Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

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

Cost of living: prices in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL run 0.9% above the national average (2024), so a Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

OccupationMedian, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL · vs. national

1First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$100,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,870 – $120,580+29.2%
2Dental Laboratory Technicians$59,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,140 – $75,590+20.8%
3Database Administrators$124,560
Bachelor's degree
$57,850 – $156,850+19.1%
4Opticians, Dispensing$56,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,740 – $74,120+18.6%
5Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,070
Associate's degree
$45,600 – $101,390+15.6%
6Food Service Managers$80,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,700 – $101,050+15.5%
7Butchers and Meat Cutters$45,220
No formal educational credential
$34,170 – $49,200+12.7%
8Correctional Officers and Jailers$65,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,660 – $95,210+10.9%
9Bartenders$37,460
No formal educational credential
$27,420 – $78,210+9.1%
10Tellers$46,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $57,670+9.1%
11Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$74,180
Associate's degree
$40,290 – $108,820+9.1%
12Property Appraisers and Assessors$73,920
Bachelor's degree
$35,700 – $109,340+8.8%
13Budget Analysts$99,370
Bachelor's degree
$61,400 – $126,440+8.4%
14Physicians, All Other$287,200
Doctoral or professional degree
$90,210 – $419,430+8.0%
15First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$114,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$84,470 – $162,360+7.9%
16Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$49,850
No formal educational credential
$37,470 – $60,520+7.4%
17Manicurists and Pedicurists$38,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,630 – $59,890+7.2%
18Order Clerks$49,190
Some college, no degree
$35,770 – $62,380+6.5%
19Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$84,590
Doctoral or professional degree
$57,050 – $105,760+5.4%
20Waiters and Waitresses$37,070
No formal educational credential
$27,310 – $72,180+5.2%
21Construction Managers$120,800
Bachelor's degree
$63,200 – $212,960+5.1%
22Bill and Account Collectors$49,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,410 – $59,160+4.3%
23Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$52,420
Associate's degree
$39,080 – $63,620+3.6%
24Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$47,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,710 – $58,640+3.6%
25Food Preparation Workers$36,330
No formal educational credential
$28,080 – $43,220+2.9%
26Physical Therapist Assistants$70,170
Associate's degree
$59,170 – $81,900+2.6%
27First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$45,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,430 – $64,050+2.6%
28Network and Computer Systems Administrators$101,560
Bachelor's degree
$62,280 – $153,200+2.5%
29Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040+2.5%
30Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030+2.4%
31First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$95,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$74,690 – $120,790+2.3%
32Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$71,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,250 – $133,380+2.2%
33Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$60,530
Bachelor's degree
$39,070 – $82,920+2.1%
34Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$48,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,590 – $62,150+1.9%
35Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$61,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,610 – $77,970+1.6%
36Office Clerks, General$45,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,090 – $64,070+1.5%
37First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$49,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,230 – $82,910+1.3%
38Loan Interviewers and Clerks$50,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,940 – $63,540+1.0%
39Medical and Health Services Managers$124,980
Bachelor's degree
$66,830 – $214,610+0.9%
40Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$68,800
Master's degree
$50,410 – $94,790+0.8%
41Veterinarians$131,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,400 – $207,920+0.8%
42Recreation Workers$36,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,370 – $49,070+0.8%
43Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,820
Associate's degree
$60,520 – $78,730+0.7%
44Firefighters$59,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,650 – $80,610+0.6%
45Private Detectives and Investigators$51,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,650 – $76,840+0.3%
46Cost Estimators$78,740
Bachelor's degree
$45,280 – $128,7800.0%
47Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,100 – $104,4300.0%
48Public Safety Telecommunicators$53,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,100 – $76,7500.0%
49Pest Control Workers$45,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,430 – $61,460-0.1%
50Computer Network Support Specialists$76,160
Associate's degree
$49,210 – $128,050-0.1%

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

#	Occupation	MedianTampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,740	$52,870 – $120,580	+29.2%
2	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,920	$37,140 – $75,590	+20.8%
3	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$124,560	$57,850 – $156,850	+19.1%
4	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,030	$36,740 – $74,120	+18.6%
5	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,070	$45,600 – $101,390	+15.6%
6	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,180	$45,700 – $101,050	+15.5%
7	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$45,220	$34,170 – $49,200	+12.7%
8	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,340	$44,660 – $95,210	+10.9%
9	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$37,460	$27,420 – $78,210	+9.1%
10	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,940	$36,750 – $57,670	+9.1%
11	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$74,180	$40,290 – $108,820	+9.1%
12	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$73,920	$35,700 – $109,340	+8.8%
13	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$99,370	$61,400 – $126,440	+8.4%
14	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$287,200	$90,210 – $419,430	+8.0%
15	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$114,400	$84,470 – $162,360	+7.9%
16	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$49,850	$37,470 – $60,520	+7.4%
17	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,330	$29,630 – $59,890	+7.2%
18	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$49,190	$35,770 – $62,380	+6.5%
19	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$84,590	$57,050 – $105,760	+5.4%
20	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$37,070	$27,310 – $72,180	+5.2%
21	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$120,800	$63,200 – $212,960	+5.1%
22	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,070	$36,410 – $59,160	+4.3%
23	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$52,420	$39,080 – $63,620	+3.6%
24	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,210	$36,710 – $58,640	+3.6%
25	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$36,330	$28,080 – $43,220	+2.9%
26	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,170	$59,170 – $81,900	+2.6%
27	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,240	$30,430 – $64,050	+2.6%
28	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$101,560	$62,280 – $153,200	+2.5%
29	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	+2.5%
30	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $75,030	+2.4%
31	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,670	$74,690 – $120,790	+2.3%
32	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,510	$44,250 – $133,380	+2.2%
33	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$60,530	$39,070 – $82,920	+2.1%
34	Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,790	$37,590 – $62,150	+1.9%
35	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,040	$40,610 – $77,970	+1.6%
36	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,680	$32,090 – $64,070	+1.5%
37	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,180	$37,230 – $82,910	+1.3%
38	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,510	$32,940 – $63,540	+1.0%
39	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$124,980	$66,830 – $214,610	+0.9%
40	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$68,800	$50,410 – $94,790	+0.8%
41	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$131,190	$62,400 – $207,920	+0.8%
42	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,840	$29,370 – $49,070	+0.8%
43	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,820	$60,520 – $78,730	+0.7%
44	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,660	$39,650 – $80,610	+0.6%
45	Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,390	$36,650 – $76,840	+0.3%
46	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$78,740	$45,280 – $128,780	0.0%
47	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,990	$48,100 – $104,430	0.0%
48	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,040	$39,100 – $76,750	0.0%
49	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,190	$35,430 – $61,460	-0.1%
50	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,160	$49,210 – $128,050	-0.1%

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

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