How much do nurses in Florida make? This is a common question among people interested in the medical field. 

Nursing is becoming high demand, with over 200,000 new job openings. With a little hard work and dedication, you can join this workforce.

There are curiosities about how much money nurses make, and this is the best article to answer them. 

Nurses play a crucial role in many healthcare fields, and it takes a lot to become one. So, how much can you get from a nursing job in Florida? Here are the details;

How Much Do Nurses Make In Florida

According to indeed.com, Florida nurses make approximately $37 an hour, the same as the national average. 

This is $5,596 per month and $79,043 per year. They can also get overtime of up to 10, 327 per year and other noncash benefits like 401 (K). This is data collected from over 17,000 nurses from February of 2024. 

The market is competitive, and there might be increases in salaries. The salary will increase with experience as follows;

Types of Nurses and Their Salaries

When you hear about a nurse, you probably imagine someone in scrubs holding a clipboard, but there is more to nurses. 

There are many types of nurses with different requirements and salaries. Here are some of the most common types of nurses in Florida;

1. Registered Nurse

This title is used for the regular nurses you see daily at the hospital. They assess patients and provide the required medical attention with assistance from doctors. In Florida, registered nurses get a median salary of $ 77,600 annually. 

The group has a steady job growth rate of about 9%. They work in many settings, such as private and public hospitals, rehabilitation centers, surgical hospitals, and physician’s offices. 

To be a registered nurse, you need the NCLEX-RN exam, nursing license, and ASN or BSN degree.

2. Oncology Registered Nurse

Oncology nurses specialize in caring for cancer patients. They monitor the treatment plans, administer medication, and coordinate treatment requirements with specialists. It is a high-stress job requiring in-depth knowledge of each patient’s condition.

They get an average salary of 113 106 per year, according to indeed.com. They have a wide range of jobs, which include talking to family members about treatment and side effects of various cancer medications. 

3. ICU Nurse

ICU nurses are highly trained and more educated than regular nurses. This is because they often work in the ICU with patients in critical condition. They must intubate patients, put them on life support, administer life-determining medication, and more.

ICU nurses have more consistent hours than regular nurses since they must provide reliable, structured care. 

They are the highest-paid nurses at $ 137,811 per year, and this could sometimes not include additional benefits from the specific hospital.

4. Operating Room Nurses 

An OR nurse is responsible for patients during and right before surgery. They coordinate with the anesthesiologist to ensure proper care before the surgery. 

OR nurses also ensure the theater is sterile and all equipment necessary for the surgery is available.

OR nurses ensure the patient or their family signs all the necessary paperwork. They will also update the family on the surgery’s progress. They get an annual salary of $122,637.

5. Family Nurse Practitioner

This is a healthcare professional that focuses on family medicine. They can prescribe medication, perform physicals, diagnose illnesses, and create patient care plans. They care for the whole family and track their medical records over long periods.

Family nurse salaries mainly depend on the families they deal with, but most get an annual average of about $122,083.

6. Travel Nurse

Travel nurses occupy temporary roles in hospitals in a country or internationally. They have broad knowledge and cover nurse shortages until a full-time replacement comes along. They do all the jobs of a regular nurse, such as giving medication and caring for patients.

Travel nurses travel a lot, making more than regular nurses, with an average annual salary of  $115,581.

7. Psychiatric Nurse

Psychiatric nurses specialize in dealing with patients with behavioral or mental problems. They are found in mental hospitals or detention facilities. They diagnose patients, monitor them, and get them the proper services and programs.

It is a stressful job that gets a salary of about $114 285 annually, according to indeed.com.

8. Midwife Nurses 

Midwife nurses focus on childbirth and reproductive health for pregnant women. They care for the fetus during pregnancy and prescribe diets, medication, and guidance to bring babies to term.

Their most important role is in helping women in labor deliver. They offer low intervention techniques to induce labor and help in caring for the young life. They get an annual salary of 90,249 per year.

Factors Affecting Nurse Salaries In Florida

Nurses’ salaries have a wide range in Florida, and several factors contribute to this. Major salary determinants include location, experience, education, industry, and certifications.

A registered nurse can get a higher salary with more years on the job. At the start of their careers, nurses make about $71,000 annually, which could get to about $86 after 15 years. This is because experience makes them more valuable and skilled.

The second factor is the location where they practice in Florida. Nurses in urban centers generally get more money than those in rural areas. Rural areas have less demand and less stress, while nurses typically have to work more in urban areas.

The industry in which a nurse works is the third factor. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has data proving that nurses in surgical hospitals, home health, outpatient care, and nursing care get paid more. 

The more education and certification a nurse gets, the better their pay. The two translate to experience and versatility, so employers will value them more. Specialized certifications are also significant determinants of how much money a nurse makes.

How To Become A Nurse In Florida 

Registered nurses play essential roles in many parts of the Florida healthcare system. The path to nursing is complex, and you need academic prowess and clinical experience. Here is a complete guide on the necessary steps to become a nurse in Florida;

1. Graduate high school

Nursing degree programs in Florida require a high school diploma or GED equivalent. It is proof of reading comprehension, reasoning skills, and mathematics, which are crucial for a nurse. You can take pre-nursing career classes in healthcare clubs or local colleges.

2. Select a nursing program

You can choose an associate degree in nursing or a Bachelor’s degree. The Associate degree will take about two years to give you basic nursing skills. It will work for those wanting to be primary care nurses or employees in long-term care facilities. 

The Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing is a four-year program offering more advanced nursing fields. You can get jobs in oncology, surgery, ICU, and other areas that generally pay more.

3. Crush the entrance requirements

After selecting the program, consider the institution you want to join and meet its entrance requirements. 

These will include minimum ACT or SAT scores, letters of recommendation, transcripts, prerequisite science courses, etc. 

4. Complete the program’s coursework

Go through the nursing program you need to graduate. It will include general chemistry, anatomy, English, and biology classes. 

You might have other deeper concepts like pharmacology, pathology, clinical theory, public health, etc.

5. Complete your clinical 

You must do on-site clinicals alongside your coursework during your degree program. They allow you to test what you learned and better understand the work environment. Check the specific guidelines for your institution and make sure you pass.

6. Register and take the NCLEX-RN 

The NCLEX-RN is a standard test for all aspiring Florida nurses. You need to submit your application form to the Florida Board of Nursing. They will give you a registration code that you will use to do the test in their portal.

The exam is online, but you have to go to one of the testing centers. You can choose a center when registering. 

The tests take about 5 hours, with a break in the middle. Results come out around two days after the test.

7. Apply for a license

The NCLEX-RN application will have all the information necessary to see if you should be licensed. After the test, the Board will run a criminal background check and verify your information.

If you pass the NCLEX-RN, your data will be sent to the licensing board for approval. If you fail, then you can retake it two times before having to go back to nursing school. The Board will issue a license around ten days after the test.

Conclusion 

If you wonder, you have a detailed response, “How much do nurses make in Florida?” Florida isn’t the highest-paying state, but many perks come with nursing. 

It is a fast-growing industry with increasing benefits and salaries, so it is a good dream for Florida residents.

Florida is perfect for nursing since it is popular among retired and old people. Such people require care, and nursing them is one of the highest-paid industries in the field. Get the proper education, certification, and license for this fulfilling life.