Columbus Employment

Employment and Industries in the Columbus, Ohio Area

Columbus's diversified economy primarily consists of government, trade, banking, insurance, research, data processing, manufacturing telecommunications, education and healthcare. The city is home to more than 70 insurance companies. The city is among the major insurance centers in the nation. Large financial intuitions also significantly contribute to the economy.

Columbus is the corporate headquarters for nationwide companies including Banc One Corporation, Nationwide Insurance, American Electric Power, The Limited, Inc., Consolidated Stores Corporation, Wendy's International, Borden Inc and Ashland Chemicals.

Although manufacturing has declined in Columbus it still contributes to the economy. The primary manufacturing industries are fabricated metal, machinery, food processing, auto parts, telephone components, appliances, coated fabrics and glass.

Due to Columbus being the capital of Ohio, the state of Ohio is the largest employer in the city. The Ohio State University is the second largest employer. The U.S. Government is the city's third largest job provider. The U.S. Government operates the Defense Supply Center that ships a vast number of items on a daily basis to military facilities located all over the world.

The largest job providers in Columbus:

  • State of Ohio
  • The Ohio State University
  • The U.S. Government
  • Limited Brands
  • Banc One Corporation
  • Ohio Health
  • Nationwide Insurance
  • Safelite Solutions, Inc
  • Chase Manhattan Mortgage Company
  • Defense Finance & Accounting Service
  • Abbot Laboratories
  • MWH Americas, Inc
  • Mount Carmel Health System Foundation
  • Ohio Power Company
  • Sterling Commerce
  • Expesite
  • American Electric Power
  • National City Bank
  • Citigroup
  • Columbus Steel Castings
  • Hexion Specialty Chemicals
  • Ashland Inc

Noteworthy details regarding Columbus, Ohio: In 2007 the estimated median household income in the city was $42,000. Regarding the adult population, 29% have a bachelor's degree or higher. In 2008 the cost of living index in Columbus was at 82.1 (national average: 100).

Columbus's significant nonagricultural job providing sectors:

  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Government
  • Professional and business services
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Manufacturing
  • Finance

Helpful associations providing assistance to local companies include:

People interested in what is taking place in the Columbus business community may want to read the daily newspaper the Columbus Dispatch.

