Jobs, pay and daily life in Lakeland, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 08/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Lakeland is a city in Florida with 119,961 residents. The median household earns $64,185 a year and the median rent is $1,395 a month, which is 26.1% of the median household income. It is part of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metropolitan area, where BLS counts 265,280 jobs.
How Lakeland compares. Among the 120 largest places in Florida, Lakeland is #20 by population, #12 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #90 for household income (#1 = highest), #31 for long commutes (#1 = fewest). Its county, Polk County, is #28 of 67 counties for average pay ($55,697).
Lakeland has 119,961 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.5% of the population of Florida. It covers 67 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,802 people per square mile. The median age is 38.9, 9% younger than the state median (38.9 against 42.6).
The median gross rent is $1,395 a month (rent plus utilities), 16% below the state median ($1,395 against $1,669). Over a year that is 26.1% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $249,400, which is 3.9 times the median household income ($64,185); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 56.4% of households own their home, 17% below the state average (56.4% against 67.6%).
The Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metropolitan area has 265,280 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $46,140 a year, 9% below the national median ($46,140 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are transportation and material moving (40,480 jobs, median $45,450); office and administrative support (31,470 jobs, median $43,780); sales and related (25,270 jobs, median $35,700). The area is most specialised in transportation and material moving (1.7 times) and installation, maintenance, and repair (1.2 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($101,260) and healthcare practitioners and technical ($80,200). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Polk County was 5.2%. 56.8% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Polk County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 70.4% drive alone, 0.8% use public transit, 3.1% walk, 14.4% work from home. 12.9% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 29% below the state average (12.9% against 18.1%).
29.4% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 14% below the state share (29.4% against 34.1%). 10.8% of residents were born outside the United States, 51% below the state share (10.8% against 21.9%). The poverty rate is 13.2%, 5% above the state rate (13.2% against 12.6%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 81°F (27.2°C), and the coolest is Jan at 59°F (15.0°C). About 1,266 mm (50 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jun is the wettest month (216 mm) and Nov the driest (40 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Plant City (10 miles, similar rent); Winter Haven (14 miles, rent 11% lower); Valrico (19 miles, rent 39% higher); Brandon (23 miles, rent 28% higher). Rent differences are against Lakeland; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Florida (1,224) →State guide: FloridaCountry guidePolk CountyFlorida rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 1,224 federal postings open in Florida (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Florida →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 9,400 | 1.94 | $39,690 | $30,760 | $57,190 | +6% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 8,440 | 1.68 | $42,800 | $30,760 | $48,190 | +6% |
| Retail Salespersons | 8,220 | 1.24 | $31,820 | $27,400 | $44,340 | -10% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 7,820 | 2.22 | $57,090 | $39,560 | $80,990 | -3% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 7,380 | 1.12 | $28,050 | $27,060 | $34,630 | -10% |
| Registered Nurses | 6,140 | 1.07 | $84,030 | $64,610 | $102,070 | -14% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 6,000 | 1.35 | $38,750 | $31,790 | $57,090 | -13% |
| Cashiers | 5,540 | 1.05 | $29,900 | $27,110 | $35,600 | -9% |
| General and Operations Managers | 5,150 | 0.86 | $96,220 | $47,830 | $211,760 | -9% |
| Office Clerks, General | 4,430 | 1.05 | $43,300 | $30,470 | $63,070 | -4% |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 4,370 | 3.30 | $48,290 | $37,800 | $59,770 | +4% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 3,730 | 0.96 | $35,270 | $27,050 | $60,030 | +0% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 3,520 | 0.93 | $32,510 | $28,350 | $44,090 | -12% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 3,280 | 1.38 | $50,420 | $50,130 | $57,500 | -21% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 3,090 | 1.18 | $45,850 | $33,540 | $75,700 | -8% |
| Nursing Assistants | 2,960 | 1.20 | $36,000 | $33,940 | $39,720 | -15% |
| Construction Laborers | 2,690 | 1.44 | $39,470 | $30,100 | $55,960 | -16% |
| Light Truck Drivers | 2,650 | 1.58 | $46,010 | $29,540 | $73,060 | +3% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 2,510 | 1.19 | $62,960 | $37,580 | $122,530 | -13% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 2,470 | 1.51 | $39,520 | $34,890 | $48,200 | -14% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | 570 | 1.63 | $179,360 | $60,880 | $480,280 | -16% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 550 | 0.48 | $161,180 | $95,200 | $218,740 | -8% |
| Financial Managers | 1,200 | 0.84 | $151,440 | $74,440 | $271,740 | -9% |
| Sales Managers | 960 | 0.88 | $126,890 | $64,110 | $229,990 | -14% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 570 | 1.03 | $125,720 | $100,970 | $154,560 | -5% |
| Lawyers | 730 | 0.56 | $122,870 | $74,090 | $233,770 | -23% |
