Durham Employment

Employment and Industries in the Durham, North Carolina Area

Durham's economy is based on health and medical related sectors and high-technology industries including telecommunications, biopharmaceutical, electronics and computers. Other important industries include chemicals, textiles and plastics. Duke University & Medical Center is the Durham region's largest employer. Some of the major job providing companies are IBM, Nortel and Glaxo Smith Kline.

Durham is part of the world renowned Research Triangle Park. The park includes a vast number of workers and more than 130 companies. Over 20 other industrial, research and office parks surround the park. In addition, A large number of the workers in Durham are employed in a health or medical related sector. Corporate administration also provides numerous jobs.

Accolades for Durham: Forbes ranked Durham as the 3rd best place for business & careers. NewGeography.com named Durham MSA as the #11 best medium sized MSA for Business & Growth. Durham placed in the top 10 in metros for scientists & engineers by Expansion Management Magazine. The city was placed in the list of 5 star knowledge worker metros by Expansion Management Magazine.

Details about Durham, North Carolina: In 2007 the estimated median household income was $46,000. In 2008 the cost of living index was at 86.1 (nation's average: 100). In Durham 42% of the population 25 years of age and older have acquired a bachelor's degree or better.

Largest employers in the Durham region:

  • Duke University & Medical Center
  • IBM
  • Durham Public Schools
  • Glaxo Smith Kline
  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
  • Nortel Networks
  • Durham City Government
  • Veterans Administration Medical Center
  • Lenovo Group, LTD
  • Fidelity Investments
  • RTI International Inc
  • Durham County Government
  • North Carolina Central University
  • Cree, Inc
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • AW North Carolina, Inc
  • Sterling Healthcare
  • Quintiles Transnational Corp

The top employment sectors in Durham:

  • Healthcare
  • Educational services
  • Professional, scientific and technical services
  • Accommodation and food services
  • Computer and electronic products
  • Construction

Durham companies have opportunities to collaborate with helpful associations such as:

The Durham Herald-Sun is a good resource for people interested in reading about local business and industry news.