Jobs in Columbus

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations1059620$52,130$25.07100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations152160$40,690$19.5613.75
3Transportation and Material Moving Occupations106320$35,460$17.056.7
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations94670$24,680$11.868.7
5Sales and Related Occupations92330$42,550$20.459.5
6Business and Financial Operations Occupations78330$74,280$35.715.35
7Educational Instruction and Library Occupations63940$62,490$30.046
8Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations62460$77,260$37.145.85
9Production Occupations55450$40,320$19.395.6
10Management Occupations51980$116,970$56.246.35
11Computer and Mathematical Occupations44590$87,390$42.013
12Healthcare Support Occupations43660$28,960$13.922.85
13Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations38500$48,560$23.353.75
14Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand32010$31,830$15.31.8
15Fast Food and Counter Workers31730$21,420$10.32.45
16Construction and Extraction Occupations31470$51,140$24.594.6
17Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations30400$30,190$14.523.6
18Customer Service Representatives30030$37,160$17.861.75
19Retail Salespersons27920$28,330$13.622.7
20Registered Nurses23250$68,280$32.831.95
21Protective Service Occupations22990$52,580$25.282.2
22Home Health and Personal Care Aides22540$24,620$11.840
23Personal Care and Service Occupations20500$28,770$13.834.65
24Office Clerks, General20280$38,630$18.571.9
25Waiters and Waitresses19990$24,460$11.761.65
26Architecture and Engineering Occupations19210$80,060$38.491.7
27Stockers and Order Fillers18800$29,590$14.231.25
28Cashiers17980$23,600$11.352.2
29Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations15670$57,070$27.441.8
30Community and Social Service Occupations15370$48,260$23.21.75
31Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners14600$28,560$13.731.5
32Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers13610$46,820$22.511.2
33Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers13360$97,580$46.910.65
34Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other12840$74,290$35.720.7
35General and Operations Managers12000$122,770$59.021.5
36Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators11460$39,130$18.820.8
37Accountants and Auditors11360$77,330$37.180.9
38First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers10190$59,110$28.420.95
39Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive10040$39,330$18.911.4
40Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks9970$43,390$20.861.05
41Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations9690$70,530$33.910.8
42Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products9560$65,480$31.480.85
43Maintenance and Repair Workers, General9500$42,470$20.420.9
44Nursing Assistants8770$28,260$13.590.95
45Legal Occupations8730$89,610$43.080.8
46Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks8480$34,910$16.790.4
47First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers8460$33,890$16.290.6
48Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators8440$35,670$17.150.4
49Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel8260$62,510$30.050.7
50Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers7970$31,570$15.180.75
51Computer Systems Analysts7870$90,840$43.680.4
52Cooks, Restaurant7500$28,160$13.540.9
53Receptionists and Information Clerks7450$28,620$13.760.7
54Management Analysts7130$88,240$42.420.55
55Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists6960$70,770$34.030.45
56Light Truck Drivers6750$36,670$17.630.6
57Human Resources Specialists6700$64,570$31.050.4
58Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses6620$44,120$21.210.5
59First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers6550$45,300$21.780.95
60Security Guards6360$35,140$16.890.7
61Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants6280$36,140$17.380.4
62Packers and Packagers, Hand5730$29,250$14.060.4
63Computer User Support Specialists5720$55,680$26.770.4
64Construction Laborers5710$47,890$23.020.9
65Electricians5610$49,490$23.80.45
66Financial Managers5200$143,080$68.790.4
67Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners5010$23,860$11.470.9
68Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other4920$87,570$42.10.2
69Childcare Workers4860$25,030$12.040.7
70Lawyers4850$115,490$55.530.5
71Driver/Sales Workers4780$25,020$12.030.3
72Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics4650$42,680$20.520.5
73Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers4650$77,780$37.40.4
74Medical Assistants4470$34,120$16.410.45
75Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants4330$63,040$30.310.35
76Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers4280$40,620$19.530.35
77Food Preparation Workers4220$25,120$12.080.5
78Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks4180$53,520$25.730.2
79Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators4160$62,590$30.090.2
80Insurance Sales Agents4100$61,210$29.430.3
81Bartenders4050$23,580$11.340.4
82First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors4010$56,370$27.10.3
83First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers3960$64,390$30.960.4
84Billing and Posting Clerks3910$40,080$19.270.3
85Buyers and Purchasing Agents3850$73,000$35.10.25
86Computer Occupations, All Other3810$90,010$43.270.3
87Substitute Teachers, Short-Term3780$34,690$16.680.4
88Firefighters3750$57,190$27.490.2
89Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education3590$31,050$14.930.3
90Computer and Information Systems Managers3570$140,790$67.690.3
91Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop3390$21,930$10.540.3
92Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents3360$80,400$38.650.3
93Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria3340$29,120$140.3
94Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other3290$116,710$56.110.7
95Training and Development Specialists3260$58,030$27.90.2
96Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity3250$41,970$20.180.3
97Cooks, Fast Food3240$22,940$11.030.3
98First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers3170$65,460$31.470.3
99Bill and Account Collectors3120$38,240$18.390.15
100Social and Human Service Assistants3110$37,440$180.3
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Columbus Colleges
Columbus colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Columbus Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$52,1301,059,620
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,690152,160
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,460106,320
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$24,68094,670
Sales and Related Occupations$42,55092,330
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$74,28078,330
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$62,49063,940
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$77,26062,460
Production Occupations$40,32055,450
Management Occupations$116,97051,980
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$87,39044,590
Healthcare Support Occupations$28,96043,660
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$48,56038,500
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,83032,010
Fast Food and Counter Workers$21,42031,730
Construction and Extraction Occupations$51,14031,470
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$30,19030,400
Customer Service Representatives$37,16030,030
Retail Salespersons$28,33027,920
Registered Nurses$68,28023,250
Protective Service Occupations$52,58022,990
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$24,62022,540
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,77020,500
Office Clerks, General$38,63020,280
Waiters and Waitresses$24,46019,990
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$80,06019,210
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,59018,800
Cashiers$23,60017,980
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$57,07015,670
Community and Social Service Occupations$48,26015,370
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,56014,600
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$46,82013,610
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$97,58013,360
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$74,29012,840
General and Operations Managers$122,77012,000
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$39,13011,460
Accountants and Auditors$77,33011,360
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,11010,190
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$39,33010,040
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,3909,970
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$70,5309,690
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,4809,560
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$42,4709,500
Nursing Assistants$28,2608,770
Legal Occupations$89,6108,730
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$34,9108,480
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$33,8908,460
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$35,6708,440
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,5108,260
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$31,5707,970

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Columbus, Ohio Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$52,1301,059,620
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,690152,160
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,460106,320
Sales and Related Occupations$42,55092,330
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$74,28078,330
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$62,49063,940
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$77,26062,460
Production Occupations$40,32055,450
Management Occupations$116,97051,980
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$87,39044,590
Healthcare Support Occupations$28,96043,660
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$48,56038,500
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,83032,010
Construction and Extraction Occupations$51,14031,470
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$30,19030,400
Customer Service Representatives$37,16030,030
Retail Salespersons$28,33027,920
Registered Nurses$68,28023,250
Protective Service Occupations$52,58022,990
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,77020,500
Office Clerks, General$38,63020,280
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$80,06019,210
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,59018,800
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$57,07015,670
Community and Social Service Occupations$48,26015,370
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,56014,600
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$46,82013,610
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$97,58013,360
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$74,29012,840
General and Operations Managers$122,77012,000
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$39,13011,460
Accountants and Auditors$77,33011,360
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,11010,190
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$39,33010,040
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,3909,970
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$70,5309,690
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,4809,560
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$42,4709,500
Nursing Assistants$28,2608,770
Legal Occupations$89,6108,730
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$34,9108,480
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$33,8908,460
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$35,6708,440
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,5108,260
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$31,5707,970
Computer Systems Analysts$90,8407,870
Cooks, Restaurant$28,1607,500
Receptionists and Information Clerks$28,6207,450
Management Analysts$88,2407,130
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$70,7706,960

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