The Killeen economy is very dependent on the nearby Fort Hood and the soldiers and their families. Fort Hood is the area's major employer. Killeen's leading fields of employment include government, educational services, construction, healthcare, accommodation and food services, and finance and insurance.
About 25% of the workforce is employed in sales and office occupations. Service workers comprise about 24% of the city's labor force. Approximately 21% of the workforce is employed in management, professional and related occupations.
Shown below is a list of the leading employers in Killeen and the surrounding area:
- Fort Hood
- Killeen Independent School District
- Central Texas College
- MetroPlex Hospital
- Fort Hood Exchange
- City of Killeen
- Sallie Mae
- First National Bank
- Killeen Mall
- Walmart
- Metroplex Adventist Hospital
- West Business Services LP
- H E Butt Grocery
- Kmart Corporation
- United States Postal Service
- Mantech Telecommunications and Information
- Frank Mayborn Enterprises
- Home Depot USA, Inc
- Lowe's Home Centers, Inc
- System Studies & Simulation Inc
In Killeen, some of the most common jobs filled by employees with college degrees are registered nurses, teachers, computer systems analysts, management analysts, network and computer systems administrators, training and development specialists, educational, vocational and school counselors; and computer programmers.
Notable data about Killeen, Texas: Adult population holding a bachelors's degree or higher: 16%. Cost of living index in 2008: 79.9 ( U.S. average: 100). The average earnings in 2009: $32,000.
Associations providing assistance to Killeen businesses include:
- Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce
- Texas Economic Development Council
- Texas Association of Manufacturers
- Small Business Administration - Texas
The newspaper the Killeen Daily Herald is a good resource regarding local business and industry news.