About Tampa
The city of Tampa Bay is located in Florida. It is located along the west coast of the state. In the past, a variety of indigenous cultures inhabited Tampa, including the Tocobaga.
Spanish explorers discovered it in the early 16th century, but it wasn't settled until 1824 when the U.S. Military established Fort Brooke, which remains today as Tampa Convention Center.
Tampa began as a small settlement founded by pioneers who lived nearby the fort as a means of protection from the surrounding Seminoles. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Tampa Bay Area is known to Census takers as the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Statistical Area.
A hot job market
Tampa, Florida, has a hotter job market than the state's average. The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area was ranked as the Best City for Finding a Job by BizJournals in 2021.
Tampa is home to MacDill Air Force Base and the United States Central Command (CentCom), which makes up a large portion of the local economy. Tampa also has a strong healthcare sector, with many hospitals and research centers. The University of South Florida Health System includes six campuses, more than 100 clinics, and 1,000 physicians practicing in multiple specialties.
More growth in the horizon
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment growth for Tampa is projected to be 3.1% per year through 2024. That's higher than the 2.6% expected across Florida and 2.9% expected nationally, but it's still far slower than what the city experienced during its recent boom when the rate was 5%.
Hillsborough shines brighter for technology engineers
As the third-largest city in Florida, Tampa is a bustling hub for the entire state. Tampa Bay has a multitude of Fortune 500 companies with offices in the area, including Tech Data Corp., Jabil Circuit Inc., OSI Restaurant Partners LLC (parent company of Outback Steakhouse), Raymond James Financial Inc., WellCare Health Plans Inc., Walter Energy Inc., and Bloomin' Brands Inc. (parent company of Outback Steakhouse).
According to a recent report, Hillsborough County has the fourth-highest employment growth of any U.S. county. The top five fastest-growing jobs in Tampa are:
- Software developers/applications (34%)
- Computer systems analysts (30%)
- Doctors/surgeons (23%)
- Dentists (20%)
For employers, Hillsborough County continues to be one of the most competitive in the nation for doing business because of its low average cost of labor and competitive real estate costs. The metro area also has a strong economic base that includes more than 50 banks, making it one of Florida's top banking centers.
America's most popular city to move to right now is Tampa
If you're thinking of moving to a new city, you might want to consider Tampa.
According to Realtor.com, the Florida city, the largest on the state's Gulf Coast and the third most populous in the nation, is America's most popular city to move to right now, according to Realtor.com.
Realtor.com determined its findings by ranking the top 50 metro areas based on four metrics: number of views per listing; time spent viewing listings; list-to-sale price ratio; and percentage of sold listings that had a price cut.
Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale said Tampa's affordability and job market were two key factors in its popularity among home buyers.
"Tampa is a relatively affordable market with a lot of good jobs, and it's not as expensive as some of those other West Coast markets," Hale said.
There is no income tax in Tampa
That's a big deal for residents and businesses alike.
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, Florida does not impose an individual income tax on wages earned by individuals. Nor does it set a profit tax on the partnership or sole proprietorship. The state does not impose an inventory tax, and no county within the state imposes a local income tax.
Greener pastures next door
Tampa Bay offers one of the most vibrant downtowns in the state. The city's downtown has undergone a major transformation over the last few years and is now considered one of Florida's most desirable places to live and work. The city also offers you a better chance of getting in touch with local business leaders and meeting people who can help your career flourish.
Living in Tampa is the best. If you commute from the suburbs to downtown Tampa, expect a commute time of fifteen minutes or less. Fifteen minutes is nothing like really that's a joke. You can also get to the beach in under an hour, which is great for weekend getaways. Moving to Florida? Read about becoming a FL resident.
If you're looking for a new career opportunity, there are plenty of options for you in Tampa Bay. Read why Tampa is a popular relocation spot here.
