Most common jobs in Asheville

The 10 largest occupations in America employ 30.5 million workers, representing 21% of all workers. Keeping America's economy moving would be impossible without office workers, package handlers, food prep workers, and truck drivers. And what would the sick do without the millions of hospital workers, nurses, and home health aides?

Stacker compiled a list of the most common jobs in Asheville using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by total employment as of May 2020. While much has changed during the coronavirus pandemic, the jobs featured here give a holistic view at the most popular industries in your area and how many jobs are supported.

Keep reading to see which jobs in Asheville are the most common.

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1 / 50

#50. Billing and posting clerks

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 590 (3.225 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,440 (#276 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 445,160 (3.2 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $41,610
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($57,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,200)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($51,800)
- Job description: Compile, compute, and record billing, accounting, statistical, and other numerical data for billing purposes. Prepare billing invoices for services rendered or for delivery or shipment of goods.

2 / 50

#47 (tie). Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 600 (3.260 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $46,980 (#286 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 417,440 (3.001 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $61,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,100)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($94,280)
--- Kankakee, IL ($93,420)
- Job description: Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.

3 / 50

#47 (tie). Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 600 (3.276 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,900 (#227 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 370,910 (2.667 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $35,220
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Beckley, WV ($52,340)
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($52,240)
--- Battle Creek, MI ($49,120)
- Job description: Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.

4 / 50

#47 (tie). Construction managers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 600 (3.269 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $87,320 (#260 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 285,640 (2.054 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $107,260
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($161,780)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($154,800)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($153,490)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

5 / 50

#47 (tie). Pharmacy technicians

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 600 (3.272 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,930 (#227 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 415,310 (2.986 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,450
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,620)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,020)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($52,810)
- Job description: Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

6 / 50

#45. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 610 (3.303 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $66,420 (#260 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 475,000 (3.415 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,680)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,140)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,810)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.

7 / 50

#43 (tie). Amusement and recreation attendants

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 640 (3.462 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $23,370 (#160 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 248,190 (1.784 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,610
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,650)
--- Muncie, IN ($36,500)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($35,890)
- Job description: Perform a variety of attending duties at amusement or recreation facility. May schedule use of recreation facilities, maintain and provide equipment to participants of sporting events or recreational pursuits, or operate amusement concessions and rides.

8 / 50

#43 (tie). Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 640 (3.482 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,570 (#93 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 222,550 (1.6 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,900
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($49,010)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($44,010)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,200)
- Job description: Accommodate hotel, motel, and resort patrons by registering and assigning rooms to guests, issuing room keys or cards, transmitting and receiving messages, keeping records of occupied rooms and guests' accounts, making and confirming reservations, and presenting statements to and collecting payments from departing guests.

9 / 50

#41 (tie). First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 650 (3.530 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $51,290 (#303 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 477,430 (3.432 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $58,300
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($80,810)
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($76,610)
--- Odessa, TX ($76,050)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of material-moving machine and vehicle operators and helpers.

10 / 50

#41 (tie). Child, family, and school social workers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 650 (3.525 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $49,420 (#159 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 328,120 (2.359 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,370
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($76,020)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($73,490)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($70,940)
- Job description: Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

11 / 50

#40. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 670 (3.617 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,900 (#196 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 293,620 (2.111 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $51,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Enid, OK ($98,370)
--- Reno, NV ($86,670)
--- Lewiston, ID-WA ($71,590)
- Job description: Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. May counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs.

12 / 50

#39. Computer user support specialists

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 690 (3.738 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $49,180 (#243 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 634,820 (4.564 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($86,350)
--- Napa, CA ($78,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,670)
- Job description: Provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone, or electronically. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.

13 / 50

#38. Counter and rental clerks

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 700 (3.795 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,020 (#207 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 368,300 (2.648 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,700
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($51,690)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($46,630)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,380)
- Job description: Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.

