Most common jobs in Tampa

Written by:
July 11, 2021
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

Most common jobs in Tampa

The 10 largest occupations in America employ 30.5 million workers, representing 21% of all workers. Keeping America's economy moving would be impossible without office workers, package handlers, food prep workers, and truck drivers. And what would the sick do without the millions of hospital workers, nurses, and home health aides?

Stacker compiled a list of the most common jobs in Tampa using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by total employment as of May 2020. While much has changed during the coronavirus pandemic, the jobs featured here give a holistic view at the most popular industries in your area and how many jobs are supported.

Keep reading to see which jobs in Tampa are the most common.

#50. Computer and information systems managers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 3,970 (3.049 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $150,150 (#54 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 457,290 (3.288 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $161,730
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($235,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($212,480)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($201,320)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

#49. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 4,000 (3.068 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $43,120 (#195 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 549,200 (3.948 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Odessa, TX ($85,040)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($80,520)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($67,990)
- Job description: Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.

#48. Counter and rental clerks

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 4,110 (3.153 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,740 (#251 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 368,300 (2.648 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,700
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($51,690)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($46,630)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,380)
- Job description: Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.

#47. Passenger vehicle drivers, except bus drivers, transit and intercity

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 4,240 (3.255 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,460 (#255 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,980 (4.313 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,360
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,580)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($45,780)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($44,940)
- Job description: Drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on a planned or scheduled basis. May collect a fare.

#46. Cooks, fast food

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 4,260 (3.271 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $21,690 (#199 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 544,420 (3.914 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,300
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($34,790)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($33,580)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($33,570)
- Job description: Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.

#45. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 4,390 (3.367 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $65,100 (#283 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 475,000 (3.415 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,680)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,140)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,810)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.

#44. Pharmacy technicians

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 4,430 (3.398 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,460 (#207 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 415,310 (2.986 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,450
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,620)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,020)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($52,810)
- Job description: Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

#43. Packers and packagers, hand

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 4,460 (3.421 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,320 (#297 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,270 (4.308 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rome, GA ($39,770)
--- Longview, WA ($39,680)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($36,820)
- Job description: Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.

#42. Self-enrichment teachers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 4,600 (3.526 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $45,430 (#96 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 222,700 (1.601 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,930
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($74,220)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($73,900)
--- Salinas, CA ($65,580)
- Job description: Teach or instruct individuals or groups for the primary purpose of self-enrichment or recreation, rather than for an occupational objective, educational attainment, competition, or fitness.

#40 (tie). Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 4,930 (3.783 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $72,530 (#145 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 440,300 (3.165 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $96,540
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,380)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($155,340)
--- Missoula, MT ($122,420)
- Job description: Buy and sell securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, or provide financial services to businesses and individuals. May advise customers about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, and market conditions.

#40 (tie). Billing and posting clerks

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 4,930 (3.779 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,950 (#211 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 445,160 (3.2 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $41,610
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($57,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,200)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($51,800)
- Job description: Compile, compute, and record billing, accounting, statistical, and other numerical data for billing purposes. Prepare billing invoices for services rendered or for delivery or shipment of goods.

#39. Preschool teachers, except special education

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 5,090 (3.904 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,920 (#283 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 370,940 (2.667 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,550
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, TX ($58,080)
--- Odessa, TX ($54,120)
--- Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV ($52,350)
- Job description: Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.

#38. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 5,250 (4.030 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,260 (#194 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 597,100 (4.293 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,220)
--- Salinas, CA ($53,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,020)
- Job description: Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

#37. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 5,400 (4.144 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,550 (#280 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 727,640 (5.231 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($52,310)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($50,180)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($49,530)
- Job description: Verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments involving inventory. Duties include verifying and recording incoming merchandise or material and arranging for the transportation of products. May prepare items for shipment.

#36. Financial managers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 5,460 (4.189 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $140,680 (#84 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 653,080 (4.695 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $151,510
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($214,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($210,180)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($192,310)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

#34 (tie). Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 5,670 (4.348 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $64,360 (#146 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 654,900 (4.708 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,000
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($131,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,570)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($115,690)
- Job description: Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.

#34 (tie). Paralegals and legal assistants

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 5,670 (4.352 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $48,180 (#209 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 332,720 (2.392 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $56,610
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($93,110)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($90,280)
--- Trenton, NJ ($77,970)
- Job description: Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

#33. Carpenters

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 5,700 (4.371 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $40,160 (#312 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 699,300 (5.027 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $54,200
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,950)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($82,300)
--- Hanford-Corcoran, CA ($79,870)
- Job description: Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.

#32. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 6,340 (4.866 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,960 (#181 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 620,110 (4.458 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $46,760
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($66,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($64,630)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($64,420)
- Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.

#31. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 6,430 (4.936 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,130 (#124 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,272,840 (9.151 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,630
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($42,110)
--- New Bedford, MA ($41,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($41,160)
- Job description: Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

#30. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 6,500 (4.988 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $62,550 (#137 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 991,000 (7.124 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $67,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($99,170)
--- Fresno, CA ($96,200)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($95,500)
- Job description: Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

#29. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 6,570 (5.037 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $60,760 (#309 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 614,080 (4.415 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $72,990
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,870)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($103,930)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($100,620)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.

#28. Bartenders

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 6,620 (5.076 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,580 (#89 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 486,720 (3.499 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,910
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($64,630)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($59,960)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($45,330)
- Job description: Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.

