Registered Nurse Salary in Florida: $90,270 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Florida's 87 metropolitan areas, the average median registered nurse pay sits at $90,270/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1141. Because Florida sits at BEA RPP 100.8 (1% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $89,554 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: West Palm Beach ($93,438), Naples ($93,330), Miami ($91,380).

Registered Nurse Salary in Florida - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Florida registered nurse salary overview (2026)

$90,270

Avg Median Salary

$43.40

Avg Hourly Rate

222,678

Metro Employed

Cities

When considering a career as a registered nurse in Florida, it's important to understand the salary landscape. The projected average median salary for registered nurses in the state for 2026 is $90,271, which is 12.1% lower than the national median of $102,730. Notably, West Palm Beach offers the highest salary at $98,400, while Panama City provides the lowest at $79,309. This nearly $19,000 gap can be influenced by the cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and regional healthcare funding. Florida's specific state licensing requirements mandate that registered nurses obtain a license through the Florida Board of Nursing, which involves completing an accredited nursing program and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Additionally, with a projected annual compound growth rate of 5.31% in the nursing field, the demand for nurses is expected to rise due to an aging population and growing healthcare needs. Top cities for registered nurses in 2026 include Naples at $98,286, Miami at $96,232, Fort Lauderdale at $94,835, and Sarasota at $92,049. Understanding these factors is crucial for making informed career decisions in Florida's nursing sector.

Florida Registered Nurse Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$74,105

avg across 87 cities

Median

$90,270

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$123,842

avg across 87 cities

Overall salary range in Florida: $57,093 (lowest entry-level) to $152,299 (highest top earner)

Florida vs National Average

Florida

$90,270

National Median

$102,730

Florida registered nurses earn 12.13% less than the national median ($-12,460/year difference).

Florida Registered Nurse Salary Distribution (2026)

Registered Nurse salaries in Florida range from $74,105 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $123,842 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $90,270. The Florida median is $12,460 below the US national median of $102,730. The average hourly rate is $43.40/hr. Approximately 222,678 registered nurses are employed across 87 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$66,334

2025 BLS Actual

$85,719

2026 Current Est.

$90,270

2019–2027 Growth

+43.3%

Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Florida (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$66,334	Actual
2020	$67,797	Actual
2021	$73,498	Actual
2022	$77,161	Actual
2023	$81,033	Actual
2024	$83,054	Actual
2025	$85,719	Actual
2026(current)	$90,270	Estimated
2027	$95,064	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Florida metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 29.2% from $66,334 (2019) to $85,719 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $95,064 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,730 (43.31%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Florida metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Florida

West Palm Beach

29 employed · $47.31/hr

$98,400

+9.01% vs avg

Naples

3,110 employed · $47.25/hr

$98,286

+8.88% vs avg

Miami

61,670 employed · $46.26/hr

$96,232

+6.60% vs avg

Fort Lauderdale

29 employed · $45.59/hr

$94,835

+5.06% vs avg

Sarasota

10 employed · $44.25/hr

$92,049

+1.97% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Florida

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Panama City	$79,309	-12.14%	$38.13
Wildwood	$81,205	-10.04%	$39.04
Plant City	$81,716	-9.48%	$39.29
North Miami Beach	$82,011	-9.15%	$39.43
Pensacola	$82,026	-9.13%	$39.44

Best Value Cities for Registered Nurses in Florida

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Florida cities offer the most purchasing power for registered nurses.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
West Palm Beach	$98,400	100.8	$97,619
Sebring	$90,240	92.47	$97,588
Naples	$98,286	103.2	$95,238
Wildwood	$81,205	85.424	$95,061
Fort Lauderdale	$94,835	100.8	$94,082

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Florida

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$74,105	$35.63	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$90,270	$43.40	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$123,842	$59.54	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Florida metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 87 Cities in Florida

