Finding jobs hiring in Burlington, NC is way easier than most people think. Seriously. The city’s economy has been doing pretty well lately.
Burlington’s got this perfect location thing going on. Greensboro’s right there. Durham’s over there. You’re basically sitting between three decent job markets. Not too shabby for a city with about 57,000 people.
The economy here runs on a bunch of different stuff. Manufacturing is huge, though it’s nothing like those old textile mills your grandparents talk about. Healthcare just keeps expanding because people keep needing doctors. And distribution centers absolutely love the highway setup here.
North Carolina’s Department of Commerce shows the Piedmont Triad area growing steadily. Unemployment usually runs lower than the national numbers. That’s actually good news when you’re looking for work. Companies are hiring.
This guide gets into where jobs hiring in Burlington really are. Not that generic advice about “put yourself out there” or “stay positive.” Actual information about which companies need people right now, what industries hire the most, and how to land these jobs instead of just hoping.
Which Industries Actually Hire Here
Burlington’s job market is kind of lopsided if you look at it. Some industries hire constantly. Others barely move. Knowing which is which saves you time.
Manufacturing completely transformed over the past 30 years. Those textile mills that built Burlington? Mostly gone. Advanced manufacturing took over. Now you’ve got facilities making technical fabrics, car parts, specialized materials. They need people who understand computerized equipment and quality systems.
Healthcare just won’t stop growing. Alamance Regional Medical Center employs thousands by itself. Then throw in all the clinics, practices, urgent care places, nursing homes scattered around. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says healthcare will add more jobs than anything else through 2030. Burlington’s following that pattern hard.
Logistics and distribution blew up here because of the interstates. I-40 and I-85 meet right here. Moving stuff around the region is super efficient. Companies figured that out. Now there are warehouses everywhere you look.
Jobs hiring in Burlington cluster in these areas:
- Manufacturing plants making advanced materials and components
- Medical facilities from hospitals to specialty clinics
- Massive warehouses serving retailers across the region
- Retail spots from outlet malls to regular stores
- Restaurants and hotels along the main roads
- Schools and daycare centers always needing staff
Companies That Actually Need People Right Now
Some Burlington employers hire once in a while. Others are constantly recruiting because they’re big operations with people coming and going. Knowing the difference helps you focus.
Healthcare Places
Alamance Regional Medical Center tops the list. They’re always hunting for nurses, techs, administrative folks. Benefits are solid there. Health insurance kicks in immediately. Retirement matching after you’ve been there a year. Landing a job there means real stability.
Cone Health runs stuff in the area too. Similar positions available. Similar benefits setup. Healthcare jobs in Burlington pay better than retail or restaurant work. Plus you’re picking up skills that work anywhere if you ever move.
Manufacturing Facilities
Lab Corp has this huge facility here. They need lab technicians all the time. Quality control people. Administrative staff who can handle scientific environments. Dress code is business casual. Pay runs competitive with other lab employers around.
Glen Raven totally changed their whole business. Used to be regular textiles. Now they’re making high-tech fabrics for cars, military, industrial stuff. Manufacturing jobs in North Carolina pay above the state median pretty much across the board. Glen Raven pays market rate or higher.
Engineering positions open there regularly. Production jobs too. Maintenance techs stay busy because the equipment is complicated.
Distribution and Retail Operations
Walmart’s got a distribution center just outside Burlington. They hire warehouse people, forklift operators, logistics coordinators constantly. It’s definitely physical work. You’re moving all day. Lifting, sorting, loading stuff. But it starts at $16-$18 hourly. Full benefits kick in after 90 days.
Target runs something similar. They hire in big groups depending on the season. Getting in during that October-November rush can lead to permanent work if you don’t screw it up. They convert temps pretty regularly.
Food Lion has distribution plus corporate functions here. Truck drivers, supply chain folks, retail management trainees. Pay varies a lot depending on what you’re doing. Drivers make decent money. Entry warehouse starts lower.