#27. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 6,920 (5.310 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,010 (#206 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 676,440 (4.863 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $50,090
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,950)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($74,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($74,520)
- Job description: Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

#26. Human resources specialists

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 7,140 (5.475 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $63,220 (#171 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 647,810 (4.657 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $69,430
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,680)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($90,130)
- Job description: Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.

#25. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 7,250 (5.563 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $66,570 (#162 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 287,150 (2.064 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($97,980)
--- Waterbury, CT ($92,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($88,750)
- Job description: Review settled claims to determine that payments and settlements are made in accordance with company practices and procedures. Confer with legal counsel on claims requiring litigation. May also settle insurance claims.

#24. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 7,290 (5.591 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $23,330 (#273 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 795,590 (5.72 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,010
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,640)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($41,370)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($40,490)
- Job description: Perform any combination of light cleaning duties to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels and hospitals, in a clean and orderly manner. Duties may include making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, and vacuuming.

#23. Lawyers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 7,330 (5.620 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $119,990 (#130 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 658,120 (4.731 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $148,910
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($201,920)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,070)
- Job description: Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.

#22. Insurance sales agents

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 7,460 (5.722 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $67,650 (#115 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 409,950 (2.947 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $69,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,540)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($105,840)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($105,190)
- Job description: Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company.

#21. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 9,210 (7.069 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,110 (#201 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 891,540 (6.409 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,880
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($59,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,350)
--- Napa, CA ($53,230)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.

#20. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 9,730 (7.462 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,150 (#286 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 872,370 (6.272 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,160)
--- New Haven, CT ($43,820)
- Job description: Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.

#19. Management analysts

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 9,990 (7.666 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $86,430 (#168 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 734,000 (5.277 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $97,580
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($163,720)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($157,490)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($135,250)
- Job description: Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.

#18. Receptionists and information clerks

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 10,150 (7.787 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,140 (#193 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 968,420 (6.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($43,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,160)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,840)
- Job description: Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.

#17. Security guards

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 10,310 (7.912 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,520 (#125 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,054,400 (7.58 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,360
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($66,030)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($61,090)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($51,850)
- Job description: Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.

#16. Elementary school teachers, except special education

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 11,250 (8.629 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $64,920 (#115 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,364,870 (9.812 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $65,420
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($99,360)
--- Kingston, NY ($93,780)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($92,910)
- Job description: Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

#15. Accountants and auditors

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 11,770 (9.028 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $77,550 (#85 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,274,620 (9.163 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $81,660
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($111,680)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($105,720)
--- Midland, TX ($103,120)
- Job description: Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

#14. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 12,300 (9.437 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $65,490 (#230 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,278,670 (9.192 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Danbury, CT ($112,810)
--- Napa, CA ($101,850)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($93,680)
- Job description: Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

#13. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 13,420 (10.292 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,240 (#316 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,797,710 (12.924 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $48,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($65,170)
--- Danville, IL ($63,230)
--- Lewiston, ID-WA ($62,250)
- Job description: Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.

#12. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 13,520 (10.375 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $65,420 (#119 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 977,070 (7.024 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,490
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($115,620)
--- Lawrence, KS ($97,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($94,870)
- Job description: Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.

#11. Nursing assistants

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 13,750 (10.545 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,290 (#232 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,371,050 (9.857 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,050
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,420)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($43,960)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($42,200)
- Job description: Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

#10. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 14,060 (10.790 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,920 (#45 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,990,510 (14.31 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,410
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($44,110)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($43,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,250)
- Job description: Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. Duties may include tending furnace and boiler, performing routine maintenance activities, notifying management of need for repairs, and cleaning snow or debris from sidewalk.

#9. Maintenance and repair workers, general

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 14,170 (10.874 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,230 (#281 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,357,630 (9.76 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $43,790
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,140)
--- Yuba City, CA ($57,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,820)
- Job description: Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.

#8. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 14,200 (10.891 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $101,130 (#111 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,476,800 (10.617 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $114,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,740)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($140,930)
- Job description: Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

#7. Cooks, restaurant

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 14,720 (11.289 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,040 (#217 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,109,650 (7.977 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,530
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,950)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($39,450)
- Job description: Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.

#6. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 16,900 (12.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $43,430 (#107 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,443,940 (10.381 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,100
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,700)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($55,720)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($55,720)
- Job description: Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

#5. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 17,300 (13.272 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,110 (#253 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,805,200 (20.167 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,710
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,690)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($41,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,820)
- Job description: Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

#4. General and operations managers

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 21,920 (16.820 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $113,280 (#149 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,347,420 (16.876 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $125,740
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($183,170)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($175,990)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($172,370)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

#3. Registered nurses

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 29,020 (22.260 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $71,300 (#154 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,986,500 (21.47 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $80,010
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,200)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($146,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($142,140)
- Job description: Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

#2. Office clerks, general

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 29,070 (22.303 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,730 (#154 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,788,090 (20.044 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,560)
--- Napa, CA ($47,570)
--- Boulder, CO ($47,160)
- Job description: Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.

#1. Customer service representatives

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Employment: 49,590 (38.045 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,020 (#177 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,833,250 (20.368 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,510
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,720)
--- Midland, MI ($47,250)
- Job description: Interact with customers to provide basic or scripted information in response to routine inquiries about products and services. May handle and resolve general complaints. Excludes individuals whose duties are primarily installation, sales, repair, and technical support.

Trending Now