Salaries in Jacksonville, FL

Here’s the thing about Jacksonville’s job market that nobody talks about: it’s a blue-collar city with a white-collar price tag. You’ll see salaries that look like they belong in a much smaller, cheaper place. Yet the city keeps humming along, with unemployment at a rock-bottom 3.2% as of 2026. It’s a strange, quiet boom.

Let’s talk real purchasing power. With a cost of living index of 99.2—just a hair under the national average—a $70,000 salary here goes further than in most major U.S. cities. That median household income of $68,069 is actually buying a decent life. A one-bedroom apartment averages $1,354 a month, which is manageable on that income, a far cry from the rent nightmares you hear about elsewhere. It’s not a bargain, but it’s not a rip-off either.

Who’s actually thriving? The top-paying roles are a mixed bag. You’ve got your standard corporate suspects—Marketing Managers pulling in $157,241 and Project Managers at $101,036. But this is still Jacksonville, so it’s no surprise that Construction Managers ($107,950) are in high demand. The real anchor is the healthcare and logistics sectors, with giants like Mayo Clinic, Baptist Health, and the JaxPort complex paying pharmacists and software developers well. It’s a port city, after all.

Here’s my honest take: wages are stable, but they’re not exploding. The cost of living is creeping up, and while it’s still reasonable, that gap is narrowing. This city works best for skilled professionals who want a comfortable life without the coastal premium of Miami or Tampa. If you have a bachelor’s degree (only 33.2% of the population does), you’re already in a good position.

The numbers below will show you exactly where the money is—and where it isn’t.