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	West Palm Beach	$98,400	$47.31	$68,047	$141,946	29
2	Naples	$98,286	$47.25	$76,287	$152,299	3,110
3	Miami	$96,232	$46.26	$76,497	$136,008	61,670
4	Fort Lauderdale	$94,835	$45.59	$67,605	$136,092	29
5	Sarasota	$92,049	$44.25	$63,515	$125,705	10
6	Hialeah	$90,826	$43.66	$60,594	$131,487	35
7	North Port	$90,704	$43.61	$70,031	$113,113	8,380
8	Clearwater	$90,610	$43.57	$60,500	$133,948	19
9	Winter Haven	$90,308	$43.42	$63,504	$127,646	10
10	Sebring	$90,240	$43.39	$64,313	$111,165	930
11	Tampa	$90,008	$43.27	$77,182	$131,079	38,720
12	Sanford	$89,722	$43.13	$62,610	$123,402	16
13	St. Petersburg	$89,522	$43.04	$63,239	$133,961	42
14	Coral Springs	$89,007	$42.79	$61,306	$124,824	34
15	Bradenton	$88,791	$42.69	$63,630	$123,756	13
16	Deltona	$88,650	$42.62	$74,907	$124,013	6,600
17	Lakeland	$88,492	$42.55	$68,041	$107,490	6,140
18	Pembroke Pines	$88,197	$42.40	$59,553	$131,245	40
19	Fort Myers	$88,129	$42.37	$60,483	$128,303	23
20	Orlando	$87,987	$42.30	$72,548	$122,381	30,150
21	Jacksonville	$87,955	$42.28	$72,611	$110,439	18,940
22	Doral	$87,511	$42.07	$62,008	$120,864	16
23	Ormond Beach	$87,285	$41.97	$65,304	$118,752	7
24	Cape Coral	$87,260	$41.96	$82,679	$125,993	8,700
25	Melbourne	$87,162	$41.90	$61,648	$120,467	12
26	Daytona Beach	$87,136	$41.89	$62,913	$125,045	14
27	Largo	$87,101	$41.87	$61,048	$119,463	12
28	Davie	$86,977	$41.82	$63,554	$126,661	18
29	Hollywood	$86,803	$41.73	$63,241	$126,110	37
30	Delray Beach	$86,561	$41.62	$59,794	$126,284	15
31	Kissimmee	$86,533	$41.60	$62,555	$121,121	20
32	Port St. Lucie	$86,449	$41.57	$78,909	$111,492	5,310
33	Miramar	$86,397	$41.53	$62,230	$124,689	21
34	Palm Coast	$86,335	$41.50	$59,274	$125,720	12
35	Gainesville	$86,217	$41.45	$69,210	$108,164	7,470
36	Boca Raton	$86,130	$41.41	$58,802	$125,008	17
37	Cutler Bay	$85,817	$41.26	$62,722	$118,154	10
38	Boynton Beach	$85,740	$41.22	$57,911	$118,214	12
39	Sebastian	$85,617	$41.17	$73,096	$110,228	1,880
40	Winter Park	$85,616	$41.17	$62,327	$117,690	7
41	Leesburg	$85,602	$41.16	$59,357	$114,616	4
42	Crestview	$85,575	$41.14	$64,555	$108,901	1,900
43	North Miami	$85,562	$41.13	$57,506	$117,612	11
44	Port Orange	$85,537	$41.12	$57,362	$122,730	10
45	Jupiter	$85,419	$41.07	$57,093	$122,335	14
46	Miami Gardens	$85,373	$41.05	$60,002	$124,575	21
47	Plantation	$85,214	$40.97	$63,445	$121,619	15
48	Titusville	$85,213	$40.97	$58,828	$118,512	7
49	Palm Bay	$85,196	$40.96	$70,126	$109,343	5,440
50	Aventura	$85,194	$40.96	$61,221	$112,998	8
51	Royal Palm Beach	$85,174	$40.94	$61,263	$116,210	6
52	Pompano Beach	$85,100	$40.91	$59,395	$123,414	28
53	Homestead	$85,083	$40.90	$63,141	$121,133	14
54	Key West	$85,066	$40.90	$60,647	$112,842	4
55	Tamarac	$84,899	$40.82	$62,711	$120,559	11
56	Apopka	$84,879	$40.81	$62,750	$123,803	8
57	Oviedo	$84,799	$40.77	$60,367	$119,975	10
58	Pinellas Park	$84,735	$40.73	$62,069	$123,307	13
59	Punta Gorda	$84,680	$40.71	$66,745	$110,870	1,430
60	Deerfield Beach	$84,673	$40.71	$59,715	$119,777	12
61	Estero	$84,416	$40.59	$59,371	$118,689	6
62	Wellington	$84,386	$40.57	$61,522	$121,896	10
63	St. Cloud	$84,386	$40.57	$61,522	$118,818	11
64	Coconut Creek	$84,194	$40.48	$61,166	$118,386	11
65	Altamonte Springs	$84,102	$40.43	$58,361	$112,659	9
66	Lauderhill	$84,092	$40.43	$60,930	$118,041	19
67	Sunrise	$83,894	$40.33	$60,132	$117,373	23
68	Palm Beach Gardens	$83,887	$40.33	$60,116	$117,350	9
69	Margate	$83,859	$40.31	$60,054	$117,257	13
70	North Lauderdale	$83,753	$40.27	$57,898	$111,308	7
71	Haines City	$83,753	$40.27	$57,898	$116,676	5
72	DeLand	$83,713	$40.25	$64,355	$116,542	7
73	Tallahassee	$83,648	$40.22	$65,513	$103,256	3,400
74	Bonita Springs	$83,627	$40.21	$59,780	$119,260	13
75	Ocala	$83,437	$40.11	$63,523	$103,625	3,040
76	Winter Garden	$83,271	$40.04	$63,641	$115,074	10
77	Clermont	$83,224	$40.01	$63,528	$114,920	11
78	Dunedin	$82,742	$39.78	$62,025	$113,329	6
79	Winter Springs	$82,701	$39.77	$62,278	$113,196	8
80	Ocoee	$82,681	$39.75	$62,230	$113,129	10
81	Oakland Park	$82,406	$39.62	$61,578	$112,025	6
82	Homosassa Springs	$82,226	$39.53	$70,242	$103,067	890
83	Pensacola	$82,026	$39.44	$67,167	$104,288	5,070
84	North Miami Beach	$82,011	$39.43	$60,644	$113,842	11
85	Plant City	$81,716	$39.29	$59,607	$112,875	7
86	Wildwood	$81,205	$39.04	$65,871	$102,582	960
87	Panama City	$79,309	$38.13	$64,913	$101,961	1,610

