The 30 highest-paying jobs in Florida
Many jobs in Florida that pay well require a medical degree.
Other industries that offer well-paid jobs in Florida include aviation, STEM, business, and law.
In Florida, cardiologists take home the highest pay on average, followed by emergency medicine physicians and ophthalmologists.
Miami-Dade County is home to the highest average wages in the state.
Considering relocating to the Sunshine State for your next job? If it’s high earnings you’re after, securing employment in Florida could be a smart financial move – the state is home to some of the highest-paid jobs in the country.
In this article, we break down the highest-paying jobs in Florida and their educational requirements.
Keep in mind that many require medical degrees, while others are accessible through extensive experience or training.
Florida employment at a glance
If you’re considering making the move to the Sunshine State for work, here’s what to expect from the job scene.
In the last few years, Florida has seen significant population growth: 4 of the nation’s top 5 fastest-growing cities in population are in Florida, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This growth points to a larger trend in the South of mass migration from other parts of the U.S.
Employment is on the rise, too, with the BLS reporting increased employment in all 26 of Florida’s largest counties from 2022-2023.
Average weekly wages across the top-paying counties in Florida are $1,150 and up, which is slightly less than the national average. Miami-Dade County is the only county in the state with higher average weekly wages ($1,339) than the national average, corresponding to a higher cost of living.
In Florida, the industries with the highest employment levels include:
- Administrative support
- Sales
- Food prep and serving
- Transportation
- Material moving
- Business and finance operations
- Healthcare
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
For those looking to break into tech, Miami is quickly becoming what some call a new Silicon Valley, attracting many of the country’s largest employers in the tech industry. Orlando has also witnessed a tech boom in recent years, with many major employers, like Oracle, Siemens, and EA, setting up shop in the city.
The 10 highest-paying jobs in Florida
The highest-paying jobs in Florida are mostly in healthcare, aviation, STEM, and business. While the majority require medical degrees, a handful can be accessed with just a bachelor’s degree.
To make this list, we’ve used the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on employment and earnings in the state.
1. Cardiologists
Mean annual salary: $494,690
Minimum educational requirements: Medical school and specialized training
On average, cardiologists take home the highest salaries in Florida. These doctors are skilled in preventing and treating disorders related to the cardiovascular system, or the heart and blood vessels.
Cardiologists in Florida are paid slightly more than the national average of $423,250.
2. Emergency Medicine Physicians
Mean annual salary: $388,950
Minimum educational requirements: Medical school and specialized training
Emergency medicine physicians are doctors who work in emergency rooms to provide urgent care for critically ill and injured patients. Life-threatening situations that require immediate medical attention include major trauma (e.g., from car accidents or falls), head, neck, and spine injuries, and difficulties breathing.
On average, emergency medicine physicians in Florida make about $82,310 more than the national average.
3. Ophthalmologists (Excluding Pediatric)
Mean annual salary: $376,330
Minimum educational requirements: Medical school and specialized training
Ophthalmologists (from the Greek word ophthalmós, or eye) are doctors who treat eye disorders and diseases, usually with surgery. Like optometrists, they might also provide vision services. Ophthalmologists typically work in hospitals or private practices.
In Florida, ophthalmologists enjoy higher earnings than the job’s national average, which is $312,120 as of May 2023.
4. Radiologists
Mean annual salary: $331,040
Minimum educational requirements: Medical school and specialized training
Radiologists are healthcare professionals who diagnose illness and injuries using medical imaging (radiology), such X-rays, which are taken by X-ray technicians and other specialists. Most radiologists work in the radiology department of hospitals or private medical centers.
While well paid, radiologists make a bit less in Florida than the national average.
5. Orthodontists
Mean annual salary: $323,030
Minimum educational requirements: Dental school and specialized training
Orthodontists are dentists who specialize in correcting tooth and jaw alignment, fixing dental abnormalities such as overbites or crooked teeth with braces and other medical devices. Most work in a private practice.
On average, Florida-based orthodontists earn significantly more than the national average, which is $243,620 as of May 2023.
6. Neurologists
Mean annual salary: $290,550
Minimum educational requirements: Medical school and specialized training
Neurologists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders affecting the brain and nervous system. Patients visit a neurologist to treat conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
In Florida, neurologists take home on average about $20,000 more per year than the national average.
7. Physicians, All Other
Mean annual salary: $288,670
Minimum educational requirements: Medical school and specialized training
Physicians, or doctors, diagnose and treat injuries or illness, while also advising patients on how to maintain their overall health. Becoming a doctor requires an M.D. (Medical Doctor) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), with the latter degree focusing on the musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine, and holistic patient care.
While physicians are already among the highest paid in the country, they earn even more when based in Florida – about $50,000 more than the national average.
