Roanoke Employment

Employment and Industries in the Roanoke, Virginia Area

Roanoke is a notable regional commercial center. Northfolk Southern is a major employer in the city. Advanced Auto Parts is headquartered in Roanoke. The corporate offices of Virginia Transformer Corporation, a major transformer manufacturing company and the regional offices of Kroger are also located in Roanoke.

ITT produces night vision goggles in it's facility in Roanoke County. Due to the location of automotive assembly facilities in the South, Roanoke has facilities for companies such as Koyo, Dynax, Yokohama and Metalsa.

Roanoke's leading job sectors are healthcare, finance and insurance, accommodation and food services, construction, professional, scientific and technical services, and education. Management, professional and related occupations comprise about 27% of the labor force. About 27% of the workers have sales and office jobs.

Facts about Roanoke, Virginia: Residents holding a bachelor's degree or better: 19%. Cost of living index in 2008: 80.0 (U.S. average: 100). Average earnings in 2009: $31,000.

Major employers for the Roanoke area:

  • Carilion Clinic
  • Roanoke City Public Schools
  • Roanoke County Public Schools
  • Commonwealth of Virginia
  • City of Roanoke
  • Kroger
  • Norfolk Southern
  • Wachovia
  • Veterans Administration Hospital
  • Walmart
  • Advance Auto Parts
  • United States Government
  • Allstate
  • MW Manufactures Inc
  • Lewis-Gale Medical Center
  • United Parcel Service
  • Roanoke County
  • Yokohama Tire Corp
  • Home Shopping Network
  • Manpower Temporary Services

Roanoke includes numerous popular jobs where the majority of the workers are college graduates including registered nurses, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, teachers, management analysts, child, family and school social workers; medical and clinical laboratory technologists; computer systems analysts, and electrical engineers.

Shown below are some of the organizations offering assistance to Roanoke businesses:

Roanoke.com offers local business and industry news.

