Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Tallahassee, FL

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

Cost of living: prices in Tallahassee, FL run 6.1% below the national average (2024), so a Tallahassee, FL salary is worth about 1.06× 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 Tallahassee, FL

OccupationMedian, Tallahassee, FL · vs. national

1Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$177,150
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,050 – $177,150+50.3%
2Opticians, Dispensing$58,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $75,370+24.2%
3Production Workers, All Other$46,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,030 – $69,710+16.8%
4Protective Service Workers, All Other$48,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,090 – $58,990+14.4%
5Psychiatrists$318,460
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,600 – $521,090+13.0%
6Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$173,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$173,370 – $220,410+12.6%
7Private Detectives and Investigators$56,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,920 – $72,480+10.3%
8Veterinarians$140,830
Doctoral or professional degree
$69,020 – $192,040+8.2%
9Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$36,750
No formal educational credential
$27,130 – $43,260+8.2%
10Postal Service Clerks$65,660
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360+5.7%
11Bailiffs$59,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,440 – $83,430+4.8%
12Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$48,420
No formal educational credential
$36,940 – $58,940+4.3%
13Library Technicians$45,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,710 – $47,210+1.3%
14Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,130
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280+1.1%
15Library Assistants, Clerical$36,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,650 – $44,630+0.1%
16Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$61,480
Bachelor's degree
$51,500 – $73,530-0.1%
17Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,990
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-0.9%
18Waiters and Waitresses$34,850
No formal educational credential
$27,040 – $58,240-1.1%
19Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,240 – $74,140-1.6%
20Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$58,240
Master's degree
$39,890 – $82,200-1.9%
21Dentists, General$166,800
Doctoral or professional degree
$96,000 – $303,200-2.4%
22Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,510 – $66,800-2.6%
23Butchers and Meat Cutters$39,000
No formal educational credential
$28,740 – $48,830-2.8%
24Industrial Engineers$99,430
Bachelor's degree
$64,320 – $148,670-2.9%
25Graphic Designers$61,010
Bachelor's degree
$38,310 – $106,820-3.1%
26Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,890 – $54,140-3.2%
27Speech-Language Pathologists$94,320
Master's degree
$71,130 – $118,010-3.6%
28First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$46,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,000 – $77,630-3.6%
29Food Service Managers$66,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,490 – $100,480-3.7%
30Respiratory Therapists$78,950
Associate's degree
$60,720 – $95,330-4.0%
31Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$47,120
No formal educational credential
$30,530 – $63,670-4.1%
32Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$43,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,610 – $55,620-4.2%
33Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,190 – $91,470-4.3%
34Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$37,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,690 – $49,280-4.3%
35Food Preparation Workers$33,760
No formal educational credential
$27,040 – $38,130-4.4%
36Interpreters and Translators$57,520
Bachelor's degree
$36,600 – $94,840-4.4%
37Bakers$35,450
No formal educational credential
$27,990 – $43,910-4.6%
38Occupational Therapists$95,550
Master's degree
$78,240 – $115,210-4.8%
39Physical Therapist Assistants$65,110
Associate's degree
$53,740 – $80,520-4.8%
40Paramedics$57,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,700 – $78,140-5.5%
41Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$36,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,720 – $44,100-5.6%
42Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$46,930
No formal educational credential
$35,150 – $57,880-5.6%
43Dental Assistants$45,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,770 – $56,450-5.7%
44First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$45,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,680 – $70,930-5.8%
45Writers and Authors$72,400
Bachelor's degree
$46,820 – $92,540-5.9%
46Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$57,560
Bachelor's degree
$31,300 – $85,430-5.9%
47Loan Interviewers and Clerks$47,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,660 – $61,220-6.0%
48Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$46,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,290 – $77,050-6.2%
49Stockers and Order Fillers$35,000
No formal educational credential
$29,630 – $45,520-6.2%
50Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$37,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,040 – $48,680-6.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianTallahassee, FL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersDoctoral or professional degree	$177,150	$101,050 – $177,150	+50.3%
2	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,700	$36,750 – $75,370	+24.2%
3	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,860	$32,030 – $69,710	+16.8%
4	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,650	$36,090 – $58,990	+14.4%
5	PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree	$318,460	$65,600 – $521,090	+13.0%
6	Judges, Magistrate Judges, and MagistratesDoctoral or professional degree	$173,370	$173,370 – $220,410	+12.6%
7	Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,510	$34,920 – $72,480	+10.3%
8	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$140,830	$69,020 – $192,040	+8.2%
9	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$36,750	$27,130 – $43,260	+8.2%
10	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$65,660	$42,600 – $76,360	+5.7%
11	BailiffsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,320	$49,440 – $83,430	+4.8%
12	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$48,420	$36,940 – $58,940	+4.3%
13	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,160	$35,710 – $47,210	+1.3%
14	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,130	$45,530 – $75,280	+1.1%
15	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,940	$30,650 – $44,630	+0.1%
16	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$61,480	$51,500 – $73,530	-0.1%
17	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,990	$42,390 – $81,040	-0.9%
18	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$34,850	$27,040 – $58,240	-1.1%
19	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,790	$29,240 – $74,140	-1.6%
20	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$58,240	$39,890 – $82,200	-1.9%
21	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$166,800	$96,000 – $303,200	-2.4%
22	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,990	$37,510 – $66,800	-2.6%
23	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$39,000	$28,740 – $48,830	-2.8%
24	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,430	$64,320 – $148,670	-2.9%
25	Graphic DesignersBachelor's degree	$61,010	$38,310 – $106,820	-3.1%
26	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,410	$39,890 – $54,140	-3.2%
27	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$94,320	$71,130 – $118,010	-3.6%
28	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,830	$35,000 – $77,630	-3.6%
29	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,830	$44,490 – $100,480	-3.7%
30	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,950	$60,720 – $95,330	-4.0%
31	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$47,120	$30,530 – $63,670	-4.1%
32	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,640	$35,610 – $55,620	-4.2%
33	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,730	$42,190 – $91,470	-4.3%
34	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,690	$27,690 – $49,280	-4.3%
35	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$33,760	$27,040 – $38,130	-4.4%
36	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$57,520	$36,600 – $94,840	-4.4%
37	BakersNo formal educational credential	$35,450	$27,990 – $43,910	-4.6%
38	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$95,550	$78,240 – $115,210	-4.8%
39	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,110	$53,740 – $80,520	-4.8%
40	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,250	$36,700 – $78,140	-5.5%
41	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,030	$28,720 – $44,100	-5.6%
42	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$46,930	$35,150 – $57,880	-5.6%
43	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,330	$35,770 – $56,450	-5.7%
44	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,720	$30,680 – $70,930	-5.8%
45	Writers and AuthorsBachelor's degree	$72,400	$46,820 – $92,540	-5.9%
46	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$57,560	$31,300 – $85,430	-5.9%
47	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,000	$33,660 – $61,220	-6.0%
48	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,200	$36,290 – $77,050	-6.2%
49	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$35,000	$29,630 – $45,520	-6.2%
50	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,130	$27,040 – $48,680	-6.3%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Tallahassee, FL

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