Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Punta Gorda, FL

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

Cost of living: prices in Punta Gorda, FL run 0.5% above the national average (2024), so a Punta Gorda, 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 Punta Gorda, FL

OccupationMedian, Punta Gorda, FL · vs. national

1Opticians, Dispensing$60,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,310 – $74,310+27.7%
2Manicurists and Pedicurists$40,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,060 – $58,930+14.6%
3Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$83,200
Associate's degree
$41,210 – $106,040+12.0%
4Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$54,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,740 – $97,560+11.9%
5Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$50,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,640 – $78,960+10.6%
6Butchers and Meat Cutters$44,060
No formal educational credential
$29,690 – $48,350+9.8%
7Food Service Managers$74,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,670 – $105,620+7.6%
8Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$112,240
Bachelor's degree
$80,600 – $127,540+7.6%
9Tellers$46,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,290 – $47,960+7.3%
10Dental Assistants$51,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,520 – $57,180+6.1%
11Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$49,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,080 – $60,870+5.2%
12Bakers$38,940
No formal educational credential
$29,750 – $44,880+4.8%
13Stockers and Order Fillers$38,970
No formal educational credential
$30,740 – $45,030+4.4%
14Postal Service Clerks$64,670
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360+4.1%
15Bartenders$35,690
No formal educational credential
$27,200 – $72,630+3.9%
16First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$45,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,360 – $62,400+3.7%
17First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$50,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,070 – $73,070+3.3%
18Waiters and Waitresses$36,360
No formal educational credential
$27,180 – $64,050+3.2%
19Food Preparation Workers$36,310
No formal educational credential
$28,170 – $42,560+2.8%
20Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$60,880
Master's degree
$45,350 – $91,170+2.6%
21Speech-Language Pathologists$100,020
Master's degree
$76,940 – $123,840+2.2%
22Helpers--Electricians$43,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,860 – $44,530+2.1%
23Light Truck Drivers$45,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,640 – $95,010+1.6%
24Lodging Managers$70,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,110 – $155,830+1.4%
25Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,800
Associate's degree
$62,090 – $82,070+0.7%
26Healthcare Social Workers$68,140
Master's degree
$48,930 – $80,090+0.4%
27Public Safety Telecommunicators$53,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,260 – $76,960+0.3%
28Dentists, General$171,220
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,980 – $314,930+0.2%
29Occupational Therapists$100,430
Master's degree
$76,730 – $124,220+0.1%
30Office Clerks, General$44,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $64,450-0.6%
31Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$37,200
No formal educational credential
$29,020 – $44,300-0.7%
32Childcare Workers$34,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,500 – $39,920-0.7%
33Psychiatric Technicians$44,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,180 – $54,350-0.8%
34First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$48,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,760 – $74,000-0.8%
35Software Developers$134,510
Bachelor's degree
$89,520 – $195,550-1.1%
36Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,950 – $76,600-1.1%
37Social and Human Service Assistants$45,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,880 – $60,630-1.3%
38Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,280
No formal educational credential
$28,620 – $43,590-1.5%
39Civil Engineers$99,230
Bachelor's degree
$58,270 – $163,000-1.6%
40Physical Therapists$101,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,310 – $121,640-1.7%
41Pest Control Workers$44,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,580 – $60,220-1.7%
42Cooks, Restaurant$36,730
No formal educational credential
$29,650 – $44,530-1.8%
43Instructional Coordinators$75,980
Master's degree
$51,760 – $96,340-1.9%
44Medical Assistants$44,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,270 – $49,160-1.9%
45Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$37,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,210 – $46,560-2.0%
46First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$85,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,150 – $170,450-2.1%
47Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$38,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,100 – $54,330-2.2%
48Physical Therapist Assistants$66,820
Associate's degree
$51,670 – $85,280-2.3%
49Receptionists and Information Clerks$37,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,360 – $46,220-2.3%
50Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$34,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,950 – $43,460-2.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianPunta Gorda, FL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,360	$37,310 – $74,310	+27.7%
2	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$40,990	$29,060 – $58,930	+14.6%
3	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,200	$41,210 – $106,040	+12.0%
4	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,350	$30,740 – $97,560	+11.9%
5	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,510	$35,640 – $78,960	+10.6%
6	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$44,060	$29,690 – $48,350	+9.8%
7	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,670	$45,670 – $105,620	+7.6%
8	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$112,240	$80,600 – $127,540	+7.6%
9	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,160	$38,290 – $47,960	+7.3%
10	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,020	$38,520 – $57,180	+6.1%
11	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,090	$37,080 – $60,870	+5.2%
12	BakersNo formal educational credential	$38,940	$29,750 – $44,880	+4.8%
13	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$38,970	$30,740 – $45,030	+4.4%
14	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,670	$42,600 – $76,360	+4.1%
15	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$35,690	$27,200 – $72,630	+3.9%
16	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,710	$30,360 – $62,400	+3.7%
17	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,730	$37,070 – $73,070	+3.3%
18	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$36,360	$27,180 – $64,050	+3.2%
19	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$36,310	$28,170 – $42,560	+2.8%
20	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$60,880	$45,350 – $91,170	+2.6%
21	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$100,020	$76,940 – $123,840	+2.2%
22	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,580	$35,860 – $44,530	+2.1%
23	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,580	$29,640 – $95,010	+1.6%
24	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,200	$42,110 – $155,830	+1.4%
25	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,800	$62,090 – $82,070	+0.7%
26	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$68,140	$48,930 – $80,090	+0.4%
27	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,180	$44,260 – $76,960	+0.3%
28	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$171,220	$101,980 – $314,930	+0.2%
29	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$100,430	$76,730 – $124,220	+0.1%
30	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,720	$31,200 – $64,450	-0.6%
31	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$37,200	$29,020 – $44,300	-0.7%
32	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,730	$29,500 – $39,920	-0.7%
33	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,770	$36,180 – $54,350	-0.8%
34	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,140	$34,760 – $74,000	-0.8%
35	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$134,510	$89,520 – $195,550	-1.1%
36	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$46,950 – $76,600	-1.1%
37	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,350	$33,880 – $60,630	-1.3%
38	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$35,280	$28,620 – $43,590	-1.5%
39	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,230	$58,270 – $163,000	-1.6%
40	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$101,030	$78,310 – $121,640	-1.7%
41	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,470	$34,580 – $60,220	-1.7%
42	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$36,730	$29,650 – $44,530	-1.8%
43	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$75,980	$51,760 – $96,340	-1.9%
44	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,830	$37,270 – $49,160	-1.9%
45	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,390	$30,210 – $46,560	-2.0%
46	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,700	$49,150 – $170,450	-2.1%
47	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,760	$32,100 – $54,330	-2.2%
48	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,820	$51,670 – $85,280	-2.3%
49	Receptionists and Information ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,130	$30,360 – $46,220	-2.3%
50	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,280	$28,950 – $43,460	-2.3%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Punta Gorda, FL

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