Fast Food Workers Heads List of Jobs with Most Vacancies in Eastern Oregon in 2023

March 12, 2024

According to the most recent Oregon Employment Department Job Vacancy Survey of private employers, the occupation with the most job openings in Eastern Oregon (includes Baker, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa counties) in 2023 was fast food and counter workers with 165, about 5% of the total vacancies within the region. This occupation involves performing duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages at a counter or from a steam table. Duties may also include taking payments and preparing food and beverages. The average hourly wage for this occupation within the region is $14.65. The typical entry-level education for this occupation is less than high school.

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers had the next highest number of vacancies within the region, also accounting for about 5% of openings. This occupation involves driving a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight and requires a commercial driver's license. The average hourly wage for this occupation within the region is $25.91. The typical entry-level education for this occupation is non-degree postsecondary training.

Personal care aides, retail salespersons, and waiters and waitresses, each with about 4% of openings, round out the top five. The typical entry-level education for all three of these occupations is less than high school. The average hourly wages in the region for these occupations are $18.09 for retail salespersons, $16.54 for personal care aides, and $16.09 for waiters and waitresses.