- Nurses in Pensacola are typically paid $26,090 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $64,500

- Nurses in Lakeland are typically paid $26,900 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $65,640

- Nurses in Tallahassee are typically paid $29,020 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $68,180

- Nurses in Deltona are typically paid $30,200 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $66,300

- Nurses in Ocala are typically paid $31,870 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $68,250

- Nurses in Palm Bay are typically paid $32,050 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $75,940

- Nurses in Gainesville are typically paid $33,900 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $76,600

- Nurses in Crestview are typically paid $35,160 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $74,650

- Nurses in Tampa are typically paid $35,550 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $78,830

- Nurses in Miami are typically paid $36,160 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $79,870

- Nurses in Port St. Lucie are typically paid $36,420 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $74,560

- Nurses in Panama City are typically paid $36,540 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $73,940

- Nurses in Jacksonville are typically paid $36,820 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $78,420

- Nurses in The Villages are typically paid $37,310 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $75,230

- Nurses in Orlando are typically paid $37,940 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $76,970

- Nurses in Punta Gorda are typically paid $38,790 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $75,970

- Nurses in Cape Coral are typically paid $39,030 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $77,920

- Nurses in Sebring are typically paid $39,050 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $74,510

- Nurses in Naples are typically paid $39,900 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $79,820

- Nurses in Homosassa Springs are typically paid $40,340 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $75,510

- Nurses in North Port are typically paid $41,200 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $80,670

- Nurses in Sebastian are typically paid $41,280 more than the metro's median income.
- Median annual wage for nurses: $79,190

In addition to salary considerations, young workers increasingly prioritize flexible schedules and support for their mental health while at work. Several nurses' unions in recent years went on strike to push for better working conditions, citing chronic understaffing at hospitals as a major issue.

With the field so mentally and emotionally taxing, and overtime hours that notoriously lead to burnout, roughly 100,000 RNs left the profession since 2020 and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report published in 2023 from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Another analysis from National Nurses United, the largest professional association of registered nurses, found that more than 1 million registered nurses with active licenses in 2022 were not actively employed as RNs. Nurses leaving hospitals due to burnout and looking for more regular schedules may turn to physicians' offices, home health care services, and nursing care facilities.

California has attracted new nursing talent with its first-in-the-nation law that sets minimum nurse staffing requirements: Lower patient-to-nurse ratios are associated with better patient outcomes and less burnout for nurses. Oregon will soon join the exclusive club, becoming the second state to mandate nurse-to-patient ratios.

This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten, writing by Cassidy Grom, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 47 states.