Employment & Wages by Industry

Barnstable County’s industry mix reflects its reliance on tourism-related industries, strong second home market, and significant retiree population. In 2024, Barnstable County’s largest industries, as measured by average monthly employment, were Accommodation and Food Services (16.3%), Health Care and Social Assistance (15.9%), and Retail Trade (15.1%). In Massachusetts, the top industries by average monthly employment are Health Care and Social Assistance (18.3%), Educational Services (10.4%), and Professional and Technical Services (10.3%). The industries with the largest presence in the Barnstable County are not the industries that pay the highest average annual wages in Barnstable County or the state as a whole. The industries that pay the highest annual wages on average in Barnstable County are Finance and Insurance, Utilities, and Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction. Utilities and Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction are the two industries with the fewest establishments on Cape Cod, which is the same for Massachusetts as a whole.

Download an Excel file of the Employment and Wages by Industry Dashboard data.