Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs in Miami
Experts estimate that Miami, Florida’s GDP per capita will reach $49,293 by the end of 2022. Miami’s economy has improved significantly over the last several years, and its population has grown quite a bit as well (by over 21 percent in the last 12 years).
Because Miami is growing so rapidly, there are lots of job opportunities here. This includes lots of high-paying jobs for skilled workers.
Are you thinking about searching for a new job in Miami? It doesn’t matter if you’re a soon-to-be graduate or a seasoned professional who wants to make a career change. Either way, this guide is for you.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the highest-paying jobs in Miami, the highest-paying industries in Miami, and the highest-paying jobs in Miami for fresh graduates. You’ll learn about the best degrees for students to work toward if they want to land a great job right out of college, too.
What Salary Is Considered Rich in Miami?
Before we talk about the best-paid jobs in Miami, let’s clarify what kind of salary you ought to be aiming for if your goal is to fall into the “rich” category. The figure out what “rich” means in Miami, we first need to determine what the average salary is in this city.
The average Miami resident earns approximately $92,800 per year. However, the median salary is just in this area is just $35,780 per year.
One of the reasons for this discrepancy is that there are lots of high earners in Miami whose salaries skew the average. Salaries in this part of the state range from $23,500 per year (the lowest average) to over $400,000 per year (the highest average).
Miami is, unfortunately, known as one of the poorest-paid cities in the United States. For professionals who want to maximize their earnings in their field, Miami might not be the right place to settle long-term. However, if you want to live close to the beach and enjoy beautiful weather year-round, it might be worth it to take a lower salary in exchange for gorgeous ocean views.
With all that in mind, it’s safe to say that earnings close to or above $150,000 per year would be a good salary for someone in Miami. The cost of living here is quite a bit higher than in the rest of Florida, so a salary that exceeds $100,000 per year is needed for you to live comfortably, pay all your bills, and have plenty of disposable income leftover.
What Is the #1 Highest-Paid Position in Miami?
Now that we’ve addressed the average salary in Miami and what one needs to earn to be considered rich, let’s get into the highest-paying jobs in this city.
The number one highest-paid professionals in Miami are airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers. They earn an average salary of $239,250 per year (more than double the average salary for a Miami resident). The entry-level salary is very high for these professionals, too ($118,720 per year), so even those who are fresh from school can earn a good living in this field.
If you aren’t intrigued by the idea of working as a pilot or flight engineer, don’t panic. You can still earn a high salary in Miami in one of these other professions, which are ranked from lowest to highest annual salary:
20. Psychiatrists: Average Salary $135,540 per year
19. Marketing Managers: Average Salary $136,000 per year
18. Air Traffic Controller: Average Salary $136,060 per year
17. Postsecondary Law Teachers: Average Salary $139,960 per year
16. Sales Manager: Average Salary $143,520 per year
15. Veterinarian: Average Salary $145,380 per year
14. Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers: Average Salary $145,990 per year
13. Financial Managers: Average Salary $151,700 per year
12. General Internal Medicine Physicians: Average Salary $152,600 per year
11. Computer and Information Systems Managers: Average Salary $158,450 per year
10. General Pediatricians: Average Salary $163,300 per year
9. Lawyers: Average Salary $169,480 per year
8. Family Medicine Physicians: Average Salary $172,390 per year
7. Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates: Average Salary $175,690 per year
6. Nurse Anesthetists: Average Salary $193,540 per year
5. General Dentists: Average Salary $209,510 per year
4. Surgeons: Average Salary $213,610 per year
3. All Physicians and Ophthalmologists (Except Pediatricians): Average Salary $214,380 per year
2. Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Average Salary $237,480 per year
1. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers: Average Salary $239,250 per year
Top 5 Highest-Paying Industries in Miami
In addition to knowing about the highest-paying jobs in this city, it’s also important to be aware of the highest-paying industries in Miami. A career in one of these 5 industries will help you to earn as much as possible and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle:
Because airline pilots are the number one highest-paid professionals in Miami, it makes sense that the aviation industry would be one of the city’s highest-paying industries (it also does hurt that it’s home to the Miami International Airport, which is a major airport in the United States).
