Located in northeastern Florida, along the Atlantic Ocean, Jacksonville may not draw the throngs of tourists that other major cities in the Sunshine State do, but it’s just as notable a destination for both business and pleasure. If you’re looking for nursing jobs in Jacksonville, FL, learn about the many perks that this city offers.
Quick Facts About Nursing Jobs in Florida
- Is Florida a compact state? Yes.
- What do RNs earn in Jacksonville? The average annual salary for RN jobs in Jacksonville, FL, is $78,490, compared to the national average RN salary of $82,750.
- Where can I find information about RN license requirements in Florida? Check out the Florida Board of Nursing for up-to-date information.
What to Know When Pursuing Nursing Jobs in Jacksonville, FL
Almost 938,000 people live in Florida’s largest city. To provide care to all those residents, skilled healthcare professionals like you are needed in full-time, part-time, contract, and per diem nursing jobs in Jacksonville. Whether you’re in search of opportunities for RNs, CNAs, or LPNs, you’ll have options in a variety of facilities.
So whom would you be treating in this part of the state? Before you assume it’s all retirees, know that Jacksonville is among the Florida cities with the youngest populations. The median age of residents is 35.6, and people ages 65 and over make up 14% of the population. The majority of people are single (54%), and 27% of married couples have kids — 21% of residents have kids but aren’t married.
If you want to have an advantage over other nursing job seekers in the area, make sure your skill set includes cultural competence. Jacksonville has a diverse population: 31% of residents are Black; 9% are of Hispanic ethnicity; and 5% are Asian.
Working in Jacksonville, FL
The need for nursing jobs in Jacksonville, FL, is due, in part, to the fact that healthcare is the industry with the largest portion of employed civilians in the city. The top employers in Jacksonville are:
- Baptist Health
- Bank of America
- Mayo Clinic
- Southeastern Grocers
- Florida Blue (associated with Blue Cross Blue Shield)
The leading hospitals in Jacksonville are:
- Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville
- Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville
- Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside Hospital
- UF Health Jacksonville
- Ascension St. Vincent’s Clay County
Medical centers and hospitals are two of the many sources of nursing jobs in Jacksonville, Florida. There are numerous community health resources that offer services to families, adults, and children. In addition, Jacksonville is home to a number of assisted living facilities looking for nursing professionals to provide care to patients and residents.
If you’re wondering how long it would take you to commute to nursing jobs in Jacksonville, FL, you’re looking at an average of 25 minutes. The majority of workers (80%) drive solo to work, with carpooling as the next most popular option (10%). If you don’t have a car, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority operates public buses that run throughout the city.
Need help with your kids and pets while you’re at work? You can rely on area preschools and childcare centers to lend you a hand. Jacksonville also happens to be a very dog-friendly city, with lots of parks and beaches to explore when you’re not working. But when you are, sitters and walkers can care for your pets.
Living in Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville bills itself as the “flip side to Florida.” In other words, although the state of Florida offers plenty of beautiful beaches, golf courses, and theme parks, you’ll find much more than that in Jax (as it’s locally known).
For one, the city is a big proponent of the arts. You’ll find murals in historic neighborhoods, art festivals, arts markets, and plenty of public galleries to keep you occupied on days off. Then there are the museums, from the Cummer Museum, whose collection spans 8,000 years, to the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville.
If live music is what you’re after, the city has plenty of venues with jazz, blues, and even classical offerings, not to mention an annual jazz festival. But Jacksonville really prides itself on being the self-anointed birthplace of Southern rock — the Allman Brothers were born here. For nightlife happenings, head to the Elbow — a group of bars and clubs in the Downtown district that draws musicians, bands, and DJs.
The city’s most surprising feature is its abundance of green space. Jacksonville has the largest urban park system in the country. It comprises three national parks, seven state parks, and more than 400 city parks, plus dozens of gardens and an arboretum. It’s almost enough to distract you from the 22 miles of beaches at your disposal.
The year-round weather in Jacksonville is what you might expect in this part of the country: extremely hot in the summer, with average highs of 90 degrees, and cool in the winter, with average lows of 46 degrees.
A major benefit of living in Jacksonville is the fact that your money goes further here. The cost of living is 6% lower than the national average. A home costs an estimated $386,000 — that’s 14% lower than elsewhere in the country. Rents, however, are an average $1,500 per month, which is 10% higher than the national average.
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