Thinking about a new career, or helping a teenager choose one? In Columbus, some jobs pay well above the local average, have hundreds or thousands of positions in the area, and are expected to keep growing.

We looked at the newest government data for the Columbus metro area. It covers Muscogee and surrounding counties in Georgia and Alabama. We ranked careers by two things that matter most to job seekers: pay and job availability.

First, the baseline

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 116,400 people worked in the Columbus metro area in May 2025. The median annual wage was $43,540, meaning half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average hourly wage was $26.51, below the national average of $33.54.

The Georgia Department of Labor projects that the Columbus area will add about 600 new jobs a year through 2032. The economy is anchored by health care, Fort Benning, finance and insurance, and education.

One caution: many of the job openings in Columbus are in low-paying fields. Fast food and counter workers top the list with about 1,010 openings a year, but the typical pay in that job is about $21,700. The careers below are the ones that combine strong pay with real demand.

All pay figures are median annual wages for the Columbus metro area from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025), unless noted. "Jobs" is the number of people employed in that occupation locally.

Health care: the biggest opportunity

Health care is the strongest field in Columbus for both pay and demand. The area's hospitals and clinics employ more health care professionals, as a share of all workers, than the national average.

The standout: registered nurses. With 2,790 jobs and median pay of $82,500, nearly double the local median, nursing offers the best combination of pay and availability of any career in Columbus.

The fastest-growing: nurse practitioners. The Georgia Department of Labor ranks nurse practitioners as the fastest-growing occupation in the Columbus region, with employment projected to grow 4.4% a year through 2032. Physician assistants (2.4% a year) and medical and health services managers (1.9%) are also on the list.

Where to train locally: Columbus Technical College offers a practical nursing program, and it's eligible for Georgia's tuition-free HOPE Career Grant. Columbus State University's School of Nursing offers a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN), a program for working registered nurses to earn one (RN-to-BSN), and an online Family Nurse Practitioner master's program.

Technology: high pay, growing fast

Columbus has a bigger tech workforce than many people realize, thanks largely to the region's payments and financial technology companies.

Software developers earn more than 2½ times the local median, and there are more than 1,000 of them in the area. The state projects that information security analysts (2.5% a year), data scientists (3.0%) and software developers (2.0%) will be among the fastest-growing jobs in the region.

Where to train locally: Columbus State University's TSYS School of Computer Science offers degrees in computer science, cybersecurity, information technology and software development. CSU is designated by the National Security Agency as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. For an entry point, computer user support jobs often require a certificate or two-year degree instead of a bachelor's.

Business, finance and engineering

Columbus is home to major insurance and financial companies, which creates steady demand for business professionals.

General and operations managers stand out for availability. There are 2,140 of these jobs in the area, and the state projects about 180 openings a year. Accountants are another solid bet, with 840 local jobs and pay well above the median.

Skilled trades: good pay without a four-year degree

You don't need a bachelor's degree for a solid career. These skilled trades pay at or above the local median and can be learned through technical college programs, apprenticeships or on-the-job training.

Industrial machinery mechanics combine strong pay ($63,960) with growth. The state projects the job will grow 2.2% a year in the region. Truck drivers and maintenance and repair workers offer more than 1,000 local jobs each.

The best deal in Georgia education: Georgia's HOPE Career Grant covers 100% of tuition for eligible students in high-demand certificate and diploma programs at state technical colleges. At Columbus Technical College, eligible programs include practical nursing, commercial truck driving, industrial maintenance, electrical and welding programs, among others. Students who qualify for the HOPE Grant can train for these careers without paying tuition.

Public service

Teaching and law enforcement offer large numbers of local jobs, stable public-sector benefits, and pay above the local median.

The bottom line

If you want the best mix of pay and opportunity in Columbus:

1. Nursing has the most well-paying jobs of any career and a clear path from a practical nursing diploma up to nurse practitioner.
2. Software and cybersecurity pay more than double the local median and are growing fast, with strong training at Columbus State.
3. Business management and accounting offer thousands of steady jobs at local employers.
4. Skilled trades like industrial maintenance, electrical work and HVAC pay well without a four-year degree, and training can be tuition-free.

Next steps:

• Ask about the HOPE Career Grant at Columbus Technical College.
• Explore Columbus State University's nursing and computer science programs.
• Visit your local WorkSource Georgia office or the Georgia Department of Labor's free career resources at dol.georgia.gov.