8. Anesthesiologists
Mean annual salary: $284,750
Minimum educational requirements: Medical school and specialized training
Anesthesiologists are doctors who administer anesthesia to prevent patients from feeling pain when undergoing surgery and other invasive procedures, often collaborating with nurse anesthetists. Common techniques include general anesthesia, sedation, and regional anesthesia. Most anesthesiologists work in private practices or hospitals.
On average, anesthesiologists are paid about $55,000 less than the national average. Typically, the highest-paid anesthesiologists work in doctor’s offices.
9. Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Mean annual salary: $283,740
Minimum educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree and/or specialized experience
While pilots and copilots operate fixed-wing aircraft (airplanes) to transport cargo or passengers, flight engineers are responsible for aircraft design and maintenance.
Professional pilots need certificates and ratings from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and flight training with an independent FAA-certified instructor or school. Note that commercial pilot is one of the best-paying jobs you can get without a degree. Flight engineers, on the other hand, should have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and an FAA-issued certificate.
Florida is the 4th best-paying state for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers after Washington, Illinois, and California.
10. Family Medicine Physicians
Mean annual salary: $253,560
Minimum educational requirements: Medical school and specialized training
Family medicine physicians are doctors who provide continuing comprehensive primary care to patients of all ages. As family doctors, they often treat the same people and their families throughout their lives, allowing for more personalized care.
Family doctors have the 3rd highest employment level in the country, according to the BLS. The average salary for family doctors in Florida is on par with the national average.
More of the best-paying jobs in Florida
After healthcare providers and pilots, managers in STEM and business are the highest paid in Florida.
Curious how much these roles take home in Florida on average? Below, we list the average earnings for the 30 best-paid jobs in Florida, with all data sourced from the BLS.
| Role | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Cardiologists | $494,690 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $388,950 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $376,330 |
| Radiologists | $331,040 |
| Orthodontists | $323,030 |
| Neurologists | $290,550 |
| Physicians, All Other | $288,670 |
| Anesthesiologists | $284,750 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $283,740 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $253,560 |
| Chief Executives | $248,690 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $233,010 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $222,130 |
| Pediatricians, General | $210,100 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $202,880 |
| Dentists, General | $181,950 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $176,950 |
| Physicists | $167,460 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $164,440 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $164,220 |
| Financial Managers | $162,180 |
| Marketing Managers | $155,990 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | $150,550 |
| Sales Managers | $150,040 |
| Lawyers | $147,320 |
| Sales Engineers | $145,490 |
| Veterinarians | $143,950 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $142,410 |
| Podiatrists | $142,200 |
| Purchasing Managers | $140,710 |
Well-paid jobs in Florida with little schooling
According to the BLS, over half of the 30 highest-paying jobs in Florida require a medical degree. Overall, this is in line with the best-paid jobs in the U.S. But with a high barrier to entry (i.e., tuition and debt for attending medical school), these jobs are inaccessible to many – especially those paying their own way through school.
Luckily, there are plenty of well-paid jobs in Florida that you can get with little schooling. Many just require a bachelor’s degree and experience (and training in some cases).
Highest-paying jobs in Florida with little schooling
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($283,740) – Pilots and flight engineers need a bachelor’s degree, along with flight training and certification, from an approved school.
Physicists ($167,460) – If employed by the federal government, physicists typically just need a bachelor’s degree in physics.
Computer and Information Systems Managers ($164,440) – Computer and information systems managers need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a similar field, and a few years’ experience. Some organizations, though, ask for an MBA.
Architectural and Engineering Managers ($164,220) – Architectural and engineering managers have a bachelor’s degree in architecture or engineering, along with work experience as an architect or engineer.
Financial Managers ($162,180) – Financial managers have a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a similar field, and 5 or more years of experience.
Marketing Managers ($155,990) – Marketing managers typically have a bachelor’s degree in marketing or business, but with enough experience (i.e., about 5 years), can get away with a bachelor’s degree in any field.
Personal Financial Advisors ($150,550) – Because personal finance advisors typically get on-the-job training, they can have a bachelor’s degree in any subject. That said, it’s usually in business, social science, or mathematics.
Sales Managers ($150,040) – Sale managers usually have a bachelor’s degree in any subject and between 1 to 5 years’ experience as a sales rep.
Sales Engineers ($145,490) – Sales engineers have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field, like business. Some get away without having one, though, if they have enough sales and technical experience.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Final thoughts
Getting a well-paying job in the Sunshine State will likely mean earning a bachelor’s degree or higher.
But heading to Florida for college may help lower educational costs, too; apart from having some of the highest-paying jobs in the country, Florida is home to some of the most affordable colleges in the nation.
Whether you end up in Florida for your next job or not, it’s worth checking out their best-value colleges. With average tuition at just $15,608 and the top 10 colleges in Florida by value for money costing just $10,000 a year or less, college in Florida is one investment that won’t break the bank.
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