| Software Developers | 990 | 0.34 | $122,200 | $76,790 | $162,230 | -10% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 930 | 0.92 | $107,300 | $63,490 | $216,450 | -13% |
| Managers, All Other | 680 | 0.64 | $106,440 | $48,160 | $202,740 | -25% |
| Construction Managers | 630 | 0.97 | $106,140 | $60,840 | $176,860 | -8% |
| General and Operations Managers | 5,150 | 0.86 | $96,220 | $47,830 | $211,760 | -9% |
| Project Management Specialists | 1,150 | 0.63 | $94,720 | $56,300 | $152,300 | -7% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 570 | 0.65 | $85,820 | $61,180 | $127,390 | -19% |
| Registered Nurses | 6,140 | 1.07 | $84,030 | $64,610 | $102,070 | -14% |
| Management Analysts | 950 | 0.62 | $79,990 | $50,240 | $130,490 | -21% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 590 | 1.05 | $78,050 | $63,290 | $119,130 | -26% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,740 | 0.70 | $76,820 | $49,450 | $124,780 | -8% |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 1,050 | 0.69 | $76,630 | $43,390 | $125,820 | -3% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 1,200 | 1.14 | $75,440 | $47,680 | $114,580 | -6% |
| Insurance Sales Agents | 1,170 | 1.43 | $74,810 | $41,600 | $193,920 | +20% |
These figures are for the whole Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $46,140 (US $50,980); unemployment 5.2% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% |
| Retail trade | 14.5% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 12.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 11.0% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 8.4% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 7.1% |
| Manufacturing | 5.7% |
| Other services | 5.3% |
| Construction | 5.2% |
| Public administration | 3.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 2.2% |
| Information | 1.4% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.8% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Lakeland lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 790,694 | $44,304 million | $56,032 | 260,590 | 17,281 | $55,697 | +0.7% | 5.2% | 364,459 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 34,979 | 15.1% | $61,302 | 0.94 |
| Retail trade | 31,939 | 13.8% | $38,548 | 1.23 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 28,758 | 12.4% | $53,959 | 2.61 |
| Accommodation and food services | 21,705 | 9.4% | $25,533 | 0.92 |
| Manufacturing | 19,343 | 8.4% | $72,412 | 0.90 |
| Administrative and waste services | 18,421 | 8.0% | $43,732 | 1.20 |
| Construction | 15,465 | 6.7% | $66,274 | 1.13 |
| Wholesale trade | 10,555 | 4.6% | $78,466 | 1.03 |
| Finance and insurance | 10,048 | 4.3% | $78,512 | 0.95 |
| Professional and technical services | 8,364 | 3.6% | $73,919 | 0.46 |
| Management of companies | 6,712 | 2.9% | $96,582 | 1.53 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 6,141 | 2.7% | $49,214 | 0.78 |
| Educational services | 5,237 | 2.3% | $46,507 | 0.97 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 4,436 | 1.9% | $35,834 | 1.01 |
| Real estate and rental | 3,936 | 1.7% | $51,135 | 0.97 |
| Information | 2,059 | 0.9% | $62,184 | 0.42 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 1,682 | 0.7% | $45,503 | 0.80 |
| Utilities | 678 | 0.3% | $129,090 | 0.68 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 669 | 0.3% | $98,663 | 0.68 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 70.4% |
| Public transit | 0.8% |
| Walk | 3.1% |
| Work from home | 14.4% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 12.9% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,185 |
| Income per person | $35,902 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,395 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 26.1% |
| Median home value | $249,400 |
| Homeowners | 56.4% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 97.1 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $46,140 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: No state tax on wages.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 91.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 29.4% |
| Born abroad | 10.8% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 56.8% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15.0 | 59 | 56 |
| Feb | 17.3 | 63 | 51 |
| Mar | 19.8 | 68 | 64 |
| Apr | 23.0 | 73 | 57 |
| May | 25.9 | 79 | 91 |
| Jun | 27.1 | 81 | 216 |
| Jul | 27.2 | 81 | 198 |
| Aug | 27.2 | 81 | 204 |
| Sep | 25.9 | 79 | 166 |
| Oct | 23.1 | 74 | 67 |
| Nov | 19.3 | 67 | 40 |
| Dec | 17.1 | 63 | 56 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant City | FL | 10 mi | 40,887 | $67,439 | $1,409 |
| Winter Haven | FL | 14 mi | 55,200 | $59,648 | $1,246 |
| Valrico | FL | 19 mi | 40,239 | $104,839 | $1,937 |
| Brandon | FL | 23 mi | 119,767 | $79,685 | $1,784 |
| Wesley Chapel | FL | 24 mi | 76,011 | $107,504 | $2,100 |
| Riverview | FL | 27 mi | 113,697 | $100,438 | $2,002 |
| Four Corners | FL | 27 mi | 65,048 | $72,879 | $1,847 |
| University | FL | 29 mi | 48,127 | $37,207 | $1,295 |
| Poinciana | FL | 29 mi | 75,068 | $68,015 | $1,965 |
| Land O' Lakes | FL | 32 mi | 38,910 | $98,568 | $2,045 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
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Large employers headquartered in Lakeland (from our list of the 200 largest US-based employers):
| Company ⇅ | Industry ⇅ | Employees (global) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| Publix Super Markets | Retail | 260,000 (2025) |
119,961 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,395 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 26.1% of the median household income.
$64,185 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
5.2% (BLS county, Polk County (latest month 2026M09)).
Florida. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.