Nursing Jobs in Florida

As the third most populated state in the country, Florida has a lot of people who need healthcare. That’s where you come in. Looking for nursing jobs in Florida? Find out what the state has to offer you both on and off the clock.

Quick Facts About Florida Nursing Jobs

• Does Florida belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact? Yes.
• How much do nurses make in Florida? The average annual salary for RN jobs in Florida is $79,910, compared to the national average RN salary of $89,010.
• Where can I learn more about Florida requirements for nurse licenses? Check out the Florida Board of Nursing for the latest information regarding applications, verifications, and more. You can also read our article that breaks down the Florida nursing license renewal process into three easy steps.

What to Know When Pursuing Nursing Jobs in Florida

More than 22 million people live in Florida — only California and Texas have more residents. Florida is also the state with the second largest population of people ages 65 and over (21%) — only Maine has a larger proportion of seniors. The median age of Florida residents is 42, compared to the nation’s median of 37. One factor affecting Florida’s median age? It’s the state where most retirees relocate to.

Reports indicate a great need for skilled people like yourself to fill RN, LPN, CNA, and nurse practitioner jobs in Florida right now. That’s good news when it comes to negotiating the terms of your job offer.

Whether you want to work full time, part time, contract, temporary, or per diem, be sure cultural competency is in your skill set before applying to nursing jobs — Florida is a diverse state. Approximately 4.6% of residents identify as LGBT, and 24% of that population has children. Around 55% of residents are White, 25% are Hispanic or Latino, 15% are Black, 2.5% are Asian, and 2% are two or more races.

There are numerous types of Hispanics and Latinos in Florida, with the largest group being Cubans — Puerto Ricans, South Americans, Mexicans, and Dominicans are the other main groups. If you speak a language other than English, particularly Spanish, be sure to include it on your nursing resume. It can give you an advantage over job seekers who are not bilingual.

Working in Florida

Florida’s economy has the fourth highest gross domestic product in the country, fueled primarily by tourism. The Sunshine State welcomed a record 137.6 million visitors in 2022. Other leading industries include real estate and development, aviation and aerospace, clean energy, and defense and homeland security.

If you want to pursue public health positions, the Florida Department of Health has myriad programs and services that prioritize the well-being of residents. These include resources for immunizations, infectious diseases, overdose prevention, chronic diseases, and women’s and men’s health.

You can also choose to work at leading hospitals in Florida, such as

• Orlando Health Regional Medical Center
• Jackson Memorial Hospital (Miami)
• AdventHealth Orlando
• Tampa General Hospital
• UF Health Shands Hospital (Gainesville)

If you instead prefer post-acute jobs, there are nearly 700 licensed nursing homes and over 3,000 licensed assisted living facilities throughout the state.

Wondering how long it might take you to get to work? The average commute time is 27 minutes. Nearly 80% of people drive solo to their jobs, around 9% carpool, 5% work from home, and 2% take mass transit.

Florida has a number of child care options that you can rely on while you’re on duty. Same goes for your pets. Avail yourself of one of the many pet sitters to keep your furry pals happy until you get home.

Living in Florida

There’s no doubt about it: Florida has many gorgeous beaches that beckon year-round. You’ve got your choice from the glam of Miami Beach and Palm Beach to the family-friendly Cocoa Beach and Daytona Beach — and everything in between. In addition to the 825 miles of beaches, there are over 7,700 lakes. In fact, you’re never more than 60 miles from a body of water.

If sand isn’t your thing, there are plenty of state and national parks where you can go hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, and much more. There are also caverns, natural springs, and botanical gardens to enjoy. Make your way down to the Florida Keys and check out the only underwater state park, John Pennekamp State Park, and explore its lively coral reefs.

Don’t forget the other kinds of parks, those of the amusement variety. Central Florida is where you’ll find the big names like Walt Disney World, Busch Gardens, Universal Orlando, and Legoland, but also lesser-known attractions like Spook Hill, Dinosaur World, and Fun Spot America.

Culture and entertainment hot-spots abound throughout the state. Fine art selections include the Dali Museum (St. Petersburg), Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts (Eatonville), and the Norton Museum of Art (West Palm Beach). For performing arts, you can check out the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, and the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. If you’re looking for nightlife, South Beach and Miami have well-known party scenes, but there’s also plenty of fun to be had at the clubs in Tampa, Jacksonville, Key West, and Fort Lauderdale.

If you hate cold weather, this is where you want to be. The warm and humid climate in Florida is a draw for many (we’re talking zero inches of snow per year). It’s not nicknamed the Sunshine State for nothing — Florida sees more than 235 sunny days annually, but, ironically, it gets more average rainfall than the rest of the country. Expect summer highs of 91 degrees in July and winter lows of 49 degrees in January.

Florida’s cost of living varies widely depending on where you reside. It can range from 8% lower to 21% higher than the national average, but as a state, it’s only 2% greater. One huge upside? Residents don’t pay income tax.

Find Great Nurse Jobs in Florida on IntelyCare

Want to find the best-fitting RN, CNA, and LPN nursing jobs in Florida? We can help. Get started on your IntelyCare application today, and review the many available positions right now.