Where You Actually Find These Jobs
Yeah, everyone knows Indeed and LinkedIn exist. Those work fine. But they’re not your only shots. Sometimes they’re not even your best shots.
Company websites list jobs first. Check the actual careers pages at Lab Corp, Glen Raven, Alamance Regional. You’re seeing openings before they go to job boards. Applying there means way less competition in those first crucial hours.
Local Help That’s Actually Useful
The Alamance County Workforce Development office gives free job help. They’re not just letting you use a computer. They run job fairs. Connect people straight to employers. Review your resume with you. NCWorks Career Centers are all over the state doing similar stuff.
Just walk in. Talk to somebody there. They know exactly which companies are hiring because employers call them directly.
Staffing agencies work different than you probably think. Express Employment Professionals and Adecco both operate here. They place you in temporary spots, sure. But temp-to-hire is totally real. Companies use it constantly. They bring you in through the agency. Try you out for 90 days. Then hire you permanently if things work.
That’s honestly easier than getting hired directly sometimes. The company isn’t making a huge commitment right away. Lower risk for them means they say yes more easily.
Facebook groups for Burlington jobs stay pretty active. Join three or four decent ones. People post when their workplace needs someone. You catch stuff before it hits Indeed. Sometimes before companies even formally post anything.
Getting Hired Quick Instead of Waiting Forever
Sending applications feels like you’re doing something. Doesn’t mean it’s working though. Everyone’s sending applications. You need something extra without being weird.
Customize your resume every time. Yeah, every time. Grab keywords right from the job description. If they write “inventory management,” your resume better say “inventory management” somewhere. Those tracking systems scan for exact word matches. Generic resumes get filtered automatically.
Apply fast when something pops up. Studies show the first people to apply get way more attention from hiring managers. Companies look at applications in groups. Being in that first group on day one matters infinitely more than being in the group on day seven.
Follow up after about a week. Most people skip this completely. Send a short email. Two or three sentences max. “Hey, I applied for that warehouse job last Tuesday. Still interested. Let me know if you need anything else.” Done.
Making Connections Locally
Employee referrals jump the line everywhere. That’s just reality. Someone already working there saying you’re solid moves your application to the top instantly.
Connect with Burlington people on LinkedIn. Not random spam requests. Find folks working at places you want in. Send them a message saying you’re local and interested in their company. Ask if they’d grab coffee for 15 minutes to talk about their experience there.
Most say yes. People generally like helping other people. A quick coffee conversation gives you inside info about company culture, what they really want, how interviews actually go.
Here’s what works week after week:
- Monday morning: Hit Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter for new Burlington stuff
- Every day: Apply to 5-8 jobs that actually match what you do
- Wednesday and Friday: Check company websites directly
- Every week: Email follow-ups to jobs you applied to a week ago
- Twice a month: Go to a networking thing or visit the workforce center
Temp work gets overlooked too much. Companies hire temps all the time. Lots of them convert you to permanent after 90 days. You’re proving yourself daily instead of hoping a piece of paper stands out. Way easier to get hired when they already see you show up and work hard.
Entry-Level Jobs Hiring in Burlington
Getting that first job feels impossible without experience. Burlington actually has more entry-level stuff than you’d guess. You just gotta look in the right spots.
Retail stores at Tanger Outlets and Alamance Crossing hire nonstop. Target, Walmart, Old Navy, Gap, whatever. Sales associates and cashiers mostly. Pay isn’t incredible. Usually $11-$13 hourly. But you’re learning customer service, register systems, inventory basics. That stuff transfers everywhere.
Restaurants desperately need bodies right now. Servers, cooks, hosts, delivery drivers. Tips change everything at decent places. Some servers around Burlington clear $25+ hourly with tips included. That’s not typical everywhere. But it happens at nicer restaurants.
Distribution warehouses often don’t care about experience. They train you on forklifts. Teach you their systems. The work is physical for sure. You’re walking 10+ miles daily. Lifting constantly. But it starts at $15-$17. Full benefits after three months.