More Florida Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore registered nurse hourly pay in Florida cities.

West Palm Beach →Naples →Miami →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new registered nurses.

West Palm Beach →Naples →Miami →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced registered nurses.

West Palm Beach →Naples →Miami →

Compare Cities in Florida

Miami, FLvsTampa, FL Miami, FLvsOrlando, FL Miami, FLvsJacksonville, FL Miami, FLvsCape Coral, FL Miami, FLvsNorth Port, FL Miami, FLvsGainesville, FL

View all comparisons →

Explore More Registered Nurse Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do registered nurses make in Florida in 2026?

The average median registered nurse salary in Florida is $90,270/year across 87 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $79,309 in Panama City to $98,400 in West Palm Beach. This makes Florida 12.13% below the national median of $102,730. The state employs approximately 222,678 registered nurses.

What is the highest paying city for registered nurses in Florida?

West Palm Beach offers the highest registered nurse salary in Florida at $98,400/year ($47.31/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are West Palm Beach ($98,400), Naples ($98,286), Miami ($96,232). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for nursing services, and competition among employers for licensed registered nurses.

How does Florida registered nurse pay compare to the national average?

Florida's average registered nurse salary of $90,270 is 12.13% below the national median of $102,730 in 2026. The state employs approximately 222,678 registered nurses across 87 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level registered nurse salary in Florida?

Entry-level registered nurses (10th percentile) in Florida earn approximately $74,105/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $57,093 in lower-paying areas to $82,679 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many registered nurses are employed in Florida?

Florida employs approximately 222,678 registered nurses across 87 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Florida one of the larger employers of registered nurses nationally. Demand continues to grow as the nursing field expands and the population ages.

Which Florida city offers the best value for registered nurses?

When adjusted for cost of living, West Palm Beach offers the highest purchasing power for registered nurses in Florida, with an adjusted salary of $97,619 (nominal: $98,400, CoL index: 100.8). This means your dollar goes 1% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.

Clinically reviewed by Amina Patel, RN, MSNData verified by Carlos Gomez, RN, DNP

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 registered nurse compensation across Florida. State averages are employment-weighted across 87 metro areas — larger metro areas with more registered nursescontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 9, 2026

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