Lakeland Employment

Employment and Industries in the Lakeland, Florida Area

The Lakeland region's economy is primarily based on phosphate mining, tourism and the citrus industry. There are numerous industries in the region which rely on and support the phosphate mining industry. Mosaic is one of the world's largest fertilizer manufacturers and is a prominent employer in the area. The counties thriving citrus industry employs about 8,000 workers. The beef and dairy cattle industries are also significant factors for the region's economy.

About 26% of the jobs in Lakeland are in management, professional and related occupations. Lakeland includes jobs in food processing, trucking and manufacturing industries such as automotive parts, tile and packaging. In addition, the local economy is bolstered by the city being a popular winter resort and recreational area.

The region's major employment sectors are:

  • Phosphate mining
  • Agriculture
  • Tourism
  • Healthcare
  • Construction
  • Government
  • Finance
  • Manufacturing

Some of the occupations more common in Lakeland when compared to most cities are agricultural inspectors; food scientists and technologists; graders and sorters of agricultural products; farm workers and laborers, crop, nursery and greenhouse; first-line supervisors/managers of farming, fishing and forestry workers; outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics; and farm equipment mechanics.

The major employers in the Lakeland region are:

  • Lakeland Regional Medical Center - Hospital
  • Polk County Public Schools
  • Florida Zephyrhills
  • Publix Supermarkets - Supermarkets (stores & warehouse)
  • GEICO - Insurance
  • Watson Clinic - Medical clinic
  • GC Services - Teleservices
  • Rooms to Go - Furniture Distributor
  • FedEx National LTL - Trucking
  • Saddle Creek Corporation - Trucking & Logistics
  • Summit Consulting - Insurance
  • ICT Group - Teleservices
  • Walmart - Retail
  • Mosaic - Phosphates
  • Winterhaven Hospital - Hospital
  • Florida Natural Growers - Citrus Processing

Noteworthy information about Lakeland: In 2009 the average salary in Lakeland was $29,000. In 2008 the cost of living index was at 84.5 which is less than the nation's average of 100. The estimated household income in 2007 was $42,000. About 21% of the residents over the age of 25 hold a bachelor's degree or better.

Lakeland Florida companies may obtain assistance from business organizations such as:

The Ledger offers up-to-date information regarding the business activities in Lakeland.