Banks hire tellers regularly. First Citizens, Wells Fargo, BB&T all have branches here. Teller work gets you office experience. You’re learning professional communication. Financial products. Customer service in a business environment. Opens doors down the road.
Professional and Skilled Jobs Hiring in Burlington
Burlington isn’t just warehouses and retail. Experienced people find legit opportunities across different fields.
Healthcare Jobs
Nurses get recruited hard. Alamance Regional constantly needs RNs, LPNs, specialized surgical nurses. The nationwide nursing shortage works for you. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports serious shortages continuing basically everywhere. Burlington’s no different.
RNs start around $55,000-$65,000 depending on experience. Night shifts pay more. Specialized stuff like ICU or surgical nursing pays higher still.
Medical techs in radiology, labs, surgical support find openings regularly. Need certification for these. Once qualified though, you’re making $40,000-$50,000 with solid job security.
Manufacturing and Technical Stuff
Engineers and quality control specialists stay busy. Advanced manufacturing needs people who get production systems, quality standards, continuous improvement stuff. These pay $60,000-$85,000 depending on experience and what specifically you do.
Maintenance techs who fix complex machinery are gold. Every manufacturing place needs them. The work isn’t glamorous at all. You’re dealing with hydraulics, pneumatics, PLCs, electrical systems. But it pays $45,000-$60,000 with great stability.
IT people work at corporate offices and healthcare places. Network admins, software developers, cybersecurity specialists. Some offer remote options now. Salaries are all over. $50,000-$90,000 depending on exactly what you do and your experience.
Modern Job Search Tools
Job hunting changed completely the past five years. Technology makes finding stuff way faster. Smart move is using every tool available instead of manually filling applications forever.
Set up alerts on every major board. Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter. Emails hit you when jobs hiring in Burlington matching your stuff get posted. Set it up once properly. Opportunities come to you.
Your LinkedIn profile matters more than you think. Recruiters search there constantly. How complete your profile is directly affects how often recruiters find you. Fill everything out. Skills, experience, education. Add a normal photo.
Making Applications Easier
Applying to tons of jobs eats your whole day. Every company uses different systems. You’re typing the same information over and over. It’s awful.
RoboApply automates that repetitive stuff. Set your preferences for Burlington positions. The Auto Apply feature finds matches and submits applications automatically. You’re applying while doing literally anything else.
Resume customization happens for each job. Pulls keywords from descriptions and adjusts your resume. Every application looks personalized without you spending an hour per resume.
The resume builder cranks out professional versions quickly. Different templates work for different industries. Manufacturing needs different formatting than healthcare obviously.
Interview prep tools help once companies start responding. Practice typical questions. Get feedback on answers. Walk into interviews confident and ready.
Application tracking happens automatically. See which companies looked at your stuff. Know when to follow up. Everything stays organized instead of scattered through your email.
Works especially well when you’re applying to multiple Burlington employers at once. You’re not picking between quantity and quality anymore. Both happen together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of jobs are hiring most in Burlington, NC?
Manufacturing, healthcare, warehouse, and retail hire the most. Nursing jobs and logistics positions especially stay busy hiring pretty much all year long without stopping much.
Do I need experience to get hired in Burlington?
Tons of entry-level spots exist in retail, restaurants, and warehouses. These places train you while you work. You don’t need any prior experience to start.
What’s the average salary for jobs in Burlington?
Entry retail pays around $25,000 yearly. Skilled trades and nursing hit $60,000 or more. Most manufacturing falls between $35,000-$50,000 depending on exactly what you do.
How long does the hiring process take in Burlington?
Most places take one to three weeks from when you apply to getting an offer. Big employers like hospitals drag longer because background checks take forever.
Are remote jobs available in Burlington?
Some corporate and IT roles let you work remote. But most Burlington jobs need you there physically. Manufacturing, healthcare, retail all require showing up in person.
