Registered Nurse Salary in Key West, FL: $85,066 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Key West, FL earns a median $85,066/year (≈ $40.90/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Key West's price level (1% above national, BEA RPP 100.8), that paycheck buys what $84,391 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.5% below the Florida state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Registered nurses in Key West, Florida, command a median annual salary of $85,066, reflecting local economic conditions where the starting salary can be as low as $60,647 and can reach up to $112,842 for those at the highest end of the pay scale. This earnings data stems from estimates based on 2025 BLS state-level information and incorporates regional price adjustments. Compared to the national average for registered nurse salaries, which stands at $102,730 in 2026, the compensation in Key West is approximately 17.19% lower, indicating a significant pay differential that may influence the staffing strategies in local healthcare facilities – particularly in travel nursing vs. permanent staff roles.
About the Key West Market
Salary estimated from Florida average ($79,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,647 | $29.16 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $69,761 | $33.54 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $85,066 | $40.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $96,600 | $46.44 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $112,842 | $54.26 |
Median Salary Position
17.19% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Key West
In Key West, FL, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $52,195 (2026 est.). At $85,066, the local median is 17.19% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Key West: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Key West Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Key West median: $85,066/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Key West Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Average | $86,362 | -1.50% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | -17.19% less |
Registered Nurses in Key West, FL earn a median of $85,066 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.19% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 1.50% below the Florida state average of $86,362.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Key West has a cost of living 0.80% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Key West, FL has a cost-of-living index of 100.8 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $85,066 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $84,391 — a 0.79% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$60,697
2025 BLS Actual
$80,777
2026 Current Est.
$85,066
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Key West (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $60,697 | Actual |
| 2020 | $62,378 | Actual |
| 2021 | $64,257 | Actual |
| 2022 | $67,255 | Actual |
| 2023 | $71,271 | Actual |
| 2024 | $78,463 | Actual |
| 2025 | $80,777 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,066 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $89,583 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Key West metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.1% from $60,697 (2019) to $80,777 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $89,583 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,886 (47.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Key West 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $60,647 – $69,761 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $69,761 – $85,066 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $85,066 – $96,600 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $96,600 – $112,842 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Key West
In the local job market, there are currently only 4 registered nurses employed in Key West, which illustrates the tightness of the workforce and the potential for salary negotiations. With a cost-of-living index of 100.8, take-home pay can be significantly impacted, casting a shadow on effective purchasing power despite seemingly competitive registered nurse pay in Key West, FL. Factors contributing to compensation disparity include night and weekend differentials, which typically add $3-7/hour, along with charge nurse responsibilities and various specialty certification pay premiums. Opportunities for higher earnings are likely found in the region's acute care hospitals and specialty surgical centers, which often seek nurses with Magnet status credentials or in specialized fields. The keys to maximizing pay in this market lie in pursuing those certifications, understanding shift differentials, and considering travel nurse positions that can offer more lucrative pay packages.
More salary data for Key West, FL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $80,777 for registered nursesin the Key West metropolitan area. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Key West is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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