Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Florida

Each occupation's median wage in Florida compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Florida pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Florida run 3.4% above the national average (2024), so a Florida salary is worth about 0.97× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Florida.

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

Find high paying jobs in Florida

OccupationMedian, Florida · vs. national

1Opticians, Dispensing$58,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,510 – $75,480+24.5%
2Gambling Dealers$38,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,040 – $98,280+12.2%
3Butchers and Meat Cutters$42,790
No formal educational credential
$29,640 – $49,160+6.6%
4Chiropractors$84,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,990 – $130,410+6.4%
5Physical Therapist Assistants$72,530
Associate's degree
$58,650 – $81,080+6.1%
6Tellers$45,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,010 – $57,130+5.9%
7Manicurists and Pedicurists$37,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,730 – $59,940+5.8%
8First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$98,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,520 – $133,450+5.4%
9Food Service Managers$72,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,800 – $113,940+4.9%
10Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$35,040
No formal educational credential
$28,510 – $45,000+4.3%
11Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$48,370
No formal educational credential
$37,050 – $62,960+4.2%
12Training and Development Specialists$71,990
Bachelor's degree
$38,370 – $118,190+3.9%
13Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$77,140
Associate's degree
$37,490 – $106,800+3.8%
14First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$50,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $80,850+3.2%
15Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$46,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,330 – $59,100+2.8%
16Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$82,410
Doctoral or professional degree
$56,830 – $109,910+2.7%
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$107,700
Bachelor's degree
$47,590 – $201,150+2.6%
18Waiters and Waitresses$36,150
No formal educational credential
$27,230 – $63,580+2.6%
19Library Assistants, Clerical$37,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,420 – $45,960+2.6%
20Bartenders$35,150
No formal educational credential
$27,430 – $66,400+2.4%
21Dentists, General$174,900
Doctoral or professional degree
$98,680 – $314,860+2.3%
22Speech-Language Pathologists$99,990
Master's degree
$69,970 – $122,050+2.2%
23Food Preparation Workers$35,920
No formal educational credential
$28,190 – $43,300+1.7%
24Veterinarians$131,660
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,430 – $209,520+1.2%
25Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$70,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,810 – $132,770+1.2%
26Loan Interviewers and Clerks$50,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,280 – $66,410+1.0%
27Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,130
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040+1.0%
28First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$44,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,490 – $65,120+0.9%
29Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030+0.8%
30Telemarketers$35,570
No formal educational credential
$27,040 – $41,910+0.3%
31Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,570 – $75,7700.0%
32Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$35,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,080 – $44,620-0.1%
33Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$47,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,640 – $65,220-0.1%
34Travel Agents$50,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,060 – $77,970-0.2%
35First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$48,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,710 – $76,200-0.2%
36Lodging Managers$69,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,560 – $153,310-0.2%
37Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$58,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,190 – $79,210-0.3%
38Architectural and Engineering Managers$170,740
Bachelor's degree
$116,900 – $251,590-0.3%
39Dietitians and Nutritionists$76,050
Bachelor's degree
$49,920 – $93,530-0.5%
40Database Administrators$104,120
Bachelor's degree
$56,300 – $161,090-0.5%
41Computer Network Support Specialists$75,740
Associate's degree
$47,780 – $125,320-0.6%
42Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,650 – $61,940-0.7%
43Paramedics$60,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,050 – $85,390-0.8%
44Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,950 – $71,330-0.8%
45Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$37,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,090 – $47,270-0.8%
46Industrial Engineers$101,610
Bachelor's degree
$68,850 – $156,560-0.8%
47Computer Network Architects$132,800
Bachelor's degree
$81,500 – $184,680-0.9%
48Dental Assistants$47,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,800 – $58,880-0.9%
49Occupational Therapy Assistants$71,630
Associate's degree
$59,890 – $79,350-0.9%
50Cooks, Restaurant$37,020
No formal educational credential
$29,710 – $46,450-1.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianFlorida	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,850	$36,510 – $75,480	+24.5%
2	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,500	$27,040 – $98,280	+12.2%
3	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$42,790	$29,640 – $49,160	+6.6%
4	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$84,280	$51,990 – $130,410	+6.4%
5	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,530	$58,650 – $81,080	+6.1%
6	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,580	$36,010 – $57,130	+5.9%
7	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,840	$28,730 – $59,940	+5.8%
8	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$98,560	$62,520 – $133,450	+5.4%
9	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,790	$45,800 – $113,940	+4.9%
10	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,040	$28,510 – $45,000	+4.3%
11	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$48,370	$37,050 – $62,960	+4.2%
12	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$71,990	$38,370 – $118,190	+3.9%
13	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,140	$37,490 – $106,800	+3.8%
14	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,110	$36,960 – $80,850	+3.2%
15	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,830	$36,330 – $59,100	+2.8%
16	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$82,410	$56,830 – $109,910	+2.7%
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$107,700	$47,590 – $201,150	+2.6%
18	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$36,150	$27,230 – $63,580	+2.6%
19	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,880	$29,420 – $45,960	+2.6%
20	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$35,150	$27,430 – $66,400	+2.4%
21	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$174,900	$98,680 – $314,860	+2.3%
22	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$99,990	$69,970 – $122,050	+2.2%
23	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,920	$28,190 – $43,300	+1.7%
24	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$131,660	$62,430 – $209,520	+1.2%
25	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,810	$45,810 – $132,770	+1.2%
26	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,510	$36,280 – $66,410	+1.0%
27	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,130	$42,390 – $81,040	+1.0%
28	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,470	$30,490 – $65,120	+0.9%
29	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	+0.8%
30	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$35,570	$27,040 – $41,910	+0.3%
31	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,070	$38,570 – $75,770	0.0%
32	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,030	$30,080 – $44,620	-0.1%
33	Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,840	$35,640 – $65,220	-0.1%
34	Travel AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,060	$35,060 – $77,970	-0.2%
35	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,410	$34,710 – $76,200	-0.2%
36	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,120	$38,560 – $153,310	-0.2%
37	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,450	$40,190 – $79,210	-0.3%
38	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$170,740	$116,900 – $251,590	-0.3%
39	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$76,050	$49,920 – $93,530	-0.5%
40	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$104,120	$56,300 – $161,090	-0.5%
41	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$75,740	$47,780 – $125,320	-0.6%
42	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,360	$36,650 – $61,940	-0.7%
43	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,140	$44,050 – $85,390	-0.8%
44	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,860	$35,950 – $71,330	-0.8%
45	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,830	$31,090 – $47,270	-0.8%
46	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,610	$68,850 – $156,560	-0.8%
47	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$132,800	$81,500 – $184,680	-0.9%
48	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,620	$37,800 – $58,880	-0.9%
49	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$71,630	$59,890 – $79,350	-0.9%
50	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$37,020	$29,710 – $46,450	-1.0%

More for Florida

Metro areas in Florida

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Florida

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Florida to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Florida

More for Florida

Metro areas in Florida

By field in Florida

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state