Most common jobs in Roanoke

Written by:
July 11, 2021
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Most common jobs in Roanoke

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 Roanoke 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 Roanoke are the most common.

#49 (tie). Cooks, institution and cafeteria

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 490 (3.387 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,490 (#282 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 387,300 (2.784 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,940
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($46,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,240)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($43,890)
- Job description: Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.

#49 (tie). Counter and rental clerks

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 490 (3.369 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,990 (#209 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.

#48. Management analysts

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 500 (3.442 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $83,000 (#210 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 734,000 (5.277 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $97,580
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($163,720)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($157,490)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($135,250)
- Job description: Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.

#47. Childcare workers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 510 (3.510 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $19,110 (#366 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.

#44 (tie). Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 570 (3.977 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,950 (#273 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 341,660 (2.456 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,400
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Danville, IL ($37,870)
--- Wausau, WI ($37,660)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($37,640)
- Job description: Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.

#44 (tie). Tellers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 570 (3.941 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,010 (#248 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 423,570 (3.045 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,600)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($38,770)
--- Redding, CA ($38,530)
- Job description: Receive and pay out money. Keep records of money and negotiable instruments involved in a financial institution's various transactions.

#44 (tie). Insurance sales agents

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 570 (3.921 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $51,790 (#288 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 409,950 (2.947 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $69,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,540)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($105,840)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($105,190)
- Job description: Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company.

#44 (tie). Industrial machinery mechanics

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 570 (3.948 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,180 (#270 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.

#42. Paralegals and legal assistants

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 590 (4.077 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $40,550 (#322 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 332,720 (2.392 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $56,610
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($93,110)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($90,280)
--- Trenton, NJ ($77,970)
- Job description: Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

#41. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 600 (4.145 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $96,490 (#154 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,476,800 (10.617 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $114,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,740)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($140,930)
- Job description: Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

#39 (tie). Pharmacy technicians

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 610 (4.216 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,560 (#285 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.

#39 (tie). Billing and posting clerks

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 610 (4.249 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,630 (#226 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.

#38. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 620 (4.314 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $69,820 (#126 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 287,150 (2.064 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($97,980)
--- Waterbury, CT ($92,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($88,750)
- Job description: Review settled claims to determine that payments and settlements are made in accordance with company practices and procedures. Confer with legal counsel on claims requiring litigation. May also settle insurance claims.

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

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 630 (4.392 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,510 (#46 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.

#36. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 630 (4.330 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,440 (#215 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 549,200 (3.948 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Odessa, TX ($85,040)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($80,520)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($67,990)
- Job description: Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.

#36. Human resources specialists

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 630 (4.348 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $60,700 (#218 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 647,810 (4.657 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $69,430
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,680)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($90,130)
- Job description: Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.

#33 (tie). Food preparation workers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 650 (4.507 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $22,190 (#335 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.

#33 (tie). First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 650 (4.518 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $67,240 (#244 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.

#32. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 670 (4.607 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,580 (#320 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 620,110 (4.458 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $46,760
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($66,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($64,630)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($64,420)
- Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.

#31. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 710 (4.934 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $56,220 (#150 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.

#30. Substitute teachers, short-term

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 740 (5.142 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,320 (#194 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 512,030 (3.681 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,090
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($87,620)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($61,870)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,900)
- Job description: Teach students on a short-term basis as a temporary replacement for a regular classroom teacher, typically using the regular teacher's lesson plan.

#29. Construction laborers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 930 (6.469 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,370 (#378 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 971,330 (6.983 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $43,000
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($66,670)
--- Kankakee, IL ($65,730)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($63,860)
- Job description: Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.

#28. Passenger vehicle drivers, except bus drivers, transit and intercity

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 970 (6.689 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,900 (#168 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,980 (4.313 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,360
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,580)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($45,780)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($44,940)
- Job description: Drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on a planned or scheduled basis. May collect a fare.

#26 (tie). First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 990 (6.846 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $45,130 (#207 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,063,110 (7.643 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($62,180)
--- Yakima, WA ($61,710)
--- Sheboygan, WI ($61,610)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.

#26 (tie). Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 990 (6.869 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,340 (#279 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.

#25. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,000 (6.958 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,090 (#339 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.

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

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,030 (7.156 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $60,510 (#292 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.

#22 (tie). First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,060 (7.349 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,090 (#105 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.

#22 (tie). Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,060 (7.318 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $21,600 (#338 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 795,590 (5.72 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,010
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,640)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($41,370)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($40,490)
- Job description: Perform any combination of light cleaning duties to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels and hospitals, in a clean and orderly manner. Duties may include making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, and vacuuming.

#21. Light truck drivers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,140 (7.885 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,570 (#77 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 929,470 (6.682 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $41,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,420)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,890)
--- Anchorage, AK ($51,590)
- Job description: Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver. May load and unload vehicle.

#20. Receptionists and information clerks

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,150 (7.971 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,770 (#261 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.

#19. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,190 (8.268 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,260 (#90 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.

#18. Accountants and auditors

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,210 (8.410 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,800 (#211 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.

#16 (tie). Cooks, restaurant

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,260 (8.724 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,180 (#210 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.

#16 (tie). Security guards

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,260 (8.745 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,330 (#234 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,054,400 (7.58 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,360
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($66,030)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($61,090)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($51,850)
- Job description: Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.

#15. Elementary school teachers, except special education

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,290 (8.905 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $78,550 (#26 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.

#14. Maintenance and repair workers, general

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,340 (9.268 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,690 (#275 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.

#13. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,540 (10.665 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,800 (#226 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,850,360 (13.302 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $40,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($56,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,480)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,930)
- Job description: Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.

#12. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,590 (10.993 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $67,930 (#190 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.

#11. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,610 (11.168 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $54,750 (#247 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.

#10. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,630 (11.295 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,180 (#317 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.

#9. Waiters and waitresses

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 1,950 (13.534 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $21,150 (#298 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.

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

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 2,320 (16.032 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,880 (#306 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.

#7. Nursing assistants

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 2,660 (18.431 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,800 (#324 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.

#6. Office clerks, general

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 2,740 (18.979 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,880 (#291 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.

#5. Cashiers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 2,990 (20.717 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $21,740 (#348 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.

#4. Customer service representatives

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 3,260 (22.547 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,310 (#236 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,833,250 (20.368 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,510
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,720)
--- Midland, MI ($47,250)
- Job description: Interact with customers to provide basic or scripted information in response to routine inquiries about products and services. May handle and resolve general complaints. Excludes individuals whose duties are primarily installation, sales, repair, and technical support.

#3. Stockers and order fillers

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 3,610 (24.988 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,320 (#351 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.

#2. Retail salespersons

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 4,060 (28.141 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,070 (#221 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 3,659,670 (26.31 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,940
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,160)
--- Carson City, NV ($40,030)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($39,160)
- Job description: Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

#1. Registered nurses

Roanoke, VA
- Employment: 4,230 (29.267 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $67,600 (#246 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,986,500 (21.47 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $80,010
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,200)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($146,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($142,140)
- Job description: Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

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