Salaries in Hollywood, FL

Here’s the thing about Hollywood, Florida in 2026: it’s not the Hollywood you’re thinking of. This is a city of 153,864 people where the median household income is $60,630, and the biggest economic drama isn’t on a soundstage. The real surprise is how many people are quietly making a solid living here without the usual coastal price tag.

But let’s talk real dollars. With a cost of living index of 111.8, you’re paying about 12% more than the national average for groceries, utilities, and everything else. That $60,630 median income doesn’t stretch as far as you’d hope. The math is stark: a one-bedroom apartment runs you $1,621 a month. That’s a heavy burden on that median salary, pushing many households into tight budgeting. It’s not a bargain, but it’s also not the financial black hole of South Beach.

So who actually thrives here? Hollywood’s job market is surprisingly diverse for a city its size. It’s anchored by healthcare, with places like Memorial Regional Hospital being a massive employer. There’s also a strong professional services sector and, of course, the tourism and hospitality industry that powers the beachfront economy. The tech scene is a quiet undercurrent, not a headline. The unemployment rate is a healthy 3.2%, which tells you jobs are there if you know where to look.

Here’s my honest take: I was surprised to see wages haven’t kept pace with the rising cost of living, especially in the last few years. For a software developer pulling in $131,765, Hollywood is a fantastic deal—your COL-adjusted salary is still a robust $117,858. But for the average worker, or someone in a field like teaching or real estate, the squeeze is real. This city works well if you’re in a high-demand, high-salary profession or you’re willing to live a bit further inland.

The data below breaks it all down, from the top-paying jobs to what you can actually expect to take home after accounting for that Florida sunshine tax.