Jobs in Lakeland

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations229890$43,150$20.75100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations34080$36,290$17.4513.75
3Transportation and Material Moving Occupations31360$34,550$16.616.7
4Sales and Related Occupations25140$38,720$18.629.5
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations20710$23,510$11.38.7
6Educational Instruction and Library Occupations13160$46,130$22.186
7Production Occupations12810$37,550$18.055.6
8Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations12040$76,090$36.585.85
9Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations11630$44,320$21.313.75
10Construction and Extraction Occupations11280$40,420$19.434.6
11Business and Financial Operations Occupations10840$63,170$30.375.35
12Management Occupations9970$97,370$46.816.35
13Customer Service Representatives8410$31,740$15.261.75
14Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand7720$30,880$14.851.8
15Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers7420$44,510$21.41.2
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations7370$26,180$12.583.6
17Healthcare Support Occupations7360$29,970$14.412.85
18Retail Salespersons7020$28,340$13.632.7
19Cashiers6630$23,560$11.332.2
20Fast Food and Counter Workers6610$20,730$9.972.45
21Stockers and Order Fillers5890$29,440$14.161.25
22Protective Service Occupations5390$43,100$20.722.2
23Office Clerks, General5090$33,670$16.191.9
24Registered Nurses3860$63,260$30.421.95
25Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive3720$33,480$16.11.4
26Waiters and Waitresses3700$23,920$11.51.65
27Personal Care and Service Occupations3590$27,160$13.064.65
28General and Operations Managers3190$99,240$47.711.5
29Computer and Mathematical Occupations2840$69,320$33.333
30First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers2660$52,650$25.310.95
31Nursing Assistants2660$26,870$12.920.95
32First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers2540$41,260$19.840.95
33Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers2500$27,480$13.210.75
34Maintenance and Repair Workers, General2400$40,670$19.550.9
35Construction Laborers2390$32,640$15.690.9
36Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2380$24,690$11.871.5
37Community and Social Service Occupations2280$43,390$20.861.75
38Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products2210$66,440$31.940.85
39Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks2180$39,190$18.841.05
40Architecture and Engineering Occupations2160$66,450$31.951.7
41Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators2140$34,660$16.660.4
42Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1920$44,630$21.461.8
43Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1790$22,390$10.770.9
44Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel1720$51,260$24.640.7
45Light Truck Drivers1710$40,560$19.50.6
46Home Health and Personal Care Aides1630$23,640$11.370
47Food Preparation Workers1620$23,260$11.180.5
48Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria1550$21,820$10.490.3
49First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers1550$31,450$15.120.6
50Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks1550$34,200$16.440.4
51Cooks, Restaurant1520$27,020$12.990.9
52Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other1490$62,410$30.010.7
53Medical Assistants1420$30,790$14.80.45
54Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics1410$40,900$19.660.5
55Receptionists and Information Clerks1410$28,580$13.740.7
56Carpenters1390$34,840$16.750.6
57Accountants and Auditors1380$75,410$36.250.9
58Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses1370$42,920$20.640.5
59Driver/Sales Workers1330$23,260$11.180.3
60Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators1290$30,200$14.520.8
61Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders1220$29,480$14.170.2
62First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers1210$59,100$28.420.4
63Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations1190$61,740$29.680.8
64Industrial Machinery Mechanics1180$52,780$25.370.2
65Packers and Packagers, Hand1170$23,300$11.20.4
66First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers1120$61,170$29.410.4
67Human Resources Specialists1080$50,780$24.410.4
68Security Guards1070$25,790$12.40.7
69Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators1050$55,740$26.80.2
70Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks1050$41,130$19.770.2
71Insurance Sales Agents1000$53,850$25.890.3
72First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors980$49,630$23.860.3
73Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers980$41,670$20.030.2
74First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers950$63,790$30.670.3
75Management Analysts950$72,900$35.050.55
76Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers950$44,160$21.230.3
77Amusement and Recreation Attendants930$21,560$10.360.2
78Computer User Support Specialists900$51,860$24.930.4
79Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity880$21,590$10.380.3
80Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations830$28,540$13.720.65
81Cooks, Fast Food820$22,290$10.720.3
82Correctional Officers and Jailers820$41,750$20.070.25
83Electricians820$38,850$18.680.45
84Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education810$32,580$15.660.3
85Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other790$31,810$15.290
86Bartenders770$23,750$11.420.4
87Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment760$27,370$13.160.3
88Billing and Posting Clerks740$37,820$18.190.3
89Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators740$49,470$23.790.25
90Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists720$42,950$20.650.2
91Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other700$45,610$21.930
92Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers690$57,100$27.450.4
93Roofers680$42,320$20.350.1
94Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products680$98,980$47.590.2
95Postal Service Mail Carriers620$51,580$24.80.2
96Dishwashers610$21,860$10.510.3
97Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists610$54,360$26.140.45
98Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other600$82,650$39.730.7
99Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants590$53,190$25.570.35
100Pharmacy Technicians590$31,190$14.990.3
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Lakeland Colleges
Lakeland colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Lakeland Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$43,150229,890
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$36,29034,080
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,55031,360
Sales and Related Occupations$38,72025,140
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$23,51020,710
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$46,13013,160
Production Occupations$37,55012,810
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$76,09012,040
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$44,32011,630
Construction and Extraction Occupations$40,42011,280
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$63,17010,840
Management Occupations$97,3709,970
Customer Service Representatives$31,7408,410
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,8807,720
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,5107,420
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$26,1807,370
Healthcare Support Occupations$29,9707,360
Retail Salespersons$28,3407,020
Cashiers$23,5606,630
Fast Food and Counter Workers$20,7306,610
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,4405,890
Protective Service Occupations$43,1005,390
Office Clerks, General$33,6705,090
Registered Nurses$63,2603,860
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$33,4803,720
Waiters and Waitresses$23,9203,700
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,1603,590
General and Operations Managers$99,2403,190
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$69,3202,840
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$52,6502,660
Nursing Assistants$26,8702,660
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,2602,540
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$27,4802,500
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$40,6702,400
Construction Laborers$32,6402,390
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$24,6902,380
Community and Social Service Occupations$43,3902,280
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,4402,210
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$39,1902,180
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$66,4502,160
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$34,6602,140
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$44,6301,920
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$22,3901,790
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$51,2601,720
Light Truck Drivers$40,5601,710
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$23,6401,630
Food Preparation Workers$23,2601,620
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$21,8201,550
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$31,4501,550
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$34,2001,550

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Lakeland, Florida Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$43,150229,890
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$36,29034,080
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,55031,360
Sales and Related Occupations$38,72025,140
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$46,13013,160
Production Occupations$37,55012,810
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$76,09012,040
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$44,32011,630
Construction and Extraction Occupations$40,42011,280
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$63,17010,840
Management Occupations$97,3709,970
Customer Service Representatives$31,7408,410
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,8807,720
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,5107,420
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$26,1807,370
Healthcare Support Occupations$29,9707,360
Retail Salespersons$28,3407,020
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,4405,890
Protective Service Occupations$43,1005,390
Office Clerks, General$33,6705,090
Registered Nurses$63,2603,860
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$33,4803,720
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,1603,590
General and Operations Managers$99,2403,190
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$69,3202,840
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$52,6502,660
Nursing Assistants$26,8702,660
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,2602,540
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$27,4802,500
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$40,6702,400
Construction Laborers$32,6402,390
Community and Social Service Occupations$43,3902,280
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,4402,210
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$39,1902,180
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$66,4502,160
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$34,6602,140
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$44,6301,920
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$51,2601,720
Light Truck Drivers$40,5601,710
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$31,4501,550
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$34,2001,550
Cooks, Restaurant$27,0201,520
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$62,4101,490
Medical Assistants$30,7901,420
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$40,9001,410
Receptionists and Information Clerks$28,5801,410
Carpenters$34,8401,390
Accountants and Auditors$75,4101,380
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$42,9201,370
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$30,2001,290

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