Tampa Ranks High In U.S. for High-Wage Job Growth, Tampa Bay EDC Says

TAMPA, FL — Tampa has made a significant leap in the national rankings for high-wage job growth, rising from No. 30 last year to No. 4 among the nation’s largest metropolitan areas, according to the Lightcast 2026 Talent Attraction Report.

The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council announced the ranking on Monday, highlighting the region’s continued success in attracting businesses, developing its workforce and creating opportunities for higher-paying careers.

The Tampa metropolitan area also ranked No. 10 overall for talent among large metros for the second consecutive year, reinforcing its position as a competitive destination for employers and workers alike, the Tampa Bay EDC said in its news release.

High-wage jobs in the Tampa Bay region are defined as positions paying more than $66,477 annually, the agency added.

“The … ranking underscores Tampa’s rapid growth and emergence as one of the nation’s most sought-after destinations for businesses seeking to expand, relocate and create high-wage career opportunities,” Craig J. Richard, CEcD, president and CEO of Tampa Bay EDC, said in a statement. “Our ability to attract, retain and develop a skilled workforce is one of Tampa’s greatest competitive advantages, and it has made us a global destination for innovative companies and high-quality jobs.”

The effort to build that workforce begins well before workers enter the job market, as early as middle school, the agency said, using Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay, which is participating in a national pilot Talent Marketplace initiative designed to connect alumni with career pathways and opportunities for long-term success, as an example.

Casey Ellison, CEO of Ellison Companies and the EDC’s fiscal year 2027 chair, said community partnerships are helping introduce students and job seekers to in-demand careers, skills training, internships, and apprenticeships.

“These initiatives are fundamental to our mission to advance economic prosperity for all residents of Hillsborough County,” he said in a statement.

The initiatives are intended to strengthen the pipeline of qualified workers as businesses expand and new employers enter the market, the agency said in its news release.

The EDC reported tangible results from those efforts in fiscal year 2026, closing 22 economic development projects, including eight newly recruited companies and 14 expansions of existing businesses. Together, the projects are expected to create 1,888 jobs and generate more than $221 million in capital investment in Hillsborough County.

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