Appleton Employment

Employment and Industries in the Appleton, Wisconsin Area

The paper industry and related sectors are major forces in Appleton's economy. They also provide a large number of jobs. The region's Fox River Valley has one of the world's highest concentrations of paper-making facilities. The valley is home to about 80 paper manufacturing facilities and about 90 publishing firms.

The metals-machinery sector is also vital to the region's economy. The sector produces fire and utility trucks, welders, iron and brass castings, farm machinery, and crushing and screening equipment. The region is also home to the headquarters of insurance companies and financial institutions.

The Wisconsin Technology Council's objective is to create, develop and keep science and technology companies in Wisconsin. The Division of Business Development of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce offers technical help and financial incentives to companies.

Details about Appleton, Wisconsin: Estimated household income in 2007: $51,000. Cost of living index in 2008: 78.4 (U.S. average: 100). Adult residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher: 30%.

The following is a list of the largest employers in the Appleton area:

  • Kimberly-Clark Corporation
  • Theda Care Health System
  • Affinity Health System
  • City of Appleton
  • Banta Corp & Affiliates
  • Plexus Corp & Affiliates
  • Appleton Area School District
  • Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp
  • Pierce Manufacturing Inc
  • Appleton Papers Inc
  • Miller Electric Mfg Co
  • Appleton Medical Center, Inc
  • St. Elizabeth Hospital, Inc
  • SMTC, Inc
  • Reynolds Consumer Products Inc
  • Jansport Inc
  • Secura Insurance, A Mutual Company
  • YMCA of the Fox Cities
  • Radisson Paper Valley Hotel
  • Walmart

The leading nonagricultural employment providing segments in Appleton, Wisconsin:

  • Manufacturing
  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Educational and health services
  • Professional and business services
  • Government
  • Leisure and hospitality

Associations offering assistance to Appleton businesses include:

The Appleton Post-Crescent is a good resource regarding local business and industry news.

