South Central Region
About the Region
The South Central Region is comprised of 12 counties with Poplar Bluff and West Plains being the region’s largest cities.Health Care and Social Assistance and Retail Trade are the top two industries in this region. Some of the largest private employers in this region are Walmart, Ozarks Medical Center, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and Briggs and Stratton. The average annual wage for all industries in the South Central Region is $32,299.
Regional Reports
- South Central Region Summary
- South Central Real Time Labor Market Summary
- South Central Career Grades Summary - New
2018-2028 Occupation Projections
South Central Region Dashboard
Top Grade Careers
| SOC Code | SOC Title | Grade | Annual Openings | Avg. Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35-3021 | Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food | B+ | 433 | $18,562 |
| 41-2011 | Cashiers | B | 397 | $20,488 |
| 39-9021 | Personal care aides | A | 389 | $19,972 |
| 41-2031 | Retail Salespersons | B | 300 | $28,387 |
| 51-9198 | Helpers--production workers | A | 248 | $24,228 |
| 37-2011 | Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | B | 155 | $23,653 |
| 35-3031 | Waiters and Waitresses | B | 137 | $19,734 |
| 53-7062 | Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | B | 136 | $25,315 |
| 43-5081 | Stock clerks and order fillers | B | 95 | $23,865 |
| 35-3011 | Bartenders | B | 93 | $22,975 |
| 43-4051 | Customer Service Representatives | B | 75 | $28,285 |
| 35-2012 | Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | B | 72 | $19,891 |
| 53-3033 | Light truck or delivery services drivers | B+ | 68 | $40,108 |
| 43-4171 | Receptionists and Information Clerks | B | 58 | $23,423 |
| 37-3011 | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | B | 54 | $22,050 |
| 47-2061 | Construction Laborers | B | 31 | $42,749 |
| 43-4199 | Information and Record Clerks, All Other | B | 14 | $35,212 |
| SOC Code | SOC Title | Grade | Annual Openings | Avg. Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-1014 | Nursing assistants | B+ | 180 | $22,593 |
| 53-3032 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | B | 132 | $35,650 |
| 41-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | B+ | 119 | $37,312 |
| 49-9071 | Maintenance and repair workers, general | B+ | 80 | $34,181 |
| 43-3021 | Billing and Posting Clerks | B+ | 77 | $28,417 |
| 43-3031 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | B | 75 | $29,300 |
| 25-9041 | Teacher Assistants | B | 70 | $21,588 |
| 29-2061 | Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | B+ | 65 | $34,505 |
| 35-2014 | Cooks, Restaurant | B | 54 | $22,960 |
| 31-9092 | Medical assistants | B+ | 49 | $28,940 |
| 43-6013 | Medical secretaries | B+ | 49 | $27,791 |
| 51-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | B | 45 | $47,695 |
| 51-4121 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | B | 30 | $31,005 |
| 29-2052 | Pharmacy Technicians | B+ | 29 | $30,409 |
| 41-3021 | Insurance sales agents | B+ | 27 | $44,637 |
| 51-4041 | Machinists | B | 27 | $27,265 |
| 49-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | B | 25 | $50,217 |
| 43-4131 | Loan Interviewers and Clerks | B | 19 | $35,633 |
| 15-1151 | Computer User Support Specialists | B | 17 | $34,790 |
| 31-9096 | Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers | B | 17 | $23,773 |
| 41-3099 | Sales representatives, services, all other | B | 17 | $51,128 |
| 49-3031 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | B | 17 | $42,254 |
| 49-9051 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | B | 17 | $63,814 |
| 19-4093 | Forest and Conservation Technicians | B | 7 | $45,936 |
| 47-2111 | Electricians | B | 7 | $50,804 |
| 31-2021 | Physical therapist assistants | B+ | 6 | $54,581 |
| 29-2032 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | B | 3 | $63,175 |
| SOC Code | SOC Title | Grade | Annual Openings | Avg. Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-2021 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | B | 116 | $38,576 |
| 29-1141 | Registered Nurses | A | 88 | $54,250 |
| 11-1021 | General and Operations Managers | A | 62 | $76,226 |
| 21-1021 | Child, Family, and School Social Workers | B | 37 | $35,158 |
| 25-2022 | Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education | B | 35 | $41,566 |
| 21-1022 | Healthcare Social Workers | B | 33 | $32,046 |
| 13-2011 | Accountants and auditors | B | 23 | $55,488 |
| 13-2072 | Loan officers | B+ | 20 | $61,631 |
| 11-9111 | Medical and Health Services Managers | A | 15 | $96,294 |
| 11-9032 | Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School | B | 14 | $78,415 |
| 11-9021 | Construction Managers | B | 13 | $62,547 |
| 13-1071 | Human Resources Specialists | B | 13 | $53,272 |
| 13-1161 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | B | 13 | $52,712 |
| 29-1171 | Nurse Practitioners | A | 11 | $106,725 |
| 11-3011 | Administrative services managers | B+ | 10 | $63,466 |
| 17-2112 | Industrial engineers | B+ | 10 | $64,690 |
| 13-1199 | Business operations specialists, all other | B | 9 | $52,752 |
| 29-1051 | Pharmacists | A | 9 | $133,959 |
| 11-3031 | Financial Managers | B+ | 7 | $93,241 |
| 29-1123 | Physical therapists | A | 7 | $88,982 |
| 11-3051 | Industrial production managers | B | 6 | $63,866 |
| 11-9151 | Social and community service managers | B | 6 | $51,835 |
| 15-1132 | Software developers, applications | A | 5 | $70,460 |
| 15-1142 | Network and Computer Systems Administrators | B | 4 | $71,576 |
| 27-3031 | Public Relations Specialists | B | 4 | $51,296 |
| 29-1062 | Family and general practitioners | B | 4 | $237,685 |
| 29-1071 | Physician assistants | A | 4 | $124,159 |
| 29-1127 | Speech-language pathologists | B | 4 | $64,027 |
| 29-1069 | Physicians and Surgeons, All Other | B+ | 2 | $232,569 |