Thread Co
  • Ecusta Division of P.H. Glatfelter Co

Helpful organizations offering to work with local businesses include:

The Citizen-Times is a good resource for keeping up-to-date regarding Asheville business and industry news.

Jobs in Asheville

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations198430$44,830$21.55100
2Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations25660$26,070$12.548.7
3Office and Administrative Support Occupations24550$36,350$17.4813.75
4Sales and Related Occupations22630$38,040$18.299.5
5Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations17370$89,290$42.935.85
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations15270$34,080$16.396.7
7Production Occupations14150$37,900$18.225.6
8Educational Instruction and Library Occupations10030$44,920$21.66
9Healthcare Support Occupations9830$31,020$14.912.85
10Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations8610$47,040$22.623.75
11Construction and Extraction Occupations7730$40,790$19.614.6
12Retail Salespersons7490$28,470$13.692.7
13Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations7360$28,870$13.883.6
14Fast Food and Counter Workers7110$22,880$112.45
15Management Occupations6890$102,850$49.456.35
16Registered Nurses6210$67,150$32.281.95
17Cashiers6180$21,960$10.562.2
18Business and Financial Operations Occupations6120$65,460$31.475.35
19Personal Care and Service Occupations5690$27,630$13.294.65
20Waiters and Waitresses5100$25,940$12.471.65
21Office Clerks, General3770$32,680$15.711.9
22Protective Service Occupations3670$41,300$19.862.2
23Stockers and Order Fillers3320$29,390$14.131.25
24Cooks, Restaurant3290$26,900$12.930.9
25Nursing Assistants3090$29,460$14.160.95
26Architecture and Engineering Occupations3080$70,000$33.651.7
27Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand3080$30,820$14.821.8
28Home Health and Personal Care Aides3040$24,750$11.90
29Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2960$28,130$13.531.5
30Community and Social Service Occupations2670$47,590$22.881.75
31Receptionists and Information Clerks2670$28,580$13.740.7
32Customer Service Representatives2640$34,740$16.71.75
33Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks2490$38,870$18.691.05
34Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive2400$34,780$16.721.4
35Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations2380$46,450$22.331.8
36General and Operations Managers2300$114,070$54.841.5
37Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2270$23,950$11.520.9
38Computer and Mathematical Occupations2190$67,340$32.373
39First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers2090$47,560$22.860.95
40Maintenance and Repair Workers, General2080$38,400$18.460.9
41First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers2010$40,770$19.60.6
42Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1970$60,640$29.160.85
43Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1910$45,630$21.941.2
44First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1810$51,850$24.930.95
45Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators1740$31,790$15.290.8
46Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric1730$230,230$110.690.3
47Light Truck Drivers1610$38,600$18.560.6
48Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel1560$68,960$33.160.7
49Food Preparation Workers1460$24,540$11.80.5
50Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers1370$30,810$14.810.75
51Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop1340$21,050$10.120.3
52Machinists1320$42,470$20.420.2
53Cooks, Fast Food1270$22,140$10.640.3
54Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations1170$74,180$35.660.8
55Medical Assistants1170$33,070$15.90.45
56Carpenters1150$38,480$18.50.6
57Childcare Workers1120$25,630$12.320.7
58Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity1040$28,110$13.510.3
59Legal Occupations1030$69,210$33.280.8
60First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers1020$60,310$290.4
61Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks1000$31,760$15.270.4
62Bartenders960$30,580$14.70.4
63Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers950$40,720$19.580.2
64First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers950$60,400$29.040.4
65Amusement and Recreation Attendants930$21,920$10.540.2
66Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics930$46,970$22.580.5
67Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks920$26,610$12.790.15
68Construction Laborers910$30,540$14.680.9
69Electricians910$43,250$20.790.45
70Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers880$37,690$18.120.35
71Dishwashers870$22,770$10.950.3
72Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other850$62,290$29.950.7
73Accountants and Auditors840$70,110$33.710.9
74Packers and Packagers, Hand840$24,310$11.690.4
75Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses830$47,510$22.840.5
76First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers820$63,550$30.550.3
77Security Guards820$38,180$18.360.7
78Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers810$45,470$21.860.4
79Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants790$35,060$16.860.4
80Industrial Machinery Mechanics750$56,470$27.150.2
81Computer User Support Specialists720$47,220$22.70.4
82Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors710$47,300$22.740.2
83Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators690$36,630$17.610.4
84Pharmacy Technicians690$33,420$16.070.3
85Driver/Sales Workers680$32,320$15.540.3
86Industrial Engineers680$81,840$39.350.2
87Substitute Teachers, Short-Term670$25,750$12.380.4
88Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders660$29,530$14.20.2
89Firefighters650$31,470$15.130.2
90Medical and Health Services Managers650$116,180$55.860.3
91Tellers650$33,390$16.050.25
92Child, Family, and School Social Workers620$49,470$23.780.2
93Construction Managers610$100,440$48.290.3
94Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria600$28,330$13.620.3
95Food Servers, Nonrestaurant590$23,480$11.290.2
96First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors580$50,880$24.460.3
97Physician Assistants580$104,660$50.320.1
98Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education570$31,460$15.130.3
99Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists560$52,950$25.460.45
100Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other560$41,670$20.030
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Asheville Colleges
Asheville colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Asheville Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$44,830198,430
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$26,07025,660
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$36,35024,550
Sales and Related Occupations$38,04022,630
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$89,29017,370
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,08015,270
Production Occupations$37,90014,150
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$44,92010,030
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,0209,830
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,0408,610
Construction and Extraction Occupations$40,7907,730
Retail Salespersons$28,4707,490
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$28,8707,360
Fast Food and Counter Workers$22,8807,110
Management Occupations$102,8506,890
Registered Nurses$67,1506,210
Cashiers$21,9606,180
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$65,4606,120
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,6305,690
Waiters and Waitresses$25,9405,100
Office Clerks, General$32,6803,770
Protective Service Occupations$41,3003,670
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,3903,320
Cooks, Restaurant$26,9003,290
Nursing Assistants$29,4603,090
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$70,0003,080
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,8203,080
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$24,7503,040
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,1302,960
Community and Social Service Occupations$47,5902,670
Receptionists and Information Clerks$28,5802,670
Customer Service Representatives$34,7402,640
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$38,8702,490
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$34,7802,400
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$46,4502,380
General and Operations Managers$114,0702,300
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$23,9502,270
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$67,3402,190
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,5602,090
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,4002,080
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$40,7702,010
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,6401,970
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$45,6301,910
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$51,8501,810
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$31,7901,740
Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$230,2301,730
Light Truck Drivers$38,6001,610
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$68,9601,560
Food Preparation Workers$24,5401,460
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$30,8101,370

