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. 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.
