High paying entry level jobs in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

These occupations in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL run 0.9% above the national average (2024), so a Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL salary is worth about 0.99× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

OccupationMedian, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$206,270
Master's degree
$107,810 – $244,9901,070
2Dentists, General$159,270
Doctoral or professional degree
$127,630 – $432,0601,290
3Pharmacists$137,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,730 – $168,8903,460
4Veterinarians$131,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,400 – $207,9201,060
5Software Developers$130,450
Bachelor's degree
$78,480 – $207,33014,230
6Nurse Practitioners$128,120
Master's degree
$99,390 – $158,7104,180
7Physician Assistants$127,820
Master's degree
$98,530 – $173,6801,420
8Lawyers$127,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,560 – $255,3108,330
9Computer Hardware Engineers$125,680
Bachelor's degree
$61,040 – $205,990580
10Database Administrators$124,560
Bachelor's degree
$57,850 – $156,850670
11Data Scientists$109,990
Bachelor's degree
$67,530 – $161,4801,730
12Computer Occupations, All Other$106,330
Bachelor's degree
$51,310 – $165,4602,450
13Computer Systems Analysts$105,080
Bachelor's degree
$67,240 – $161,7207,100
14Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$104,690
Bachelor's degree
$78,150 – $166,060540
15Physical Therapists$102,430
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,230 – $120,6902,350
16Electrical Engineers$102,110
Bachelor's degree
$64,370 – $162,4901,500
17Network and Computer Systems Administrators$101,560
Bachelor's degree
$62,280 – $153,2004,720
18Industrial Engineers$100,670
Bachelor's degree
$62,770 – $144,0302,090
19Civil Engineers$100,570
Bachelor's degree
$71,630 – $170,1104,190
20Mechanical Engineers$100,290
Bachelor's degree
$68,290 – $159,0501,220
21Computer Programmers$100,140
Bachelor's degree
$38,900 – $193,090830
22Budget Analysts$99,370
Bachelor's degree
$61,400 – $126,440500
23Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$98,870
Bachelor's degree
$60,010 – $153,1501,930
24Financial Risk Specialists$98,820
Bachelor's degree
$49,740 – $168,460810
25Project Management Specialists$97,780
Bachelor's degree
$59,560 – $159,99011,660
26Occupational Therapists$97,720
Master's degree
$75,520 – $112,0201,660
27Dental Hygienists$95,870
Associate's degree
$79,040 – $98,9901,670
28Engineers, All Other$92,790
Bachelor's degree
$59,740 – $164,290870
29Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$86,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,860 – $166,3501,490
30Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$85,490
Bachelor's degree
$49,360 – $132,460920
31Registered Nurses$85,470
Bachelor's degree
$73,290 – $124,47038,720
32Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,120
Associate's degree
$63,160 – $101,0901,090
33Respiratory Therapists$81,630
Associate's degree
$63,980 – $96,4801,320
34Business Operations Specialists, All Other$81,610
Bachelor's degree
$46,550 – $150,0009,980
35Operations Research Analysts$79,940
Bachelor's degree
$47,530 – $131,4901,940
36Financial and Investment Analysts$79,910
Bachelor's degree
$61,370 – $132,0305,370
37Accountants and Auditors$78,990
Bachelor's degree
$50,300 – $132,43014,770
38Credit Analysts$78,940
Bachelor's degree
$56,430 – $139,690820
39Web Developers$78,910
Bachelor's degree
$47,110 – $127,930470
40Chiropractors$78,000
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,240 – $107,160740
41Logisticians$77,630
Bachelor's degree
$49,170 – $125,1801,750
42Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$77,430
Associate's degree
$51,550 – $100,8702,610
43Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$75,210
Bachelor's degree
$37,700 – $128,5508,420
44Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,070
Associate's degree
$45,600 – $101,390940
45Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$74,180
Associate's degree
$40,290 – $108,820450
46Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,820
Associate's degree
$60,520 – $78,730550
47Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$72,030
Associate's degree
$37,490 – $106,480760
48Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$71,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,110 – $127,5201,050
49Physical Therapist Assistants$70,170
Associate's degree
$59,170 – $81,9001,340
50Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$68,800
Master's degree
$50,410 – $94,7901,020

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianTampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$206,270	$107,810 – $244,990	1,070
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$159,270	$127,630 – $432,060	1,290
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$137,990	$52,730 – $168,890	3,460
4	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$131,190	$62,400 – $207,920	1,060
5	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$130,450	$78,480 – $207,330	14,230
6	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$128,120	$99,390 – $158,710	4,180
7	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$127,820	$98,530 – $173,680	1,420
8	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$127,490	$75,560 – $255,310	8,330
9	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$125,680	$61,040 – $205,990	580
10	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$124,560	$57,850 – $156,850	670
11	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$109,990	$67,530 – $161,480	1,730
12	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$106,330	$51,310 – $165,460	2,450
13	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$105,080	$67,240 – $161,720	7,100
14	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$104,690	$78,150 – $166,060	540
15	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,430	$80,230 – $120,690	2,350
16	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$102,110	$64,370 – $162,490	1,500
17	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$101,560	$62,280 – $153,200	4,720
18	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,670	$62,770 – $144,030	2,090
19	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,570	$71,630 – $170,110	4,190
20	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,290	$68,290 – $159,050	1,220
21	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$100,140	$38,900 – $193,090	830
22	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$99,370	$61,400 – $126,440	500
23	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$98,870	$60,010 – $153,150	1,930
24	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$98,820	$49,740 – $168,460	810
25	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$97,780	$59,560 – $159,990	11,660
26	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$97,720	$75,520 – $112,020	1,660
27	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$95,870	$79,040 – $98,990	1,670
28	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$92,790	$59,740 – $164,290	870
29	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$86,890	$64,860 – $166,350	1,490
30	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$85,490	$49,360 – $132,460	920
31	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$85,470	$73,290 – $124,470	38,720
32	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,120	$63,160 – $101,090	1,090
33	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,630	$63,980 – $96,480	1,320
34	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$81,610	$46,550 – $150,000	9,980
35	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$79,940	$47,530 – $131,490	1,940
36	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$79,910	$61,370 – $132,030	5,370
37	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$78,990	$50,300 – $132,430	14,770
38	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$78,940	$56,430 – $139,690	820
39	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$78,910	$47,110 – $127,930	470
40	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$78,000	$62,240 – $107,160	740
41	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$77,630	$49,170 – $125,180	1,750
42	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,430	$51,550 – $100,870	2,610
43	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$75,210	$37,700 – $128,550	8,420
44	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,070	$45,600 – $101,390	940
45	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$74,180	$40,290 – $108,820	450
46	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,820	$60,520 – $78,730	550
47	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,030	$37,490 – $106,480	760
48	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,510	$27,110 – $127,520	1,050
49	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,170	$59,170 – $81,900	1,340
50	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$68,800	$50,410 – $94,790	1,020

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

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