Top 3 Careers
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers: Average Salary $239,250 per year
- Air Traffic Controllers: Average Salary $136,060 per year
- Flight Instructor: Average Salary $103,757 per year
Job Prospects: The job prospects for someone in the aviation industry are very promising. If you have training and experience as a pilot, air traffic controller, or another aviation professional, you will likely be able to find work (and well-paid work at that) very easily in the Miami area.
The healthcare industry is also a high-paying industry in Miami (and in most other parts of the country, too). From doctors to nurse anesthetists, there are lots of professionals in this field who earn very generous salaries in Miami.
Top 3 Careers
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Average Salary $237,480 per year
- Physicians and Ophthalmologists: Average Salary $214,380 per year
- Surgeons: Average Salary $213,610 per year
Job Prospects: For surgeons, physicians, and other healthcare professionals, Miami is a great place to live if you want to earn a high salary and find work easily. There is an immense demand for healthcare workers in this city right now, which means you won’t have to search too hard to find a position that comes with a competitive salary.
Lawyers, judges, and many other legal professionals can also earn very high salaries in the Miami area. The legal industry is easily one of the highest-paying industries in this part of the state, so it’s worth considering if you want to make a good living.
Top 3 Careers
- Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates: Average Salary $175,690 per year
- Lawyers: Average Salary $169,480 per year
- Postsecondary Law Teachers: Average Salary $139,960 per year
Job Prospects: Legal professionals can earn a lot of money in Miami. However, the legal field in Miami and throughout the United States is also very competitive. This means that it can be challenging to find a position.
For those who are passionate about the law and are willing to wait for the right job to open up, prospects look good. For those who aren’t willing to wait, though, the legal industry might not be the best fit.
There are lots of high-paying jobs for those who work in the business administration or sales sector. This industry is an excellent choice for professionals in Miami, especially those who work on the management side of things.
Top 3 Careers
- Sales Managers: Average Salary $143,520 per year
- Marketing Managers: Average Salary $136,000 per year
- Human Resources Managers: Average Salary $123,760 per year
Job Prospects: Lots of businesses operate out of Miami, from small and medium-sized companies to major corporations like American Airlines and Royal Caribbean. If you have a business background an want to earn an above-average salary in Miami, your prospects look very good in Miami. You’ll likely be able to find a high-paying job here without too much effort.
The information technology industry is another high-paying industry in Miami. For those who are tech-savvy and have a background in computer science or a related field, there are lots of good jobs here that will help you to live comfortably.
Top 3 Careers
- Computer and Information Systems Managers: Average Salary $158,450 per year
- Computer and Information Research Scientists: Average Salary $124,290 per year
- Data Scientists: Average Salary $116,630 per year
Job Prospects: The job prospects for those who want to work in the information technology sector are very promising in Miami. Lots of businesses in this part of the country need help from IT experts, so you likely will be able to find a job very soon as long as you have the right training and credentials.
Top 5 Highest-Paying Jobs in Miami for Fresh Graduates
For college students who are still choosing a career path, it’s important to think not just about the highest-paying jobs in Miami, but also about the highest-paying jobs in Miami for fresh graduates.
Many of the careers featured on the Top 20 list require several years of hard work before you can start earning a high salary. If you want to earn as much as possible right after graduation, though, one of these careers might be a better choice:
Nurse anesthetists are nursing professionals who provide patients with pain medication before, during, and after their operations. They work with anesthesiologists to administer medications and ensure patients stay asleep and remain pain-free.
