Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Wildwood-The Villages, FL

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

Cost of living: prices in Wildwood-The Villages, FL run 14.6% below the national average (2024), so a Wildwood-The Villages, FL salary is worth about 1.17× 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 Wildwood-The Villages, FL

OccupationMedian, Wildwood-The Villages, FL · vs. national

1Teachers and Instructors, All Other$90,560
Bachelor's degree
$57,590 – $111,650+36.9%
2Opticians, Dispensing$57,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,870 – $74,170+22.0%
3Social Workers, All Other$87,420
Bachelor's degree
$49,570 – $118,910+21.6%
4Real Estate Sales Agents$63,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,010 – $77,240+20.4%
5Correctional Officers and Jailers$67,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,130 – $79,390+15.0%
6Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$55,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,070 – $69,220+13.7%
7Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$54,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,770 – $95,390+11.4%
8Information and Record Clerks, All Other$55,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,830 – $79,390+11.2%
9Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$103,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,740 – $105,970+8.1%
10Healthcare Social Workers$73,200
Master's degree
$47,840 – $85,920+7.8%
11Physicians, All Other$286,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,160 – $460,610+7.7%
12Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$48,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,990 – $75,190+6.2%
13Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$77,950
Associate's degree
$35,140 – $126,870+4.9%
14Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$73,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,090 – $123,490+4.5%
15Speech-Language Pathologists$102,260
Master's degree
$68,620 – $124,500+4.5%
16Waiters and Waitresses$36,340
No formal educational credential
$27,450 – $66,970+3.2%
17Physical Therapist Assistants$70,480
Associate's degree
$58,710 – $78,280+3.1%
18Food Service Managers$71,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,540 – $121,130+2.8%
19Butchers and Meat Cutters$41,130
No formal educational credential
$31,180 – $48,410+2.5%
20File Clerks$44,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,240 – $59,190+1.6%
21Skincare Specialists$45,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,150 – $77,170+1.0%
22Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$45,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,450 – $72,340+0.9%
23Social and Community Service Managers$80,870
Bachelor's degree
$60,360 – $120,970+0.6%
24Food Preparation Workers$35,410
No formal educational credential
$27,780 – $39,660+0.3%
25Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$48,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $59,580+0.3%
26Bartenders$34,350
No formal educational credential
$27,690 – $62,5900.0%
27Bakers$37,080
No formal educational credential
$30,900 – $43,700-0.2%
28Network and Computer Systems Administrators$98,950
Bachelor's degree
$61,500 – $127,730-0.2%
29Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$50,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,810 – $67,640-0.3%
30Dentists, General$170,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$99,790 – $330,240-0.5%
31Recreation Workers$36,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,610 – $81,270-1.0%
32First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$43,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,650 – $61,770-1.2%
33Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,830 – $97,670-1.6%
34First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,560 – $73,640-1.7%
35Management Analysts$99,300
Bachelor's degree
$50,330 – $144,580-2.5%
36Industrial Production Managers$122,540
Bachelor's degree
$53,630 – $196,360-2.8%
37Data Entry Keyers$40,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,940 – $45,160-2.9%
38Computer User Support Specialists$60,060
Some college, no degree
$36,330 – $91,610-2.9%
39Cost Estimators$76,390
Bachelor's degree
$50,170 – $132,140-3.0%
40Physician Assistants$131,710
Master's degree
$103,230 – $208,650-3.1%
41Physical Therapists$99,610
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,870 – $115,330-3.1%
42Painters, Construction and Maintenance$47,800
No formal educational credential
$33,850 – $56,520-3.2%
43Retail Salespersons$34,290
No formal educational credential
$27,620 – $43,390-3.2%
44Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$33,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,970 – $38,100-3.3%
45Office Clerks, General$43,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,370 – $63,250-3.5%
46First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,450 – $94,340-3.5%
47Civil Engineers$96,860
Bachelor's degree
$53,980 – $140,350-3.9%
48Cooks, Restaurant$35,920
No formal educational credential
$29,780 – $45,110-3.9%
49Occupational Therapists$96,310
Master's degree
$63,170 – $106,330-4.0%
50Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$35,940
No formal educational credential
$31,530 – $45,330-4.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianWildwood-The Villages, FL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$90,560	$57,590 – $111,650	+36.9%
2	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,670	$35,870 – $74,170	+22.0%
3	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$87,420	$49,570 – $118,910	+21.6%
4	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,630	$30,010 – $77,240	+20.4%
5	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,770	$47,130 – $79,390	+15.0%
6	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,060	$37,070 – $69,220	+13.7%
7	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,120	$36,770 – $95,390	+11.4%
8	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,040	$40,830 – $79,390	+11.2%
9	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,060	$62,740 – $105,970	+8.1%
10	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$73,200	$47,840 – $85,920	+7.8%
11	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$286,310	$103,160 – $460,610	+7.7%
12	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,510	$35,990 – $75,190	+6.2%
13	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,950	$35,140 – $126,870	+4.9%
14	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,140	$48,090 – $123,490	+4.5%
15	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$102,260	$68,620 – $124,500	+4.5%
16	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$36,340	$27,450 – $66,970	+3.2%
17	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,480	$58,710 – $78,280	+3.1%
18	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,360	$48,540 – $121,130	+2.8%
19	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$41,130	$31,180 – $48,410	+2.5%
20	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,300	$38,240 – $59,190	+1.6%
21	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,800	$32,150 – $77,170	+1.0%
22	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,670	$33,450 – $72,340	+0.9%
23	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$80,870	$60,360 – $120,970	+0.6%
24	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,410	$27,780 – $39,660	+0.3%
25	Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,010	$36,400 – $59,580	+0.3%
26	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$34,350	$27,690 – $62,590	0.0%
27	BakersNo formal educational credential	$37,080	$30,900 – $43,700	-0.2%
28	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$98,950	$61,500 – $127,730	-0.2%
29	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,200	$38,810 – $67,640	-0.3%
30	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$170,180	$99,790 – $330,240	-0.5%
31	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,200	$30,610 – $81,270	-1.0%
32	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,560	$29,650 – $61,770	-1.2%
33	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,060	$37,830 – $97,670	-1.6%
34	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,680	$31,560 – $73,640	-1.7%
35	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$99,300	$50,330 – $144,580	-2.5%
36	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$122,540	$53,630 – $196,360	-2.8%
37	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,140	$34,940 – $45,160	-2.9%
38	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$60,060	$36,330 – $91,610	-2.9%
39	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$76,390	$50,170 – $132,140	-3.0%
40	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$131,710	$103,230 – $208,650	-3.1%
41	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$99,610	$77,870 – $115,330	-3.1%
42	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$47,800	$33,850 – $56,520	-3.2%
43	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$34,290	$27,620 – $43,390	-3.2%
44	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,930	$28,970 – $38,100	-3.3%
45	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,430	$30,370 – $63,250	-3.5%
46	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,660	$44,450 – $94,340	-3.5%
47	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$96,860	$53,980 – $140,350	-3.9%
48	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$35,920	$29,780 – $45,110	-3.9%
49	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$96,310	$63,170 – $106,330	-4.0%
50	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$35,940	$31,530 – $45,330	-4.0%

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