Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Valdosta, GA

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

Cost of living: prices in Valdosta, GA run 11.7% below the national average (2024), so a Valdosta, GA salary is worth about 1.13× 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 Valdosta, GA

OccupationMedian, Valdosta, GA · vs. national

1Social Workers, All Other$87,420
Bachelor's degree
$34,980 – $103,380+21.6%
2Self-Enrichment Teachers$56,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,450 – $97,320+20.6%
3Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$79,490
Bachelor's degree
$35,500 – $99,660+19.9%
4Helpers--Production Workers$44,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,090 – $58,840+13.5%
5Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$107,060
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,920 – $175,780+10.4%
6Coaches and Scouts$51,440
Bachelor's degree
$30,190 – $91,990+8.7%
7Special Education Teachers, All Other$81,700
Bachelor's degree
$28,600 – $101,350+6.7%
8Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$50,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,420 – $56,750+6.2%
9Information and Record Clerks, All Other$51,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,880 – $59,960+4.3%
10Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$48,360
No formal educational credential
$37,010 – $48,360+4.2%
11Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$70,840
Master's degree
$36,340 – $88,630+3.8%
12Education Administrators, Postsecondary$106,900
Master's degree
$66,940 – $172,800+2.2%
13Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$64,020
Bachelor's degree
$35,470 – $101,510+2.1%
14Instructional Coordinators$78,420
Master's degree
$54,860 – $101,210+1.3%
15Family Medicine Physicians$246,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,310 – $486,010+0.8%
16Physical Therapist Assistants$68,470
Associate's degree
$28,380 – $76,890+0.1%
17First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,260 – $79,240-0.8%
18Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,480
Bachelor's degree
$47,210 – $99,330-0.8%
19Stockers and Order Fillers$36,290
No formal educational credential
$29,400 – $41,050-2.8%
20Production Workers, All Other$38,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,240 – $72,120-3.6%
21Parts Salespersons$37,120
No formal educational credential
$24,200 – $54,230-3.9%
22Butchers and Meat Cutters$38,440
No formal educational credential
$27,980 – $52,640-4.2%
23Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$66,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,580 – $109,110-4.6%
24Bus Drivers, School$45,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$18,400 – $99,100-5.0%
25Physical Therapists$97,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,470 – $132,560-5.6%
26Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$35,970
Associate's degree
$21,510 – $69,060-5.7%
27Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$46,640
No formal educational credential
$28,380 – $64,910-6.1%
28Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$61,170
Bachelor's degree
$47,350 – $101,700-6.1%
29Opticians, Dispensing$44,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,840 – $64,590-6.4%
30Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$60,020
Bachelor's degree
$35,590 – $82,420-6.8%
31Personal Financial Advisors$97,360
Bachelor's degree
$45,050 – $243,280-7.3%
32Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,930
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-7.6%
33Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$46,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,070 – $75,640-7.7%
34Occupational Therapists$92,430
Master's degree
$40,740 – $118,170-7.9%
35New Accounts Clerks$43,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,950 – $58,790-8.2%
36Logisticians$75,360
Bachelor's degree
$51,000 – $117,880-8.5%
37Medical Records Specialists$46,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,390 – $68,490-8.5%
38Logging Equipment Operators$45,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,700 – $70,190-8.5%
39Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$98,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,760 – $161,700-8.5%
40Industrial Engineers$93,380
Bachelor's degree
$55,370 – $126,810-8.8%
41Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$42,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,030 – $45,350-9.1%
42Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$45,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,570 – $73,440-9.1%
43Facilities Managers$96,730
Bachelor's degree
$61,270 – $132,550-9.3%
44Pharmacists$127,810
Doctoral or professional degree
$98,600 – $159,040-9.3%
45Helpers--Electricians$38,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,820 – $49,020-9.4%
46Teachers and Instructors, All Other$59,910
Bachelor's degree
$36,170 – $93,940-9.4%
47Dental Assistants$43,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,980 – $48,420-9.8%
48Industrial Machinery Mechanics$58,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,980 – $81,280-9.9%
49Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$95,000
Master's degree
$53,290 – $119,350-10.3%
50Driver/Sales Workers$34,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$19,730 – $56,360-10.5%

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

#	Occupation	MedianValdosta, GA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$87,420	$34,980 – $103,380	+21.6%
2	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,430	$25,450 – $97,320	+20.6%
3	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$79,490	$35,500 – $99,660	+19.9%
4	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,350	$28,090 – $58,840	+13.5%
5	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$107,060	$49,920 – $175,780	+10.4%
6	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$51,440	$30,190 – $91,990	+8.7%
7	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$81,700	$28,600 – $101,350	+6.7%
8	Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,840	$37,420 – $56,750	+6.2%
9	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,630	$38,880 – $59,960	+4.3%
10	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$48,360	$37,010 – $48,360	+4.2%
11	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$70,840	$36,340 – $88,630	+3.8%
12	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$106,900	$66,940 – $172,800	+2.2%
13	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$64,020	$35,470 – $101,510	+2.1%
14	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$78,420	$54,860 – $101,210	+1.3%
15	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$246,190	$61,310 – $486,010	+0.8%
16	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$68,470	$28,380 – $76,890	+0.1%
17	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,390	$37,260 – $79,240	-0.8%
18	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$63,480	$47,210 – $99,330	-0.8%
19	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$36,290	$29,400 – $41,050	-2.8%
20	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,650	$27,240 – $72,120	-3.6%
21	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$37,120	$24,200 – $54,230	-3.9%
22	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$38,440	$27,980 – $52,640	-4.2%
23	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,790	$44,580 – $109,110	-4.6%
24	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,540	$18,400 – $99,100	-5.0%
25	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$97,050	$63,470 – $132,560	-5.6%
26	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$35,970	$21,510 – $69,060	-5.7%
27	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$46,640	$28,380 – $64,910	-6.1%
28	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$61,170	$47,350 – $101,700	-6.1%
29	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,220	$30,840 – $64,590	-6.4%
30	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$60,020	$35,590 – $82,420	-6.8%
31	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$97,360	$45,050 – $243,280	-7.3%
32	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$55,930	$42,390 – $81,040	-7.6%
33	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,730	$30,070 – $75,640	-7.7%
34	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$92,430	$40,740 – $118,170	-7.9%
35	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,750	$35,950 – $58,790	-8.2%
36	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$75,360	$51,000 – $117,880	-8.5%
37	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,770	$30,390 – $68,490	-8.5%
38	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,490	$31,700 – $70,190	-8.5%
39	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,130	$58,760 – $161,700	-8.5%
40	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$93,380	$55,370 – $126,810	-8.8%
41	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,160	$31,030 – $45,350	-9.1%
42	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,740	$34,570 – $73,440	-9.1%
43	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$96,730	$61,270 – $132,550	-9.3%
44	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$127,810	$98,600 – $159,040	-9.3%
45	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,670	$28,820 – $49,020	-9.4%
46	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$59,910	$36,170 – $93,940	-9.4%
47	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,380	$34,980 – $48,420	-9.8%
48	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,160	$40,980 – $81,280	-9.9%
49	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$95,000	$53,290 – $119,350	-10.3%
50	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,680	$19,730 – $56,360	-10.5%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Valdosta, GA

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