When it Pays to Work in Florida — and When It Doesn’t

Florida’s economy has a pull of its own, from tourism and health care to construction and finance. But does working in the Sunshine State pay more? After adjusting for regional price differences, occupational pay gaps can look different than headline salaries suggest. For some workers, Florida offers a meaningful pay advantage; for others, the same job may command substantially more elsewhere.

SmartAsset evaluated more than 700 occupations to identify the 15 with the biggest “Florida premium” — the jobs for which price-adjusted median annual pay in Florida most exceeds the national median for the same occupation. The study also identified the 15 occupations with the biggest “Florida penalty,” or those for which median annual pay in Florida falls furthest below the national median.

Key Findings

• Barbers have the biggest “Florida premium.” Distinct from the related occupation of hairstylist, barbers earn 24.8% more in Florida than the national median for their occupation after adjusting for regional price parity.
• Athletes earn more in the Sunshine State. With 12 minor league baseball teams and numerous professional and semiprofessional franchises, Florida has the highest concentration of athlete employees in the United States, approximately 0.2 per 1,000 jobs. Median pay for athletes in Florida is 13.7% higher than the national median.
• Physician pay varies by specialty. Emergency medicine physicians earn 41.1% less in Florida than the national median after adjusting for regional price parity. However, psychiatrists and anesthesiologists earn 8.2% and 14.7% more, respectively.
• Postsecondary instructors face some of the biggest “Florida penalties.” English, math and biology postsecondary instructors all earn less in Florida than their national peers, with median pay trailing the national median for each occupation. Low median pay may reflect Florida’s reported reliance on adjunct faculty in public colleges and universities.

Jobs with the Biggest “Florida Premiums”

1. Barber

• Number of jobs in Florida: 1,240
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $49,410
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $47,676
• Difference from national median salary: 24.8%

2. Optician

• Number of jobs in Florida: 5,080
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $58,850
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $56,785
• Difference from national median salary: 20.2%

3. Judge

• Number of jobs in Florida: 1,380
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $186,040
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $179,513
• Difference from national median salary: 16.6%

4. Dental Lab Technician

• Number of jobs in Florida: 2,330
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $59,790
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $57,692
• Difference from national median salary: 16.3%

5. Ship Engineer

• Number of jobs in Florida: 1,260
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $130,480
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $125,902
• Difference from national median salary: 14.9%

6. Anesthesiologist

• Number of jobs in Florida: 2,530
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $465,370
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $449,043
• Difference from national median salary: 14.7%

7. Athlete

• Number of jobs in Florida: 1,360
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $78,610
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $75,852
• Difference from national median salary: 13.7%

8. RV Service Technician

• Number of jobs in Florida: 1,040
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $60,560
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $58,435
• Difference from national median salary: 12.4%

9. Medical Registrar

• Number of jobs in Florida: 2,360
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $76,950
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $74,250
• Difference from national median salary: 9.2%

10. Sailor

• Number of jobs in Florida: 2,710
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $57,930
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $55,898
• Difference from national median salary: 8.5%

11. Home Appliance Repairer

• Number of jobs in Florida: 3,000
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $57,280
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $55,270
• Difference from national median salary: 8.4%

12. Gambling Dealer

• Number of jobs in Florida: 5,370
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $38,500
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $37,149
• Difference from national median salary: 8.2%

13. Psychiatrist

• Number of jobs in Florida: 1,930
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $316,200
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $305,106
• Difference from national median salary: 8.2%

14. Optometrist

• Number of jobs in Florida: 2,350
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $151,670
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $146,349
• Difference from national median salary: 7.2%

15. Transportation Inspector

• Number of jobs in Florida: 1,630
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $101,470
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $97,910
• Difference from national median salary: 6.3%

Jobs with the Biggest “Florida Penalties”

1. Fashion Designer

• Number of jobs in Florida: 1,100
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $43,020
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $41,511
• Difference from national median salary: -48.7%

2. Emergency Medicine Physician

• Number of jobs in Florida: 2,060
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $204,990
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $197,798
• Difference from national median salary: -41.1%

3. Natural Science Manager

• Number of jobs in Florida: 4,370
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $112,220
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $108,283
• Difference from national median salary: -35.2%

4. Biology Instructor (Postsecondary)

• Number of jobs in Florida: 2,020
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $57,140
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $55,135
• Difference from national median salary: -34.8%

5. Court Reporter

• Number of jobs in Florida: 1,110
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $49,240
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $47,512
• Difference from national median salary: -34.4%

6. Government Programs Eligibility Interviewer

• Number of jobs in Florida: 5,880
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $37,230
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $35,924
• Difference from national median salary: -33.7%

7. Wildlife Biologist

• Number of jobs in Florida: 1,400
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $52,750
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $50,899
• Difference from national median salary: -33.7%

8. Correction Officer Supervisor

• Number of jobs in Florida: 6,480
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $55,620
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $53,669
• Difference from national median salary: -31.2%

9. Typist

• Number of jobs in Florida: 1,000
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $35,770
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $34,515
• Difference from national median salary: -30.0%

10. Environmental Scientist

• Number of jobs in Florida: 5,950
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $60,830
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $58,696
• Difference from national median salary: -28.6%

11. Flight Attendant

• Number of jobs in Florida: 13,220
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $47,320
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $45,660
• Difference from national median salary: -28.2%

12. Web Designer

• Number of jobs in Florida: 4,620
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $77,730
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $75,003
• Difference from national median salary: -27.9%

13. Tax Examiner / Collector

• Number of jobs in Florida: 3,950
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $46,760
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $45,119
• Difference from national median salary: -27.7%

14. English Instructor (Postsecondary)

• Number of jobs in Florida: 2,480
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $59,740
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $57,644
• Difference from national median salary: -26.8%

15. Math Instructor (Postsecondary)

• Number of jobs in Florida: 2,660
• Median annual salary in Florida (actual): $60,700
• Median annual salary in Florida (price-adjusted): $58,570
• Difference from national median salary: -26.7%

Methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) occupational wage data for May 2025, the most recent period available, was analyzed for both Florida and the United States. Florida median salaries were adjusted for regional price parity (RPP) using a factor of 103.4 (U.S. = 100), dividing nominal salaries by 1.034 to express values in real, nationally comparable dollars. Some occupations were excluded, including occupations in residual (“all others”) categories and occupations employing fewer than 1,000 Florida workers. Comparable data was not available for some high wage occupations. In some cases, occupation titles were modified from BLS Standard Occupational Classification titles for presentation purposes; the underlying occupation definitions and codes were unchanged. Source data providers are not affiliated with, and do not endorse or sponsor, this study or its findings. 

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