Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

Each occupation's median wage in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL run 14.2% above the national average (2024), so a Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL salary is worth about 0.88× 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

OccupationMedian, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL · vs. national

1Opticians, Dispensing$61,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,110 – $75,710+30.9%
2Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$54,050
Bachelor's degree
$34,060 – $60,520+29.7%
3Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$100,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,230 – $115,540+28.9%
4First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$120,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$77,120 – $157,350+28.7%
5Firefighters$75,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,530 – $116,390+27.7%
6Protective Service Workers, All Other$52,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,550 – $77,000+22.7%
7Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$96,110
Bachelor's degree
$48,970 – $173,740+20.9%
8First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$127,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,200 – $170,130+20.3%
9Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$128,960
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,640 – $305,230+20.2%
10Personal Financial Advisors$125,670
Bachelor's degree
$49,670 – $427,160+19.6%
11Food Service Managers$81,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,070 – $133,880+17.0%
12First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$56,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,410 – $83,980+16.7%
13Gambling Dealers$39,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,800 – $94,780+16.5%
14Correctional Officers and Jailers$66,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,260 – $97,830+13.3%
15Paramedics$68,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,310 – $102,620+12.5%
16Sailors and Marine Oilers$57,870
No formal educational credential
$34,920 – $79,200+12.3%
17Photographers$49,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,470 – $93,120+11.9%
18Home Appliance Repairers$57,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,050 – $81,360+11.8%
19Lodging Managers$76,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,460 – $163,920+11.0%
20Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$37,230
No formal educational credential
$28,640 – $47,280+10.9%
21Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$81,120
Associate's degree
$39,290 – $126,890+9.2%
22Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$49,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,890 – $63,650+9.1%
23Public Safety Telecommunicators$57,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,170 – $99,410+7.7%
24Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$86,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,600 – $128,830+7.2%
25Private Detectives and Investigators$54,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,470 – $102,030+6.8%
26First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$51,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,660 – $70,840+6.2%
27Physical Therapist Assistants$72,530
Associate's degree
$61,740 – $79,600+6.1%
28Data Scientists$127,450
Bachelor's degree
$62,590 – $199,130+6.0%
29Tellers$45,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,120 – $62,450+5.8%
30Detectives and Criminal Investigators$99,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,580 – $173,010+5.6%
31Manicurists and Pedicurists$37,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,120 – $61,040+5.4%
32Library Assistants, Clerical$38,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,080 – $47,650+5.2%
33File Clerks$45,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,420 – $60,350+5.0%
34Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$62,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,890 – $100,390+4.9%
35Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$73,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,560 – $136,200+4.9%
36Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$79,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,600 – $115,690+4.8%
37Dietitians and Nutritionists$79,750
Bachelor's degree
$60,120 – $100,210+4.4%
38Medical and Health Services Managers$128,770
Bachelor's degree
$75,870 – $219,200+4.0%
39Speech-Language Pathologists$101,590
Master's degree
$79,940 – $123,820+3.8%
40Aircraft Service Attendants$41,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,970 – $65,350+3.6%
41First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$50,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,610 – $78,150+3.6%
42Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$32,280
No formal educational credential
$28,080 – $45,740+3.5%
43Computer Network Support Specialists$78,910
Associate's degree
$46,420 – $126,540+3.5%
44Commercial Pilots$127,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$69,780 – $292,330+3.4%
45Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians$59,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,630 – $78,510+3.4%
46Machinists$60,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,090 – $84,460+3.3%
47Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$93,060
Bachelor's degree
$49,550 – $147,970+3.2%
48First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$45,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,110 – $72,790+3.2%
49Airfield Operations Specialists$58,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,490 – $77,290+3.1%
50Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$47,810
No formal educational credential
$37,240 – $73,300+3.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianMiami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,880	$35,110 – $75,710	+30.9%
2	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$54,050	$34,060 – $60,520	+29.7%
3	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$100,080	$62,230 – $115,540	+28.9%
4	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$120,390	$77,120 – $157,350	+28.7%
5	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,710	$48,530 – $116,390	+27.7%
6	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,190	$36,550 – $77,000	+22.7%
7	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingBachelor's degree	$96,110	$48,970 – $173,740	+20.9%
8	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$127,570	$83,200 – $170,130	+20.3%
9	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,960	$63,640 – $305,230	+20.2%
10	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$125,670	$49,670 – $427,160	+19.6%
11	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,170	$50,070 – $133,880	+17.0%
12	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,660	$37,410 – $83,980	+16.7%
13	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,970	$27,800 – $94,780	+16.5%
14	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,770	$48,260 – $97,830	+13.3%
15	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,160	$47,310 – $102,620	+12.5%
16	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$57,870	$34,920 – $79,200	+12.3%
17	PhotographersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,980	$33,470 – $93,120	+11.9%
18	Home Appliance RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,030	$31,050 – $81,360	+11.8%
19	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,860	$43,460 – $163,920	+11.0%
20	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$37,230	$28,640 – $47,280	+10.9%
21	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,120	$39,290 – $126,890	+9.2%
22	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,710	$37,890 – $63,650	+9.1%
23	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,110	$39,170 – $99,410	+7.7%
24	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$86,030	$58,600 – $128,830	+7.2%
25	Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,720	$35,470 – $102,030	+6.8%
26	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,590	$34,660 – $70,840	+6.2%
27	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,530	$61,740 – $79,600	+6.1%
28	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$127,450	$62,590 – $199,130	+6.0%
29	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,540	$36,120 – $62,450	+5.8%
30	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,080	$60,580 – $173,010	+5.6%
31	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,690	$29,120 – $61,040	+5.4%
32	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,830	$36,080 – $47,650	+5.2%
33	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,760	$30,420 – $60,350	+5.0%
34	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,960	$45,890 – $100,390	+4.9%
35	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,450	$47,560 – $136,200	+4.9%
36	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,840	$61,600 – $115,690	+4.8%
37	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$79,750	$60,120 – $100,210	+4.4%
38	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$128,770	$75,870 – $219,200	+4.0%
39	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$101,590	$79,940 – $123,820	+3.8%
40	Aircraft Service AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,910	$31,970 – $65,350	+3.6%
41	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,250	$35,610 – $78,150	+3.6%
42	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$32,280	$28,080 – $45,740	+3.5%
43	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$78,910	$46,420 – $126,540	+3.5%
44	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$127,360	$69,780 – $292,330	+3.4%
45	Motorboat Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,490	$37,630 – $78,510	+3.4%
46	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,700	$45,090 – $84,460	+3.3%
47	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$93,060	$49,550 – $147,970	+3.2%
48	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,500	$31,110 – $72,790	+3.2%
49	Airfield Operations SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,630	$37,490 – $77,290	+3.1%
50	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$47,810	$37,240 – $73,300	+3.0%

More for Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

By field in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

More for Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

Other metro areas in FL

By field in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state