Tulsa Job Market: Top Employers and Growing Industries
Tulsa's economy has diversified significantly over the last two decades. While energy remains important, the city now has strong footholds in aerospace, healthcare, tech, and finance. Here is what the job market looks like for people considering the move.
Major Employers
The largest employers in the Tulsa metro include St. Francis Health System (10,000+ employees), American Airlines maintenance base (6,500+), ONEOK (energy, 2,000+), BOK Financial (3,000+), Williams Companies (energy infrastructure, 4,000+), and QuikTrip (headquartered in Tulsa, 25,000+ total but concentrated leadership here). The Tulsa area also has significant operations from Helmerich and Payne, Magellan Midstream, and several major defense contractors tied to the nearby military installations.
Growing Industries
Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing: Tulsa's American Airlines maintenance base is the largest commercial aircraft maintenance facility in the world. NORDAM and Spirit AeroSystems also have major operations here. The aerospace sector continues to add jobs as airlines invest in fleet maintenance.
Healthcare: Two major hospital systems (Saint Francis and Ascension St. John) are continuously expanding. Healthcare jobs in Tulsa pay competitively for the cost of living and the sector is essentially recession-proof.
Technology: Tulsa's tech scene is small but growing. 36 Degrees North serves as the main coworking and startup hub. Several national tech companies have established remote-friendly offices in Tulsa, partly driven by the Tulsa Remote pipeline. The tech talent pool is growing as remote workers settle in permanently.
Energy Transition: Oklahoma's oil and gas expertise is increasingly translating into renewable energy, carbon capture, and energy infrastructure. Companies like Williams and ONEOK are investing in hydrogen and natural gas transition technologies. Engineers and project managers in this space are in high demand.
Salary Expectations
Tulsa salaries are generally 10 to 15% below national averages in nominal terms. But when adjusted for cost of living, they often come out ahead. A software engineer making $95,000 in Tulsa has more purchasing power than one making $130,000 in Austin. A registered nurse making $68,000 in Tulsa lives as well as one making $85,000 in Denver. The math consistently favors Tulsa once you factor in housing, taxes, and daily expenses.
Remote Work Infrastructure
Tulsa has invested heavily in attracting remote workers. 36 Degrees North coworking is the hub, but there are also several other coworking spaces downtown and in midtown. High-speed internet is available across most of the metro through Cox Communications and AT&T Fiber. The Tulsa Remote program has created a large and active community of remote professionals, making it easy to find others who work from home.
Unemployment and Outlook
Tulsa's unemployment rate sits around 3.2% as of early 2026, slightly below the national average. Job growth has been steady at 2 to 3% annually, driven primarily by healthcare, aerospace, and professional services. The economic outlook is stable with no major sectors showing signs of contraction.