If you're planning on buying real estate in Bend, Oregon, you've got more to think about than where you're going to buy your horse fence and who you're going to hire to move your things down. You've also got to put some thought into how you're going to make enough money to meet your mortgage payments. If you're wondering what sort of careers and jobs there are available here in Bend, this article should serve to enlighten you and help you decide if Bend is the right place for someone with your skill set.

Tourism

Tourism is the city's largest industry, which employs almost 8,000 people. Outdoor activities are mostly what attract tourists to Bend from other areas, so get the lead weights out and start training. Likely careers in Bend's tourism industry include ski instructors, wilderness guides, rock climbing instructors, rafting guides, fishing guides, hotel clerks, restaurant servers, sightseeing tour guides, and support staff at hotels, ski resorts, golf courses, and sporting goods stores. The Sunriver Resort and Mount Bachelor Ski Resort are the 4th and 5th largest employers in the city, respectively.

Health Care

Health care is a large industry no matter where you are in the United States, because there will always be people who have heart attacks or injure themselves on fabricated strainers. In Bend, just over 6,000 people are employed under the health care umbrella. Jobs in health care range from unskilled orderlies, receptionists, and security guards to highly trained lab technicians, nurses, therapists, counselors, and doctors. The largest employer in Bend is the St. Charles Medical Center.

Services

Many cities are transitioning over to economies that are based on professional and scientific services, and Bend has seen the effects of this trend as well. Nearly 2,000 people are employed by the service industry in Bend in a wide range of careers. They include lenders for mortgages, commercial real estate agents, lawyers, accountants, business people, sales managers, computer specialists, designers, and more. T-Mobil is one of the biggest employers in this industry.

Manufacturing

Once the largest industry for many American cities, manufacturing has become more of a sideline as production moves overseas. While cloth diapers and children's toys are made in China, however, the people of Bend turn out wood products and recreation equipment. There are almost 3,000 people employed in these tasks. Jobs in this industry include factory supervisors, workers, managers, and engineers. The largest companies are Les Schwab Tires, JELD-WEN Windows and Doors, and Clear Pine Mouldings.