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Asheville, North Carolina Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$44,830198,430
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$26,07025,660
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$36,35024,550
Sales and Related Occupations$38,04022,630
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$89,29017,370
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,08015,270
Production Occupations$37,90014,150
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$44,92010,030
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,0209,830
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,0408,610
Construction and Extraction Occupations$40,7907,730
Retail Salespersons$28,4707,490
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$28,8707,360
Management Occupations$102,8506,890
Registered Nurses$67,1506,210
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$65,4606,120
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,6305,690
Waiters and Waitresses$25,9405,100
Office Clerks, General$32,6803,770
Protective Service Occupations$41,3003,670
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,3903,320
Cooks, Restaurant$26,9003,290
Nursing Assistants$29,4603,090
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$70,0003,080
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,8203,080
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,1302,960
Community and Social Service Occupations$47,5902,670
Receptionists and Information Clerks$28,5802,670
Customer Service Representatives$34,7402,640
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$38,8702,490
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$34,7802,400
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$46,4502,380
General and Operations Managers$114,0702,300
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$67,3402,190
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,5602,090
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,4002,080
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$40,7702,010
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,6401,970
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$45,6301,910
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$51,8501,810
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$31,7901,740
Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$230,2301,730
Light Truck Drivers$38,6001,610
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$68,9601,560
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$30,8101,370
Machinists$42,4701,320
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$74,1801,170
Medical Assistants$33,0701,170
Carpenters$38,4801,150
Childcare Workers$25,6301,120

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