Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

Each occupation's median wage in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL run 2.9% below the national average (2024), so a Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL salary is worth about 1.03× 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

OccupationMedian, Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL · vs. national

1Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$93,440
Associate's degree
$40,620 – $111,210+37.4%
2Anesthesiologists$482,020
Doctoral or professional degree
$182,210 – $482,020+23.1%
3Opticians, Dispensing$57,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $73,960+20.8%
4Dentists, General$205,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$121,450 – $307,430+20.1%
5Insurance Sales Agents$74,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $193,920+20.1%
6Optometrists$157,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$100,830 – $208,750+15.1%
7Physicians, All Other$295,940
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,110 – $462,220+11.3%
8Property Appraisers and Assessors$74,780
Bachelor's degree
$52,110 – $96,080+10.0%
9Emergency Medical Technicians$48,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,870 – $80,600+9.1%
10First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$100,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,560 – $117,660+7.6%
11Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$42,800
No formal educational credential
$30,760 – $48,190+6.4%
12Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,010
Associate's degree
$41,020 – $99,830+6.3%
13Stockers and Order Fillers$39,690
No formal educational credential
$30,760 – $57,190+6.3%
14Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$49,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,800 – $59,140+5.9%
15Tellers$45,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,150 – $56,370+5.1%
16Respiratory Therapists$86,300
Associate's degree
$67,670 – $89,710+4.9%
17Power Plant Operators$106,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,950 – $135,080+4.4%
18Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $59,030+4.2%
19Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$48,290
No formal educational credential
$37,800 – $59,770+4.0%
20Computer Network Architects$139,150
Bachelor's degree
$85,880 – $190,320+3.8%
21Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$98,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,260 – $106,530+3.4%
22Manicurists and Pedicurists$36,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,860 – $57,400+3.4%
23First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$50,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,520 – $72,540+3.4%
24School Bus Monitors$36,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,040 – $44,930+3.3%
25Healthcare Social Workers$69,810
Master's degree
$47,980 – $87,400+2.8%
26Light Truck Drivers$46,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,540 – $73,060+2.6%
27Tour and Travel Guides$38,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,580 – $43,870+2.2%
28Printing Press Operators$46,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,340 – $61,540+1.3%
29Family Medicine Physicians$247,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$116,840 – $393,170+1.2%
30Pharmacists$142,380
Doctoral or professional degree
$100,370 – $167,770+1.0%
31Postal Service Clerks$62,670
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360+0.9%
32Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$80,670
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,620 – $104,270+0.5%
33Waiters and Waitresses$35,270
No formal educational credential
$27,050 – $60,030+0.1%
34First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$48,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,220 – $71,4200.0%
35Veterinarians$129,810
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,180 – $245,220-0.2%
36Data Scientists$119,340
Bachelor's degree
$67,990 – $155,650-0.7%
37Bartenders$33,920
No formal educational credential
$27,310 – $60,330-1.2%
38First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,840 – $84,990-1.2%
39Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$44,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,560 – $57,800-1.3%
40Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,140 – $67,760-1.6%
41Bakers$36,570
No formal educational credential
$27,930 – $44,410-1.6%
42Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$103,290
Bachelor's degree
$47,900 – $159,900-1.6%
43Loan Officers$75,400
Bachelor's degree
$38,800 – $137,290-1.7%
44Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,550 – $53,040-1.8%
45First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$43,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,570 – $59,970-2.0%
46Food Preparation Workers$34,610
No formal educational credential
$27,040 – $38,200-2.0%
47Public Safety Telecommunicators$51,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,040 – $64,250-2.2%
48Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$46,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,230 – $60,730-2.4%
49Pest Control Workers$44,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,950 – $58,740-2.5%
50First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,570 – $74,850-2.5%

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

#	Occupation	MedianLakeland-Winter Haven, FL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$93,440	$40,620 – $111,210	+37.4%
2	AnesthesiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$482,020	$182,210 – $482,020	+23.1%
3	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,100	$35,880 – $73,960	+20.8%
4	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$205,300	$121,450 – $307,430	+20.1%
5	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,810	$41,600 – $193,920	+20.1%
6	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$157,140	$100,830 – $208,750	+15.1%
7	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$295,940	$66,110 – $462,220	+11.3%
8	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$74,780	$52,110 – $96,080	+10.0%
9	Emergency Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,510	$34,870 – $80,600	+9.1%
10	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,630	$64,560 – $117,660	+7.6%
11	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$42,800	$30,760 – $48,190	+6.4%
12	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,010	$41,020 – $99,830	+6.3%
13	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$39,690	$30,760 – $57,190	+6.3%
14	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,130	$34,800 – $59,140	+5.9%
15	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,240	$36,150 – $56,370	+5.1%
16	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$86,300	$67,670 – $89,710	+4.9%
17	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,540	$83,950 – $135,080	+4.4%
18	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,390	$36,960 – $59,030	+4.2%
19	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$48,290	$37,800 – $59,770	+4.0%
20	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$139,150	$85,880 – $190,320	+3.8%
21	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,520	$59,260 – $106,530	+3.4%
22	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,960	$27,860 – $57,400	+3.4%
23	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,220	$30,520 – $72,540	+3.4%
24	School Bus MonitorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,270	$27,040 – $44,930	+3.3%
25	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$69,810	$47,980 – $87,400	+2.8%
26	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,010	$29,540 – $73,060	+2.6%
27	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,960	$30,580 – $43,870	+2.2%
28	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,380	$31,340 – $61,540	+1.3%
29	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$247,090	$116,840 – $393,170	+1.2%
30	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$142,380	$100,370 – $167,770	+1.0%
31	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,670	$42,600 – $76,360	+0.9%
32	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,670	$59,620 – $104,270	+0.5%
33	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$35,270	$27,050 – $60,030	+0.1%
34	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,580	$34,220 – $71,420	0.0%
35	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$129,810	$60,180 – $245,220	-0.2%
36	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$119,340	$67,990 – $155,650	-0.7%
37	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$33,920	$27,310 – $60,330	-1.2%
38	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,130	$45,840 – $84,990	-1.2%
39	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,960	$35,560 – $57,800	-1.3%
40	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,050	$28,140 – $67,760	-1.6%
41	BakersNo formal educational credential	$36,570	$27,930 – $44,410	-1.6%
42	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$103,290	$47,900 – $159,900	-1.6%
43	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$75,400	$38,800 – $137,290	-1.7%
44	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,750	$35,550 – $53,040	-1.8%
45	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,220	$29,570 – $59,970	-2.0%
46	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,610	$27,040 – $38,200	-2.0%
47	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,870	$43,040 – $64,250	-2.2%
48	Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,730	$27,230 – $60,730	-2.4%
49	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,130	$33,950 – $58,740	-2.5%
50	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,320	$31,570 – $74,850	-2.5%

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