SOC 19-1029 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Biological Scientists, All Other — Florida
Florida · 10 metro areas compared
In Florida the median wage is $83,780.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Florida the median wage is $83,780. That is 15.3% lower than the national median of $98,920. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $54,000 and $107,120. The lowest tenth earn under $43,680, while the highest tenth earn more than $119,540.
The area has 1,920 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.54 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Florida ranks 31st by median wage. Orlando leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $103,380. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 147th of 777 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,680 | −55.8% |
| 25th | $54,000 | −45.4% |
| Median (50th) | $83,780 | −15.3% |
| 75th | $107,120 | +8.3% |
| 90th | $119,540 | +20.8% |
| Mean | $85,540 | −13.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando | $103,380 | 80 | |
| 2 | Miami | $97,510 | 620 | |
| 3 | Palm Bay | $95,220 | 80 | |
| 4 | Panama City | $93,040 | 30 | |
| 5 | Pensacola | $91,560 | 50 | |
| 6 | Crestview | $90,370 | — | |
| 7 | Jacksonville | $83,780 | 180 | |
| 8 | Tampa | $79,780 | 250 | |
| 9 | Cape Coral | $77,720 | 30 | |
| 10 | Port St. Lucie | $66,860 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $83,780 buys what $81,025 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 18.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$83,780as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$81,025US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $83,780 a year, 15.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,680 to $119,540 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,920 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 31st of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Orlando, at $103,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Biological Scientists, All Other in Florida?
The median annual wage is $83,780, or $40.28 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $98,920, so pay in Florida is 15.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Florida earns more than $119,540 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,680 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Orlando, at $103,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,920 jobs in this occupation in Florida. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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