The Best Jobs in Key West

Finding good jobs in Key West is largely dependent the skills and experience you bring, the job you want to do, and when you start applying. Because Key West has a tourist based economy you find more jobs available in the winter months than in the summer off-season.

The tourist economy provides plenty of opportunities for interesting gigs, especially if you have some experience in boating, sailing, fishing or the hospitality industry.

If you are looking for something more stable, permanent, and with better pay things can be a little tougher here. There are really no other sizable industries in Key West which provide regular job openings. Government jobs in city operations, education, and some medical positions are highly sought after here. There is a significant military presence in Key West that does offer some civilian job opportunities.

Seasonal Jobs in Key West

Many travellers visiting Key West and are taken with the natural beauty of the surrounding region and the laidback lifestyle, as a result, many vacationers end up staying and looking for work. During the busy winter tourist season it is possible to pick up a short term job. Restaurant jobs, both waiting tables and kitchen work, come up regularly. Hotel jobs are also a popular choice if you are in Key West for an undetermined amount of time. Hotels employ a wide range of staff so the roles available are diverse, from customer service representatives and cleaners through to water sports supervisors.

Here is a selection of some of the popular and interesting jobs available on a part-time or seasonal basis.

• Hotels: concierge, cleaning, pool lifeguard, building maintenance.
• Restaurants: chef, waiter, maitre d’, bus boy.
• Customer service at one of a variety of tourist attractions.
• Fishing trips: some local fishing charters and commercial operations require an extra deckhand.
• Snorkeling and Dive instruction: these jobs are highly sought after and require some specific abilities.

Keep in mind that even if you are working in Key West on a short term basis, if you are not a U.S. citizen you will still need to have all the necessary legal documentation to work here.

Other Key West Industries

Apart from the tourism-related jobs available in Key West, some of the more common permanent jobs are related to sales. Sales associates’ positions in Key West are constantly being advertised. While some of these are with tourism-related companies such as rental car agencies, many are in retail stores that service locals all year round.

As one might expect, hospitals and other medical providers are among the biggest employers in Key West. If you have experience in medicine or qualifications relating to any medical field you may be able to find a position here.

Military and Government Jobs

Almost one-fifth of the working population of Key West are government employees. The City of Key West posts open jobs on their website as does the Monroe County schools. Teacher turnover here is fairly high due to the high cost of living and rural atmosphere.

Because of the existence of the Naval Air Station Key West and the Key West Coast Guard Station, many military personnel also find themselves stationed here. This presents opportunities for a variety of civilian employment to support the military operations.