Jobs in Appleton

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations122860$47,460$22.82100
2Production Occupations16960$42,540$20.455.6
3Office and Administrative Support Occupations16290$38,790$18.6513.75
4Sales and Related Occupations13130$42,300$20.349.5
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations10400$24,460$11.768.7
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations10390$35,130$16.896.7
7Construction and Extraction Occupations6710$53,860$25.94.6
8Educational Instruction and Library Occupations6580$51,970$24.996
9Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations5860$80,770$38.835.85
10Business and Financial Operations Occupations5820$66,140$31.85.35
11Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations5690$48,910$23.513.75
12Management Occupations4550$108,950$52.386.35
13Customer Service Representatives4470$35,990$17.31.75
14Healthcare Support Occupations4220$31,280$15.042.85
15Retail Salespersons4150$31,540$15.172.7
16Fast Food and Counter Workers3580$21,080$10.142.45
17Cashiers3180$22,860$10.992.2
18Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand3040$33,750$16.231.8
19Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations2790$31,360$15.083.6
20Personal Care and Service Occupations2750$29,050$13.964.65
21Architecture and Engineering Occupations2740$74,780$35.951.7
22Computer and Mathematical Occupations2730$76,440$36.753
23Office Clerks, General2360$37,610$18.081.9
24Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators2280$34,500$16.580.8
25Home Health and Personal Care Aides2130$27,040$130
26Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders1920$41,220$19.820.2
27Registered Nurses1920$68,520$32.941.95
28Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1910$43,830$21.071.2
29Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1880$68,450$32.910.85
30Protective Service Occupations1640$42,020$20.22.2
31Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1600$46,230$22.220.9
32Waiters and Waitresses1590$23,200$11.161.65
33Stockers and Order Fillers1530$27,870$13.41.25
34Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1500$29,920$14.381.5
35Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1480$40,550$19.51.05
36Community and Social Service Occupations1370$42,960$20.651.75
37General and Operations Managers1350$123,800$59.521.5
38Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1230$38,300$18.411.4
39Receptionists and Information Clerks1200$28,780$13.840.7
40Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1170$42,340$20.351.8
41Bartenders1120$25,390$12.210.4
42First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers1110$69,930$33.620.4
43Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel1060$67,730$32.560.7
44Construction Laborers1040$39,400$18.940.9
45Accountants and Auditors990$69,810$33.560.9
46First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers950$60,490$29.080.95
47Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers900$47,700$22.930.35
48Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers890$91,600$44.040.65
49Nursing Assistants870$31,520$15.150.95
50First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers860$36,740$17.670.6
51Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders790$46,280$22.250.1
52Carpenters780$45,400$21.830.6
53First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers780$73,730$35.450.4
54Machinists780$42,480$20.420.2
55First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers750$46,370$22.290.95
56Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics720$42,210$20.290.5
57Cooks, Restaurant710$27,900$13.410.9
58Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters700$70,000$33.650.3
59Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers680$49,640$23.860.3
60Electricians670$57,630$27.710.45
61Packers and Packagers, Hand670$33,130$15.930.4
62Human Resources Specialists650$62,340$29.970.4
63Light Truck Drivers650$33,230$15.970.6
64Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks620$38,570$18.540.4
65Industrial Machinery Mechanics600$51,840$24.930.2
66Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators600$35,940$17.280.4
67Management Analysts590$70,290$33.790.55
68Industrial Engineers570$84,530$40.640.2
69Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators570$56,380$27.110.25
70Dishwashers550$19,870$9.550.3
71Food Batchmakers550$37,850$18.20.1
72Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic540$50,390$24.230
73Security Guards540$32,490$15.620.7
74Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators530$48,630$23.380.1
75Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors530$31,220$15.010.2
76Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers530$34,660$16.660.75
77Helpers--Production Workers520$37,630$18.090.2
78Production Workers, All Other520$27,180$13.070.15
79Printing Press Operators500$42,300$20.340.1
80Legal Occupations490$90,470$43.490.8
81Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity490$28,140$13.530.3
82Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders480$37,870$18.210.1
83Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors480$30,630$14.730.2
84Buyers and Purchasing Agents470$54,670$26.280.25
85Insurance Sales Agents470$70,440$33.870.3
86Mechanical Engineers470$83,210$400.2
87Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists460$37,260$17.910.4
88Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders460$46,250$22.240.1
89First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers450$80,520$38.710.3
90Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations440$63,830$30.690.8
91Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners440$25,480$12.250.9
92Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment430$30,260$14.550.3
93Computer Systems Analysts420$84,080$40.420.4
94Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education420$26,590$12.780.3
95Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic410$43,150$20.750.1
96Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists410$55,120$26.50.45
97Medical Assistants410$36,230$17.420.45
98Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other410$69,510$33.420.7
99Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers400$50,480$24.270.1
100Substitute Teachers, Short-Term400$35,070$16.860.4
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Appleton Colleges
Appleton colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Appleton Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$47,460122,860
Production Occupations$42,54016,960
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,79016,290
Sales and Related Occupations$42,30013,130
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$24,46010,400
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,13010,390
Construction and Extraction Occupations$53,8606,710
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$51,9706,580
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$80,7705,860
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$66,1405,820
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$48,9105,690
Management Occupations$108,9504,550
Customer Service Representatives$35,9904,470
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,2804,220
Retail Salespersons$31,5404,150
Fast Food and Counter Workers$21,0803,580
Cashiers$22,8603,180
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$33,7503,040
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$31,3602,790
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,0502,750
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$74,7802,740
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$76,4402,730
Office Clerks, General$37,6102,360
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$34,5002,280
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,0402,130
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$41,2201,920
Registered Nurses$68,5201,920
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$43,8301,910
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,4501,880
Protective Service Occupations$42,0201,640
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$46,2301,600
Waiters and Waitresses$23,2001,590
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,8701,530
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,9201,500
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$40,5501,480
Community and Social Service Occupations$42,9601,370
General and Operations Managers$123,8001,350
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$38,3001,230
Receptionists and Information Clerks$28,7801,200
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$42,3401,170
Bartenders$25,3901,120
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$69,9301,110
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$67,7301,060
Construction Laborers$39,4001,040
Accountants and Auditors$69,810990
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,490950
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,700900
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$91,600890
Nursing Assistants$31,520870
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,740860

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Appleton, Wisconsin Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$47,460122,860
Production Occupations$42,54016,960
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,79016,290
Sales and Related Occupations$42,30013,130
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,13010,390
Construction and Extraction Occupations$53,8606,710
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$51,9706,580
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$80,7705,860
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$66,1405,820
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$48,9105,690
Management Occupations$108,9504,550
Customer Service Representatives$35,9904,470
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,2804,220
Retail Salespersons$31,5404,150
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$33,7503,040
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$31,3602,790
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,0502,750
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$74,7802,740
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$76,4402,730
Office Clerks, General$37,6102,360
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$34,5002,280
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,0402,130
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$41,2201,920
Registered Nurses$68,5201,920
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$43,8301,910
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,4501,880
Protective Service Occupations$42,0201,640
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$46,2301,600
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,8701,530
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,9201,500
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$40,5501,480
Community and Social Service Occupations$42,9601,370
General and Operations Managers$123,8001,350
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$38,3001,230
Receptionists and Information Clerks$28,7801,200
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$42,3401,170
Bartenders$25,3901,120
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$69,9301,110
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$67,7301,060
Construction Laborers$39,4001,040
Accountants and Auditors$69,810990
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,490950
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,700900
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$91,600890
Nursing Assistants$31,520870
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,740860
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,280790
Carpenters$45,400780
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$73,730780
Machinists$42,480780

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