Recently, The South Florida Business Journal showcased the top 100 highest-paying jobs in South Florida based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Once again, healthcare dominated the field, a result of the area’s high population of retirees and high concentration of hospitals and assisted living centers. However, thanks to Florida’s booming technology renaissance, IT jobs made a solid showing on the list, capturing eight of the top 100 spots. Of the top 22 job sectors featured on the list, IT and mathematics-based occupations came in fourth, with an average salary of $70,980.
Of the Business Journal’s top 100 jobs, the IT positions that made the cut were:
- Computer and Information Systems Managers, $134,800
- Computer Hardware Engineers, $94,720
- Software Developers, Systems Software, $91,170
- Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary, $90,220
- Computer and Information Research Scientists, $88,290
- Computer Systems Analysts, $87,970
- Software Developers, Applications, $80,900
- Electronics Engineers, $79,900
For anyone hoping to cash in on the IT job market in South Florida, it is important to remember that salaries always vary from company to company and will be commensurate with an IT professional’s education level, experience, and qualifications.
What Has Driven South Florida’s IT Boom?
What has brought on this booming South Florida IT job market? A survey conducted by Computer Economics last year found that the increase in IT contract work has helped spur on the increase in jobs and salaries. The survey revealed that contractors can make up as much as 17% of an in-house IT team at any given time, the highest contractor-to-staff ratio since the late 90s, when the Y2K ramp up created a hot market for IT professionals.
Big Data has also helped to increase the demand for highly skilled IT scientists in South Florida over the last several years. As more and more companies are depending upon data to help them drive their decision making, analysts with advanced degrees and finely tuned skills can command high salaries in a candidate-driven marketplace.
Healthcare, the number one job sector in South Florida, is also driving demand and salary increases. The electronic health record mandate has created a significant uptick in healthcare IT positions, and the growth of medical technology has also helped create a strong market for IT pros in the region.
If you are an IT professional in South Florida, the recruiters at CERS would love to talk to you. We work with companies in Miami and surrounding areas that are looking for experienced and skilled tech talent to help drive success. Whether you are looking for short-term, contract employment or a permanent position, CERS can help you achieve your goals. Contact us today to learn more about joining our network of talent.
