Tampa is home to Florida's largest port and the world's longest continuous sidewalk, plus it's known as the lightning capital of the world! The University of South Florida, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all call Tampa home. Plus, there are a plethora of national and local businesses located in this wonderful city. With a population of almost 3 million people one might begin to wonder what the job market is like. If you're thinking about relocating to a Tampa apartment, here are some things you might want to know about the city's flourishing
job market.
Tampa From a Mile-High View
Tampa ranks number 75 in US News Best Places to Live in the USA. This city also falls at number 35 in the Best Places to Retire. Being that Tampa is such a large city, there is really is something for everyone, including college students, working professionals and even retirees. Many of the people living in Tampa are transplants from other areas of the state or even other parts of the country. The current unemployment rate is 3.5%, which happens to be almost a half percent lower than the national average of 3.9%. The average annual salary is about $45,500, which is fairly close to the country's average at about $50,000. Depending on exactly where you live, you will have access to public buses and trolleys to help you move about the city. The Tampa area also has two international airports and a port that serves several Caribbean cruise lines. Tampa is unique because you can get the metropolitan feel of a big city, but still have a laidback beach-vibe. Why not live where people from around the world love to vacation?
Tampa Bay Jobs
Tampa is at the top of the list in the state for job demand with a job growth rate at 2.25%, close to a full percent higher than the country's average at 1.59%. Future job growth over the next 10 years is predicted to be 42.7%, which is higher than the national average of 33.5%. Health care organizations like the BayCare Health System, Tampa General Hospitaland James A.Haley Veterans Hospital are some of the largest employers in the area. Another major employer in the Tampa area is the MacDill Air Force Base, which employs about 2,300 people. Right up there with these top employers is the University of South Florida. And, let's not forget about Busch Gardens, a 335-acre theme park in Tampa that's home to more than 2,700 animals! Tourism and the hospitality industry are also popular types of employment. Combined these industries have a workforce of about 161,000.
Cost of Living in Tampa
If the cost of living was placed on a scale of 100, with 100 being the national average, Tampa would be a 109. Housing is the biggest factor when it comes to the cost of living. The cost of utilities falls below average for the rest of the country. About 44% of the population in Tampa rents, which means you will be joining half of the people in this city when you start looking for an apartment. Here, you will find a variety of Tampa apartments suited for student living, as well as a variety of conventional apartments with a wealth of amenities and features geared to meet the needs of families, non-students and seniors. If you're moving here from out of state, you should also know that Florida has a 6% sales tax and no state income tax. This may affect your budget as well as how you file taxes with Uncle Sam. Make sure to do some research on how these taxes differ and how they will affect your yearly tax filing.