14 / 50

#37. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 730 (3.976 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,140 (#202 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 597,100 (4.293 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,220)
--- Salinas, CA ($53,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,020)
- Job description: Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

15 / 50

#36. Firefighters

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 750 (4.064 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,690 (#290 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 311,350 (2.238 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $56,360
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,480)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($105,670)
- Job description: Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.

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16 / 50

#34 (tie). Industrial truck and tractor operators

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 790 (4.275 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,150 (#256 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 640,950 (4.608 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,210
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($58,230)
--- Hinesville, GA ($56,220)
--- Battle Creek, MI ($52,400)
- Job description: Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.

17 / 50

#34 (tie). Industrial machinery mechanics

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 790 (4.266 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $56,360 (#170 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 385,980 (2.775 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $57,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($84,180)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($84,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($77,580)
- Job description: Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.

18 / 50

#33. Accountants and auditors

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 910 (4.927 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $74,170 (#149 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,274,620 (9.163 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $81,660
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($111,680)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($105,720)
--- Midland, TX ($103,120)
- Job description: Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

19 / 50

#31 (tie). Bartenders

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 940 (5.085 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,390 (#165 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 486,720 (3.499 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,910
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($64,630)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($59,960)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($45,330)
- Job description: Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.

20 / 50

#31 (tie). Packers and packagers, hand

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 940 (5.127 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,470 (#292 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,270 (4.308 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rome, GA ($39,770)
--- Longview, WA ($39,680)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($36,820)
- Job description: Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.

21 / 50

#30. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 970 (5.286 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,280 (#331 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 727,640 (5.231 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($52,310)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($50,180)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($49,530)
- Job description: Verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments involving inventory. Duties include verifying and recording incoming merchandise or material and arranging for the transportation of products. May prepare items for shipment.

22 / 50

#28. Childcare workers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 990 (5.398 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,430 (#93 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 494,360 (3.554 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,790
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($38,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($36,220)
- Job description: Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.

23 / 50

#28. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 990 (5.353 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $62,500 (#250 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,900 (4.313 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $66,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($101,930)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($100,590)
--- Longview, WA ($99,590)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.

24 / 50

#28. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 990 (5.373 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $60,500 (#316 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 614,080 (4.415 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $72,990
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,870)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($103,930)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($100,620)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.

25 / 50

#26. Medical assistants

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,090 (5.913 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,880 (#219 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 710,200 (5.106 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,960)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($53,660)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($52,520)
- Job description: Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

26 / 50

#25. Cooks, fast food

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,120 (6.069 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $22,580 (#165 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 544,420 (3.914 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,300
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($34,790)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($33,580)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($33,570)
- Job description: Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.

27 / 50

#23 (tie). Carpenters

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,150 (6.251 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $41,690 (#279 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 699,300 (5.027 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $54,200
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,950)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($82,300)
--- Hanford-Corcoran, CA ($79,870)
- Job description: Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.

28 / 50

#23 (tie). Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,150 (6.257 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,650 (#259 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,272,840 (9.151 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,630
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($42,110)
--- New Bedford, MA ($41,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($41,160)
- Job description: Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

29 / 50

#22. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,220 (6.630 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $50,610 (#296 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 991,000 (7.124 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $67,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($99,170)
--- Fresno, CA ($96,200)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($95,500)
- Job description: Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

30 / 50

#21. Food preparation workers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,360 (7.413 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,760 (#222 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 793,590 (5.705 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,820
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,330)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($36,120)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($35,860)
- Job description: Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.

31 / 50

#20. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,370 (7.435 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,190 (#172 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 872,370 (6.272 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,160)
--- New Haven, CT ($43,820)
- Job description: Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.

