Highlands County

County Business Patterns, 2023Forms the Sebring, FL metro areaPopulation 108,151

Highlands County had 22,996 private jobs in 2,138 establishments in March 2023, paying $42,317 on average, 30% below the Florida figure. Pay in arts, entertainment and recreation averages $14,013 a year here, the lowest of the 43 counties with at least 100 jobs in it. Jobs in agriculture, forestry and fishing are 7.0 times as common here as across the 67 counties, 0.7% of all local jobs.

Compare Highlands side by side with Pasco or another county.

The largest industry, health care and social assistance, has 25% of Highlands County's jobs. Among its larger industries, pay runs from $14,013 a year in arts, entertainment and recreation to $64,837 in finance and insurance.

Pays above the county averagePays below itNot shown by industryCounty averageFlorida average

Where Highlands County ranks

The four measures on which Highlands County sits furthest from the middle county. It is furthest out on average annual pay, where it ranks 52nd of 67.

Average annual pay$42,317

52ndof 67

Jobs22,996

37thof 67

Business establishments2,138

38thof 67

Payroll per resident$8,998

40thof 67

HighlandsOther countiesMiddle county

Every industry, line by line

18 industries published; construction added the most jobs since 2019 (459), health care and social assistance lost the most (268).

Industry	Jobs	Avg pay	Pay vs same industry statewide	Jobs since 2019
Health care & social assistance	5,657	$62,249	0.97×	−4.5%
Retail trade	5,077	$32,559	0.86×	+9.0%
Hotels & restaurants	3,050	$20,216	0.71×	+13.0%
Administrative & support services	1,759	$35,406	0.60×	+26.8%
Construction	1,620	$49,250	0.77×	+39.5%
Other services	1,049	$30,623	0.78×	+5.4%
Manufacturing	944	$49,587	0.73×	+18.7%
Arts & recreation	751	$14,013	0.32×	+47.2%
Professional & technical services	668	$47,265	0.53×	−8.1%
Finance & insurance	516	$64,837	0.61×	+13.9%
Wholesale trade	503	$64,276	0.81×	+18.4%
Educational services	322	$34,984	0.71×	+12.6%
Real estate & rental	307	$38,189	0.62×	+24.3%
Information	258	$51,554	0.50×	+25.2%
Transportation & warehousing	227	$44,264	0.73×	+2.2%
Agriculture, forestry & fishing	153	$57,320	1.28×	+18.6%
Utilities	95	$82,442	0.66×	+1.1%
Management of companies	39	$55,795	0.55×	+77.3%
All industries	22,996	$42,317	0.70×	+9.8%

Withheld by the Census Bureau: Mining & quarrying.

What sets Highlands County apart

Three industries are at least 1.25 times as common here as across the 67 counties; transportation and warehousing is the most under-represented, at 0.21×.

Business sizes

87.8% have fewer than 20 employees; 23 have 100 or more.

EmployeesEstablishments

1–41,213

5–9413

10–19251

20–49187

50–9949

100–24919

250–4994

500–999withheld

1,000+withheld

Since 2019

Jobs +9.8%, residents +1.8% since March 2019.

Jobs22,9962019: 20,941+9.8%

Business establishments2,1382019: 1,959+9.1%

Average pay (nominal)$42,3172019: $33,728+25.5%

Residents108,1512019: 106,221+1.8%

Share of Florida

Fewer of Florida's jobs (0.28%) than of its residents (0.47%).

Residents0.47%

Businesses0.33%

Jobs0.28%

Payroll0.20%

Source: Census CBP 2023, 2022, 2019; Population Estimates. FIPS 12055. How to read County Business Patterns figures.