Jobs in Roanoke

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations153860$45,750$22100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations20750$37,320$17.9413.75
3Transportation and Material Moving Occupations15400$33,770$16.236.7
4Sales and Related Occupations14700$39,370$18.939.5
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations13380$22,770$10.958.7
6Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations12660$82,730$39.775.85
7Production Occupations11800$37,910$18.235.6
8Educational Instruction and Library Occupations8200$47,180$22.686
9Business and Financial Operations Occupations7810$67,260$32.335.35
10Healthcare Support Occupations6710$28,180$13.552.85
11Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations6700$45,670$21.963.75
12Construction and Extraction Occupations6380$39,240$18.874.6
13Management Occupations5330$107,910$51.886.35
14Protective Service Occupations4790$39,410$18.952.2
15Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations4510$26,500$12.743.6
16Retail Salespersons4500$28,450$13.682.7
17Registered Nurses4390$65,280$31.381.95
18Fast Food and Counter Workers4290$19,840$9.542.45
19Cashiers3820$20,860$10.032.2
20Personal Care and Service Occupations3610$27,720$13.334.65
21Customer Service Representatives3430$33,610$16.161.75
22Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand3270$29,330$14.11.8
23Stockers and Order Fillers3150$26,070$12.531.25
24Office Clerks, General3110$32,230$15.491.9
25Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers2970$44,220$21.261.2
26Computer and Mathematical Occupations2780$79,450$38.23
27Waiters and Waitresses2720$21,720$10.441.65
28Community and Social Service Occupations2680$46,110$22.171.75
29Nursing Assistants2630$25,820$12.410.95
30Architecture and Engineering Occupations2090$76,990$37.021.7
31Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators2050$33,370$16.040.8
32Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2030$25,480$12.251.5
33Security Guards1940$31,390$15.090.7
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1850$66,290$31.870.85
35General and Operations Managers1790$106,090$51.011.5
36Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1770$37,160$17.861.05
37Home Health and Personal Care Aides1750$21,690$10.430
38First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1680$54,550$26.230.95
39Cooks, Restaurant1500$24,670$11.860.9
40Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1440$38,890$18.70.9
41Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1440$36,640$17.621.4
42Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1410$53,280$25.611.8
43First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers1250$35,460$17.050.6
44Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity1240$27,460$13.20.3
45Light Truck Drivers1230$39,810$19.140.6
46Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses1220$44,060$21.180.5
47Receptionists and Information Clerks1220$28,200$13.560.7
48Accountants and Auditors1150$70,810$34.040.9
49First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers1060$43,140$20.740.95
50Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers1060$26,930$12.950.75
51First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers1030$60,450$29.060.4
52Legal Occupations1030$73,470$35.320.8
53Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners970$21,710$10.440.9
54Construction Laborers960$27,770$13.350.9
55Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks960$32,650$15.70.4
56Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations940$69,780$33.550.8
57Carpenters920$37,400$17.980.6
58Substitute Teachers, Short-Term910$31,400$15.10.4
59Medical Assistants860$31,790$15.280.45
60Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers830$48,160$23.150.4
61Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel830$66,690$32.060.7
62Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators820$32,800$15.770.4
63Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators810$67,580$32.490.2
64Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics790$41,420$19.920.5
65Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers780$40,830$19.630.35
66Food Preparation Workers730$20,890$10.040.5
67Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other690$68,670$33.010.7
68Electricians680$48,600$23.360.45
69First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors680$57,040$27.420.3
70Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment670$25,890$12.450.3
71Childcare Workers650$19,790$9.510.7
72Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders640$27,970$13.450.2
73First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers630$68,570$32.960.3
74Tellers610$30,440$14.630.25
75Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors590$29,310$14.090.2
76First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers590$59,860$28.780.4
77Management Analysts590$92,430$44.440.55
78Billing and Posting Clerks580$36,370$17.490.3
79Cooks, Fast Food580$21,410$10.290.3
80Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers580$98,340$47.280.65
81Human Resources Specialists570$60,480$29.080.4
82Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic570$33,660$16.180.1
83Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists550$28,550$13.730.4
84Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders550$28,060$13.490.1
85Pharmacy Technicians530$32,170$15.470.3
86Insurance Sales Agents520$53,920$25.920.3
87Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric520$220,140$105.840.3
88Firefighters490$40,520$19.480.2
89Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other490$42,930$20.640
90Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers480$40,660$19.550.2
91Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks480$42,110$20.240.2
92Lawyers480$102,030$49.050.5
93Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists480$60,980$29.320.45
94Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators480$38,220$18.370.25
95Industrial Machinery Mechanics470$49,220$23.660.2
96Counter and Rental Clerks460$33,470$16.090.3
97Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers450$33,390$16.050.2
98Pharmacists450$119,680$57.540.2
99Computer User Support Specialists430$51,730$24.870.4
100Medical and Health Services Managers430$113,100$54.370.3
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Roanoke Colleges
Roanoke colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Roanoke Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,750153,860
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$37,32020,750
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$33,77015,400
Sales and Related Occupations$39,37014,700
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$22,77013,380
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$82,73012,660
Production Occupations$37,91011,800
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$47,1808,200
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$67,2607,810
Healthcare Support Occupations$28,1806,710
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$45,6706,700
Construction and Extraction Occupations$39,2406,380
Management Occupations$107,9105,330
Protective Service Occupations$39,4104,790
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$26,5004,510
Retail Salespersons$28,4504,500
Registered Nurses$65,2804,390
Fast Food and Counter Workers$19,8404,290
Cashiers$20,8603,820
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,7203,610
Customer Service Representatives$33,6103,430
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$29,3303,270
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,0703,150
Office Clerks, General$32,2303,110
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,2202,970
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$79,4502,780
Waiters and Waitresses$21,7202,720
Community and Social Service Occupations$46,1102,680
Nursing Assistants$25,8202,630
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$76,9902,090
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$33,3702,050
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$25,4802,030
Security Guards$31,3901,940
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,2901,850
General and Operations Managers$106,0901,790
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$37,1601,770
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$21,6901,750
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$54,5501,680
Cooks, Restaurant$24,6701,500
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,8901,440
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,6401,440
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$53,2801,410
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,4601,250
Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$27,4601,240
Light Truck Drivers$39,8101,230
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$44,0601,220
Receptionists and Information Clerks$28,2001,220
Accountants and Auditors$70,8101,150
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,1401,060
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$26,9301,060

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Roanoke, Virginia Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,750153,860
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$37,32020,750
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$33,77015,400
Sales and Related Occupations$39,37014,700
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$82,73012,660
Production Occupations$37,91011,800
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$47,1808,200
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$67,2607,810
Healthcare Support Occupations$28,1806,710
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$45,6706,700
Construction and Extraction Occupations$39,2406,380
Management Occupations$107,9105,330
Protective Service Occupations$39,4104,790
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$26,5004,510
Retail Salespersons$28,4504,500
Registered Nurses$65,2804,390
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,7203,610
Customer Service Representatives$33,6103,430
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$29,3303,270
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,0703,150
Office Clerks, General$32,2303,110
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,2202,970
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$79,4502,780
Community and Social Service Occupations$46,1102,680
Nursing Assistants$25,8202,630
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$76,9902,090
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$33,3702,050
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$25,4802,030
Security Guards$31,3901,940
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,2901,850
General and Operations Managers$106,0901,790
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$37,1601,770
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$54,5501,680
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,8901,440
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,6401,440
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$53,2801,410
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,4601,250
Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$27,4601,240
Light Truck Drivers$39,8101,230
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$44,0601,220
Receptionists and Information Clerks$28,2001,220
Accountants and Auditors$70,8101,150
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,1401,060
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$26,9301,060
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$60,4501,030
Legal Occupations$73,4701,030
Construction Laborers$27,770960
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$32,650960
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$69,780940
Carpenters$37,400920

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