32 / 50

#19. Elementary school teachers, except special education

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,410 (7.632 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $45,890 (#336 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,364,870 (9.812 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $65,420
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($99,360)
--- Kingston, NY ($93,780)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($92,910)
- Job description: Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

33 / 50

#18. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,460 (7.911 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $71,650 (#58 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 977,070 (7.024 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,490
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($115,620)
--- Lawrence, KS ($97,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($94,870)
- Job description: Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.

34 / 50

#17. Machinists

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,520 (8.248 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $45,210 (#218 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 360,340 (2.59 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($68,950)
--- Anchorage, AK ($64,610)
--- Farmington, NM ($64,190)
- Job description: Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

35 / 50

#16. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,600 (8.697 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,600 (#36 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 891,540 (6.409 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,880
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($59,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,350)
--- Napa, CA ($53,230)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.

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36 / 50

#14 (tie). Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,720 (9.360 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $63,910 (#249 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,278,670 (9.192 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Danbury, CT ($112,810)
--- Napa, CA ($101,850)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($93,680)
- Job description: Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

37 / 50

#14 (tie). First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,720 (9.360 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,390 (#304 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,427,260 (10.261 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $62,010
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($78,770)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($77,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,820)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.

38 / 50

#13. Maintenance and repair workers, general

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 1,930 (10.487 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $40,280 (#233 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,357,630 (9.76 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $43,790
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,140)
--- Yuba City, CA ($57,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,820)
- Job description: Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.

39 / 50

#12. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 2,300 (12.467 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,930 (#255 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,797,710 (12.924 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $48,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($65,170)
--- Danville, IL ($63,230)
--- Lewiston, ID-WA ($62,250)
- Job description: Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.

40 / 50

#11. General and operations managers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 2,310 (12.544 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $113,080 (#151 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,347,420 (16.876 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $125,740
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($183,170)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($175,990)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($172,370)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

41 / 50

#10. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 2,460 (13.340 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $41,450 (#166 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,443,940 (10.381 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,100
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,700)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($55,720)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($55,720)
- Job description: Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

42 / 50

#9. Cooks, restaurant

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 2,510 (13.618 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,190 (#263 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,109,650 (7.977 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,530
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,950)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($39,450)
- Job description: Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.

43 / 50

#8. Receptionists and information clerks

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 2,670 (14.484 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,500 (#223 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 968,420 (6.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($43,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,160)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,840)
- Job description: Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.

44 / 50

#7. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 2,740 (14.888 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,510 (#235 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,805,200 (20.167 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,710
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,690)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($41,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,820)
- Job description: Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

45 / 50

#6. Nursing assistants

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 3,020 (16.382 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,690 (#180 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,371,050 (9.857 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,050
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,420)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($43,960)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($42,200)
- Job description: Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

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46 / 50

#5. Office clerks, general

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 3,570 (19.406 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,640 (#236 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,788,090 (20.044 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,560)
--- Napa, CA ($47,570)
--- Boulder, CO ($47,160)
- Job description: Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.

47 / 50

#4. Waiters and waitresses

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 3,610 (19.613 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $20,980 (#302 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,944,240 (13.977 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,470
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($62,630)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($57,210)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($43,160)
- Job description: Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.

48 / 50

#3. Stockers and order fillers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 3,620 (19.682 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,780 (#138 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,210,960 (15.895 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,010
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Odessa, TX ($39,130)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($39,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,580)
- Job description: Receive, store, and issue merchandise, materials, equipment, and other items from stockroom, warehouse, or storage yard to fill shelves, racks, tables, or customers' orders. May operate power equipment to fill orders. May mark prices on merchandise and set up sales displays.

49 / 50

#2. Cashiers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 5,190 (28.200 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $23,120 (#264 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 3,333,100 (23.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,710
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($35,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($34,480)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($34,320)
- Job description: Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.

50 / 50

#1. Fast food and counter workers

Asheville, NC
- Employment: 6,530 (35.462 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,040 (#137 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 3,450,120 (24.803 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,540
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($34,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($34,000)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($33,370)
- Job description: Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.

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