Registered Nurses play a critical role in healthcare delivery and are equipped to work and function in a variety of healthcare settings. As skilled clinicians, RNs are also advocates for health promotion and disease prevention.
Because of the demand for RNs, nurses generally enjoy stable employment and excellent pay. This article will provide information on the latest Registered Nurse salaries in Florida and the projected job growth outlook for nurses in this state.
Arizona College of Nursing, which has campuses in Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa, FL, is an excellent choice for individuals looking to enter the nursing profession. Our comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Nursing program aims to produce skilled and qualified Registered Nurses ready to join the workforce.
RN Salary in Florida
Understanding the average Registered Nurse salary is important when making career decisions as well as decisions regarding nursing schools in Florida.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average nursing salary in Florida is $38.42 per hour or about $79,910 annually. Nationally, the average Registered Nurse’s salary is $42.80 per hour or about $89,010 annually. These figures are up-to-date as of May 2022. The average pay for all other professions in Florida is substantially lower with a median hourly wage of $19.62 per hour.
RN Salary in Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa
RN salaries in Florida vary slightly depending on geographical location. This may be due to regional differences in economy, cost of living, and population density. Like many professions and occupations, Registered Nurses often find higher pay in urban and metropolitan areas because cost of living naturally increases in these settings.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average nursing salary in Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa Florida are as follows:
- RN salary in Sarasota, FL is $38.78 per hour
- RN salary in Fort Lauderdale, FL is $38.40 per hour
- RN salary in Tampa, FL is $37.90 per hour
These averages are slightly higher than the average nursing salary in Florida of $37.36.
How to Increase Your RN Salary in Florida
After becoming a Registered Nurse, there are many ways an entry-level nurse can earn higher pay.
Additional certifications in nursing specialties
For example, an ICU Registered Nurse may decide to seek certification as a certified critical care nurse. Obtaining this certification shows that the nurse demonstrates the highest standards of knowledge and skills related to critical care nursing. These extra certifications do require coursework and certifying examinations to earn the additional credentials but often result in a pay raise.
Pursuing an advanced practice degree
Another option for Registered Nurses to increase their RN salary in Florida is to pursue an advanced practice nursing degree to become a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, or certified nurse midwife. These advanced practice roles also require further education with graduate level courses that culminate in eligibility to sit for the respective board certification exam. In Florida, the average pay of nurse practitioners is about $50.40 per hour.
Overtime opportunities
Finally, many healthcare institutions that employ nurses 24/7 offer differentials for those nurses that work weekends, nights, and holidays. This means that if a nurse works these shifts, they will likely be compensated with extra pay per hour. This can be another way to increase a baseline RN salary in Florida.
While these are several strategies to increase your RN salary, this information is not all-inclusive. The field of nursing is bursting with opportunities for career growth, advancement, and commensurate pay increases.
Where do RNs Work in Florida?
RNs work in a variety of settings in Florida. In addition to acute care hospital settings, Registered Nurses can be found in many diverse settings, such as:
- ambulatory community health centers
- schools, primary care clinics
- surgical offices
- skilled nursing facilities
- long term care
- rehabilitation facilities
It is estimated that the demand for nurses in The United States will increase in the next ten years with projected job growth at 6% from 2022-2032 with over 193,100 projected annual job openings by this same date. In Florida, the corresponding figures show a 15% estimated job growth and over 13,250 annual RN job openings between 2022-2030.
At the time of writing this article, there are hundreds of RN openings across Florida. The Sarasota Memorial Health system is actively looking for Registered Nurses to work in their hospital across general medical floors, labor and delivery, and their operating room. Health systems in Tampa, FL are in need of nurses to work in their emergency departments and pediatric units as well as long term care. Fort Lauderdale similarly has needs for Registered Nurses that can work in oncology, intensive care, and medical surgical units. It is projected that the demand for RNs will continue to grow from here in the next decade.
Start Your Nursing Career Journey Today
The nursing profession is an incredibly exciting and gratifying field. It requires expertise in areas of physical, social, and biological sciences as well as an understanding of human compassion and empathy. It is a profession that is well respected and highly trusted. With very positive job growth projections and excellent pay, now is an excellent time to begin exploring nursing schools in Florida.
Arizona College of Nursing, with its three Florida campuses in Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa, is equipped with the tools, resources, and expert faculty to prepare nursing graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the evolving and dynamic healthcare arena. If you are ready to take the next step and pursue your nursing career, we invite you to explore Arizona College of Nursing’s program at our Sarasota campus to learn more about how you can begin the process to transition into a rewarding, well paying, and respected career in nursing.
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Author Bio
Tana Bao MSN, FNP-BC, NP-C, APRN
Tana Bao is an experienced advanced practice registered nurse. She earned her BSN from The University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2016 and her MSN from Thomas Jefferson University in 2019. She is board certified to practice as a family nurse practitioner with both The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (NP-C) and The American Nurses Credentialing Center (FNP-BC). Clinically, she has worked in various medical settings including family planning, women’s health, sleep medicine, and primary care. She now also writes professionally as a health content writer and journalist and is also pursuing a post master’s certificate in nursing education.
Citations
Bureau of Labor Statistics, USS Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,
Registered Nurses, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics, USS Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,
Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioner, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm
O*NET OnLine, Registered Nurses, at https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1141.00
American Association of Critical Care Nures, CCRN (Adult), at https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/ccrn-adult
Information in this blog post is accurate as of March 27, 2023.