Florida RN Salary in 2026: Pay Data and Offer Checklist

In the May 2025 federal wage estimates, the median annual wage for registered nurses in Florida was $84,190. The median hourly wage was $40.48. These figures describe wages measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. They give you a reference point for a 2026 offer. The terms of the actual role determine your pay. The U.S. Department of Labor's Florida RN wage table presents the May 2025 BLS figures.

The median sits in the middle of the wage distribution. The same Florida data puts the 25th percentile at $78,660 annually and the 75th percentile at $101,180. Those points show the spread across RN jobs statewide. The national RN median was $97,550 in the same dataset. An individual offer can differ based on its setting, schedule, required experience, and full compensation package.

Florida RN pay by metro area

These metro figures all come from the same May 2025 BLS dataset, as shown in the Department of Labor's RN wage table. Each metro covers an area beyond the city in its name. The Miami figure, for example, covers Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach.

The metro medians combine RN jobs across employers and settings. They include a range of units, shifts, and assignment types. Ask for the specific role's pay terms in writing before comparing them with a regional figure.

What the wage data measures

OEWS surveys employers of wage and salary workers at nonfarm establishments. BLS combines six survey panels spanning three years for its May 2025 estimates and adjusts earlier wage observations to the May 2025 reference date. This creates a consistent geographic comparison. It cannot show today's open positions or predict a particular offer. See the BLS May 2025 technical notes for the survey's scope and method.

OEWS wages are straight-time gross pay. BLS includes base pay and some guaranteed or incentive pay. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, certain bonuses, benefits, and tuition reimbursement. Annual figures based on hourly wages use a standard 2,080-hour work year. If your hours or pay components differ, your annual earnings will differ too. A travel offer can include different pay components and a shorter contract. Compare each part separately. BLS explains the wage definition here.

How to compare two Florida RN offers

Start with the base hourly rate and the hours the employer expects you to work. Then ask for the rest of the offer in writing:

• What are the shift and weekend differentials, overtime rules, and any call pay?
• Does a sign-on bonus have a repayment condition or service period?
• What do health coverage, retirement contributions, paid time off, and education support include?
• What are the unit, patient population, orientation, floating expectations, and usual schedule?
• Is the role staff, per diem, contract, or travel? How long do any guaranteed hours last?

An hourly rate tells only part of the story. Check available hours and the base rate before giving a sign-on bonus much weight. Compare the full offer with the work you will actually do, using the relevant metro median as context.

For an employer, define the care setting, required experience, schedule, location, and full package before comparing candidates or competing offers. A metro median gives your team a starting point for that conversation. It cannot price a particular vacancy on its own. For more questions about agency process, see our Florida staffing agency checklist.

Check the license that applies to the role

Florida participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact. An RN with an active multistate license from another compact state may be eligible to practice in Florida under the compact privilege. A Florida single-state license covers practice in Florida only. Residency and individual license status can affect the path. Check the Florida Board of Nursing licensing guidance and the nurse's current license status before setting a start date. The Board's RN and LPN guidance explains what happens when a nurse moves between compact states.

Use the data for a better conversation

The May 2025 BLS data gives Florida nurses and hiring teams a shared baseline: $84,190 statewide median annual pay for RNs, with different medians across metro areas. Put it beside the written offer, schedule, benefits, and license status. Ava Health works on nurse staffing across Florida. If you are building a Florida RN search, review our staffing services or contact the team to discuss the role.