Jobs in Durham

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations314220$61,220$29.43100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations36710$42,360$20.3613.75
3Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations31800$74,510$35.825.85
4Educational Instruction and Library Occupations28770$73,980$35.576
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations25050$25,680$12.358.7
6Sales and Related Occupations24880$48,530$23.339.5
7Business and Financial Operations Occupations22400$84,320$40.545.35
8Management Occupations19900$133,960$64.416.35
9Computer and Mathematical Occupations19540$95,180$45.763
10Transportation and Material Moving Occupations16320$32,650$15.76.7
11Production Occupations13020$39,310$18.95.6
12Healthcare Support Occupations12750$30,650$14.742.85
13Registered Nurses12470$68,540$32.951.95
14Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations9600$79,700$38.320.8
15Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations9060$49,150$23.633.75
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations8630$29,460$14.163.6
17Fast Food and Counter Workers7880$22,980$11.052.45
18Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers7260$108,400$52.110.65
19Construction and Extraction Occupations7250$44,470$21.384.6
20Retail Salespersons6790$25,750$12.382.7
21Cashiers6440$21,760$10.462.2
22Architecture and Engineering Occupations6260$85,660$41.181.7
23Personal Care and Service Occupations6110$29,430$14.154.65
24Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive6110$41,730$20.061.4
25Protective Service Occupations5250$47,480$22.832.2
26Customer Service Representatives5050$39,760$19.121.75
27Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand5000$28,500$13.71.8
28Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other4980$54,450$26.180.1
29Nursing Assistants4780$29,780$14.320.95
30Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other4660$88,740$42.660.7
31Office Clerks, General4640$36,820$17.71.9
32Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations4570$61,470$29.551.8
33Waiters and Waitresses4550$24,720$11.881.65
34General and Operations Managers4260$135,010$64.911.5
35Community and Social Service Occupations4070$50,620$24.341.75
36Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners3470$28,240$13.581.5
37Home Health and Personal Care Aides3390$22,400$10.770
38Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric3210$105,850$50.890.3
39Cooks, Restaurant3070$27,400$13.170.9
40Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators2900$35,710$17.170.8
41Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2860$26,190$12.590.9
42Computer Systems Analysts2790$90,570$43.540.4
43Stockers and Order Fillers2700$29,300$14.091.25
44First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers2650$61,940$29.780.95
45Accountants and Auditors2580$80,640$38.770.9
46Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks2580$43,850$21.081.05
47Computer User Support Specialists2540$60,230$28.960.4
48Maintenance and Repair Workers, General2410$43,880$21.10.9
49Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians2360$55,710$26.780.2
50Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists2350$102,850$49.450.1
51First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers2320$36,640$17.620.6
52Receptionists and Information Clerks2160$30,430$14.630.7
53Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other2080$81,810$39.330.2
54Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel2060$71,280$34.270.7
55Legal Occupations1970$102,590$49.320.8
56Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants1950$61,580$29.60.35
57Human Resources Specialists1910$78,040$37.520.4
58First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers1890$45,590$21.920.95
59Management Analysts1890$99,970$48.060.55
60Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists1860$78,620$37.80.45
61Computer and Information Systems Managers1840$143,790$69.130.3
62Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other1840$133,720$64.290.7
63Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1790$84,940$40.840.85
64Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products1790$136,780$65.760.2
65Cooks, Fast Food1720$21,650$10.410.3
66Security Guards1630$48,200$23.170.7
67Medical Assistants1610$34,430$16.550.45
68Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers1590$30,640$14.730.75
69Light Truck Drivers1560$37,910$18.220.6
70Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants1500$36,100$17.360.4
71Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1480$45,070$21.671.2
72Natural Sciences Managers1450$161,130$77.460
73Childcare Workers1400$24,500$11.780.7
74Billing and Posting Clerks1380$41,170$19.790.3
75Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other1380$45,950$22.090
76Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics1370$48,420$23.280.5
77Semiconductor Processing Technicians1360$37,710$18.130
78Financial Managers1300$161,070$77.440.4
79Lawyers1280$128,460$61.760.5
80Computer Programmers1240$93,670$45.030.15
81Personal Financial Advisors1230$135,520$65.160.2
82Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity1210$28,880$13.890.3
83Chemists1180$91,170$43.830.1
84Medical and Health Services Managers1160$132,560$63.730.3
85First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers1150$61,590$29.610.4
86Marketing Managers1140$150,830$72.510.2
87Network and Computer Systems Administrators1130$96,350$46.320.2
88Pharmacy Technicians1120$33,340$16.030.3
89Pharmacists1070$110,000$52.880.2
90Firefighters1030$34,090$16.390.2
91Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses1020$49,030$23.570.5
92Education Administrators, Postsecondary1010$132,140$63.530.1
93Food Preparation Workers1010$23,550$11.320.5
94Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers1010$51,170$24.60.4
95Packers and Packagers, Hand980$22,940$11.030.4
96Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop970$21,500$10.340.3
97First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers950$71,700$34.470.4
98Electricians940$50,730$24.390.45
99Public Relations Specialists940$66,380$31.910.2
100Training and Development Specialists930$61,840$29.730.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Durham Colleges
Durham colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Durham Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$61,220314,220
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$42,36036,710
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$74,51031,800
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$73,98028,770
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$25,68025,050
Sales and Related Occupations$48,53024,880
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$84,32022,400
Management Occupations$133,96019,900
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$95,18019,540
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$32,65016,320
Production Occupations$39,31013,020
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,65012,750
Registered Nurses$68,54012,470
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$79,7009,600
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$49,1509,060
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$29,4608,630
Fast Food and Counter Workers$22,9807,880
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$108,4007,260
Construction and Extraction Occupations$44,4707,250
Retail Salespersons$25,7506,790
Cashiers$21,7606,440
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$85,6606,260
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,4306,110
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$41,7306,110
Protective Service Occupations$47,4805,250
Customer Service Representatives$39,7605,050
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$28,5005,000
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$54,4504,980
Nursing Assistants$29,7804,780
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$88,7404,660
Office Clerks, General$36,8204,640
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$61,4704,570
Waiters and Waitresses$24,7204,550
General and Operations Managers$135,0104,260
Community and Social Service Occupations$50,6204,070
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,2403,470
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$22,4003,390
Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$105,8503,210
Cooks, Restaurant$27,4003,070
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$35,7102,900
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$26,1902,860
Computer Systems Analysts$90,5702,790
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,3002,700
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,9402,650
Accountants and Auditors$80,6402,580
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,8502,580
Computer User Support Specialists$60,2302,540
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$43,8802,410
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$55,7102,360
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$102,8502,350

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

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$61,220314,220
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$42,36036,710
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$74,51031,800
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$73,98028,770
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$25,68025,050
Sales and Related Occupations$48,53024,880
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$84,32022,400
Management Occupations$133,96019,900
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$95,18019,540
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$32,65016,320
Production Occupations$39,31013,020
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,65012,750
Registered Nurses$68,54012,470
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$79,7009,600
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$49,1509,060
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$29,4608,630
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$108,4007,260
Construction and Extraction Occupations$44,4707,250
Retail Salespersons$25,7506,790
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$85,6606,260
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,4306,110
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$41,7306,110
Protective Service Occupations$47,4805,250
Customer Service Representatives$39,7605,050
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$28,5005,000
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$54,4504,980
Nursing Assistants$29,7804,780
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$88,7404,660
Office Clerks, General$36,8204,640
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$61,4704,570
General and Operations Managers$135,0104,260
Community and Social Service Occupations$50,6204,070
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,2403,470
Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$105,8503,210
Cooks, Restaurant$27,4003,070
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$35,7102,900
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$26,1902,860
Computer Systems Analysts$90,5702,790
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,3002,700
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,9402,650
Accountants and Auditors$80,6402,580
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,8502,580
Computer User Support Specialists$60,2302,540
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$43,8802,410
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$55,7102,360
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$102,8502,350
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,6402,320
Receptionists and Information Clerks$30,4302,160
Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other$81,8102,080
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$71,2802,060

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