In Florida, RNs enjoy competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a wealth of employment opportunities.
Nursing is a demanding but equally rewarding profession that requires expertise, compassion, and dedication. As vital healthcare members, registered nurses are responsible for providing patient care, administering medications, and monitoring vital signs, and they are well compensated for their work and efforts.
Below we’ll explore the average RN salaries in Florida, compare them to other states, examine the factors that affect RN salaries, offer tips for maximizing your earnings, and discuss the benefits and perks of being an RN in Florida. Keep reading and see whether Florida might be the ideal place to practice your nursing career.
Table of contents
- Takeaway
- Average RN Salaries in Florida
- Florida RN Salary Adjusted for Cost of Living
- Top-Paying Cities for RNs in Florida
- Comparing RN Salaries in Florida to Other States
- Comparing RN Salaries to Other Nursing Roles in Florida
- Factors That Affect RN Salaries
- Tips for Maximizing Your RN Salary in Florida
- Benefits and Perks of Being an RN in Florida
- The Bottom Line
Takeaway
Think of salaries like the wind and your career as a sailboat… Just like the wind provides the energy to propel a sailboat forward, salaries can provide you with the financial reward that motivates you to work hard and achieve your professional goals. RN salaries in Florida are like a wind at your back, pushing you forward with more energy and momentum.
Average RN Salaries in Florida
According to recent data, the average RN salary in Florida is estimated to be $84,107 per year. The salary ranges from $71,000 per year to over $100,000 for the highest 25 percentile. Still, this salary is slightly lower than the national average RN salary of $98,685 per year. The exact salary you earn will depend on several other factors, in addition to the fact that Florida is the state you practice in.
Florida RN Salary Adjusted for Cost of Living
Although RN salaries in Florida are not the highest compared to other states, they are relatively high when considering the state’s cost of living. Data shows that Florida’s cost of living index is estimated to be 102.8. This index indicates how expensive life is in a particular location compared to the national average set at 100. Therefore, Florida is a relatively affordable state since its cost of living is only 2.8% higher than the national average, and RNs there can enjoy a higher standard of living than their counterparts in more expensive states.
Some cost of living indexes surpass the national average, whereas others are below it, such as:
- Grocery index – 105.4
- Housing index – 108.5
- Utility index – 101.3
- Transportation index – 98.7
- Health index – 97.3
Top-Paying Cities for RNs in Florida
Similar to other professions, location plays a significant role in determining RN salaries. There are several areas in Florida that offer competitive salaries, a high demand for healthcare services, and a low cost of living. Some of the highest-paying cities for RNs in Florida include:
- Orlando
- Bradenton
- Jacksonville
- Miami
- Gainesville
- Pensacola
- Tampa
- Clearwater
- Daytona Beach
Comparing RN Salaries in Florida to Other States
Although Florida’s average RN salary is slightly lower than the national average, it is still competitive compared to other states. For example, the average nurse salary in neighboring Georgia is $71,403 per year, whereas, in Texas, it is only $58,781 per year. Likewise, the RN salary in Florida has significantly more value since their cost of living is lower.
Comparing RN Salaries to Other Nursing Roles in Florida
The average RN salary in Florida is generally higher than several other nursing roles. For example, RNs earn more than licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). The average salary for these professions is $54,722 per year and $34,549 per year, respectively. However, there are also several advanced nursing roles, such as nurse practitioners (NPs) and certified nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), that provide higher salaries. In Florida, NPs can earn an average salary of $105,500 per year, while CRNAs can earn an average salary of $96,330 per year.
Factors That Affect RN Salaries
Several factors affect RN salaries in Florida and other locations, such as experience, education, certifications, area, and industry, among other factors. RNs with more years of experience, advanced degrees, and specialized certifications can expect to earn higher salaries than those just starting their careers. Data shows that based on experience, RNs in Florida earn:
The location within the state can also affect the salary, as RNs in urban areas typically earn higher wages than those in rural areas. Additionally, the industry you work in can impact your salary. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the industries with the highest level of employment of registered nurses include general medical and surgical hospitals, offices of physicians, home health care services, outpatient care patients, and nursing care facilities that typically offer higher salaries than other healthcare environments and industries.
Tips for Maximizing Your RN Salary in Florida
If you are interested in increasing your earning potential as an RN in Florida, consider the following steps. Firstly, consider furthering your education. Advanced degrees and certifications can significantly boost your salary, as data from the BLS shows that nurses with a bachelor, master, or doctoral degree are reimbursed for continuing education. For aspiring nurses in Florida, exploring the best nursing schools in the state can be a crucial step toward achieving their career goals.
Next, gaining experience can lead to professional development and advancement opportunities that provide higher salaries. Therefore, it is best to seek development opportunities, especially in certain specialized areas of nursing. Lastly, you can always maximize your earnings by working overtime and earning additional pay that increases your overall salary.
Benefits and Perks of Being an RN in Florida
As a registered nurse in Florida, you can enjoy several benefits and perks, such as a competitive salary with comprehensive benefits packages, job security, reimbursement assistance programs, and professional development opportunities.
Florida is ranked as the second state with the highest percentage of population aged 65 or over, with 21%. Therefore, the demand for nursing staff is high, and so is job security. In addition to that, healthcare facilities in Florida offer many incentives, including tuition reimbursement of up to $15,000 per year for advanced practice registered nurses to attract and retain RNs.
With the opportunity to specialize in various fields of nursing and a variety of career advancement opportunities, being an RN in Florida is a desirable career choice for many healthcare professionals.
The Bottom Line
Though Florida is not among the highest paying states in the U.S. for registered nurses, when considering their cost of living index, in addition to other perks and benefits, the location is an excellent choice for aspiring nurses. By considering factors that affect RN salaries, such as experience, education, certifications, location within the state, and industry, you can easily maximize your salary in Florida even further.
Nurse Luke is a CRNA who specializes in Nursing content and still enjoys a very busy career with Locum, Per Diem and Travel nursing in the greater midwest. He has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare field and received his CRNA masters degree from the Mayo Clinic School of Healthcare. He is passionate about helping nurses explore the options of becoming a travel nurse as well as spending time with his Family.