Nurse anesthetists are some of the highest-paid medical professionals in Miami, and they also earn some of the highest entry-level salaries ($137,250 per year). It takes about 6 years to become a nurse anesthetist, too, so if you choose this path, you’ll be able to start your career (and start earning a high salary) sooner than a lot of other medical professionals.
Another medical profession that provides a high entry-level salary is a career as an obstetrician and gynecologist (or OB-GYN). OB-GYNs care for women during and after pregnancy. They also prescribe birth control, assist during childbirth, and offer guidance for women going through menopause.
When they first graduate, OB-GYNs can earn an average salary of $108,880 per year. Long-term, though, they can make much more than this ($237,480 per year on average).
It’s true that it takes a long time to become an OB-GYN (8 years of college and medical school, plus a 3 to 7-year internship/residency). However, all this time and effort can be worth it if it helps you earn a high salary and live comfortably in the Miami area, right?
As the highest-paid professionals in Miami, it stands to reason that airline pilots would also enjoy some of the highest entry-level salaries. The average entry-level salary for an airline pilot in Miami is $118,720 per year.
There’s more good news, though. It doesn’t take anywhere near as long to become an airline pilot as it does to attain some of the other careers on this list.
Most pilots have just a bachelor’s degree. This means you can complete your training and start earning a high salary sooner after leaving school. If you want to enjoy a high-paying position without spending a decade in college and medical school, this is a great career to consider.
For those who want to work in the healthcare field but don’t necessarily want to be a doctor or nurse, a career as a general dentist is a great option. The entry-level salary for a general dentist is $104,300 per year. With a few years of experience, you can earn double this amount, too!
To become a general dentist, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree (which takes about 4 years on average) and then 4 years of dental school. This isn’t as time-consuming as some of the other professions on this list, but it’s still a pretty significant time commitment. It’s worthwhile, though, to set yourself up for a lucrative future.
Another one of the best-paid jobs in Miami for fresh graduates is a career as a pharmacist. Pharmacists are responsible for dispensing medications and advising patients who visit the pharmacy.
The average entry-level salary for a pharmacist is $99,140 per year. Over time, though, you can earn quite a bit more ($121,860 per year on average).
It takes about 4-8 years to become a pharmacist, depending on whether you complete a bachelor’s degree first or if you enter a 4-year Pharm. D. program right away.
Either way, a career as a pharmacist can set you up to earn a great salary right after graduation, and you’ll have an important skill set that will make you a valuable employee in many other parts of the country, too.
What Degree Pays Most in Miami?
In general, college graduates will earn quite a bit more over the course of their careers than those who don’t have degrees. However, if you want to qualify for one of the best-paid jobs in Miami, you need to make sure you have the proper degree first.
For students who are not sure which degree they want to work toward while in college, it’ll help to keep this table in mind. It breaks down some of the highest-paying degrees, as well as the potential salaries you can earn once you’ve obtained them:
Degree Type | Potential Salary |
Aviation | $239,250 per year |
Medical | $237,480 per year |
Dental | $209,510 per year |
Nursing | $193,540 per year |
Pharmaceutical | $121,860 per year |
Of course, there is no guarantee that you’ll earn a particular salary after receiving one of these degrees. These numbers are just estimates, after all.
However, your chances of bringing in a great salary and living comfortably after graduation will go up quite a bit if you work toward a career in a field like medicine, dentistry, or aviation.
Keep this information in mind if you’re a student so you can spend your time working toward a salary that will provide a good living once you’re finished with school.
Apply for One of the Highest-Paying Jobs in Miami Today
Now that you know more about the highest-paying jobs in Miami, it’s time to start planning for the future so you can qualify for one of them.
Do you need to expand your skillset before you look for a new job? Do you need to change your major in college? Whatever you need to do, start making plans now so you can maximize your earning potential.
When you’re ready to begin applying for jobs, don’t forget to check out GrabJobs, too. Our search tool is easy to use and helps you to narrow down jobs in Miami based on a lot of factors, including salary, job type, and experience requirements.
