Find Out More About the Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido Key Area Economy & Job Market 

Pensacola 

“People like to work where they like to live.” It could be added that people also like to retire where they like to work. Northwest Florida has the largest concentration of military and civilian retirees in the country. The working population and retirees alike enjoy a cost-of-living factor that’s lower than most of the nation. Add the cultural, recreational and scenic attractions and it’s easy to see why Northwest Florida is ranked so favorably as a place to live, work and play. 

The famous beaches, the National Museum of Naval Aviation and the historic district—all of which have ranked high with American tourists for years—now attract increasing numbers from abroad, particularly Japan, Germany and Canada. Visitors from around the world spend millions in the area annually, an amount that increases steadily.  

The yearly growth in construction projects averages a steady 5-6 percent with the bulk of commercial construction being military contracts. A large inventory of rural and urban locations awaits the prospective buyer looking for a starter home, investment property or retirement home.  

Condominiums and townhouses grace the waterfronts of Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Perdido and even downtown Pensacola. The historic districts offer tree-lined acres of gingerbread-laced Victorian mansions in all stages of restoration. For the adventurous, there are live-aboard slips at the marinas. Many local contractors specialize in custom-built homes designed just for making the most of the Gulf Coast climate and lifestyle including modern versions of Creole and Victorian cottages.  

A significant boost to the economy will be realized now that the Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 has combined forces with the Pensacola Escambia Development Committee, the city and the county to share a joint budget targeted to increase the job market. 

Pensacola One Of The Best Places to Live  

The Inc. magazine list of cities with employment bases in the 150,000-450,000 range notes that Pensacola’s economy was hit by major hurricanes but the area is rebounding. While the rebuilding effort has been an economic spur, the ranking pointed out that the Pensacola area’s growth goes far beyond that. 

“An influx of call centers has come to the region, and major health care facilities are expanding,” the article states. 

The Pensacola area achieved its ranking with a one-year job growth of two percent and a five-year job growth of 7.7 percent, slightly under the state average of 9.6 percent but well ahead of job growth trends in Alabama (-0.1 percent), Georgia (-0.8 percent), and Mississippi (3.1 percent). 

In head-to-head competition Pensacola finished on the list far ahead of Montgomery (35th), Tallahassee (38th), and Mobile (49th). 

The Pensacola area was one of four Florida mid-size cities to make the top-15 list. The others are Cape Coral-Fort Myers (1st), Sarasota-Bradenton (4th), and Palm Bay-Melbourne, (6th). 

Almost as impressive as the mid-sized city rating was that the Pensacola area finished 71st among all U.S. cities, even when compared against locales such as Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando. 

NAS Pensacola 

Naval Air Station Pensacola is a Regional Navy command that consists of all property and services at NAS Pensacola, Saufley Field, Corry Station, Blue Angel Park and NAS Whiting Field. 

Pensacola and the Navy have been business partners since 1826, to the mutual satisfaction of both parties. Pensacola brick yards supplied the raw materials for Fort Pickens a generation before the Civil War, and the relationship has grown ever closer over the years.  

Today, the effect of military spending on Pensacola’s economy is staggering. The Pensacola naval complex yearly payroll alone exceeds $907 million. When you add in contracts and utilities, the Navy’s impact on the local economy is over $1.5 billion annually. NAS Pensacola is home to the Blue Angels precision flying team with two local shows during the summer and fall. 

NAS Pensacola is located in Escambia County in the panhandle of Northwest Florida. The installation occupies 8,423 acres of land - 5,800 acres at the main installation (NAS), and 2,623 acres at other area locations including Corry Station, Saufley Field and Outlying Landing Field Bronson. 

NAS Pensacola has a total military population of 16,100 with 5,000 Federal civilian employees and about 1,000 Non-appropriated federal (NAF) employees. Total military student annual flow includes over 25,000 Sailors and Marines each year through NATTC and Corry and 1,300 Officer Candidates through OCS. 

Request our Free Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido Key Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, Florida area. Don't move here without it! Remember: We'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and we will send it right out... 

Request our Free Pensacola Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, Florida area. Don't move here without it! Remember: We'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and we will send it right out... 

Come and visit our 52 miles of Gulf waters and protected, pristine shoreline. The Pensacola Bay Area population has grown to more than 400,000 happy people. Our high tourist season is from April to August but our winters are mild. NAS Pensacola is Home to the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels Squadron with both Fall and Summer Airshows. Because we have 343 days of sunshine (give or take a few) come and visit us in Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. 

Pensacola offers the best of all worlds to visitors. From history and shopping to sports, nature and attractions, there's something for everyone.  

The Seville Historic District is one of the oldest and most intact in all of Florida, its architecture reflecting modest structures perfectly suited to the climate. You won't want to miss the Pensacola Historical Museum on Zaragosa Street, with overviews of the nations whose flags flew over Pensacola. 

Popular with military reunions, the Wall South at Veterans Memorial Park on Bayfront Parkway is a one-half scale replica of the design in Washington, D.C. The world-class National Museum of Naval Aviation, at NAS Pensacola, showcases the history of aviation through indoor and outdoor exhibits and the museum admission is free. Be sure to catch the latest large format film at the IMAX Theater. 

There's racing excitement at Pensacola Greyhound Track and Five Flags Speedway. The Civic Center hosts their own professional hockey league, the Pensacola Ice Flyers Pensacola also has it's own Professional Women's Football Team, the Pensacola Power and professional baseball, the Pensacola Pelicans. 

Pensacola boasts many beautiful parks with fountains, play areas and often water access. Feed the ducks at Bayview Park on Bayou Texar. Watch an osprey return to its nest with a freshly caught fish at Big Lagoon State Park. Public boat ramps allow for fun on the water, pick up a copy of the Florida Boater's Guide from the Marine Patrol across from the Visitors Information Center at the foot of the Bay Bridge.  

Shopping is terrific at downtown Pensacola specialty shops. Stop at one of the wonderful coffee shops, cafes or eateries for lunch, or just an afternoon latte. The downtown Pensacola area showcases wonderful art galleries featuring both local and regional art, as well as traveling exhibits in the Pensacola Musuem of Art. If antique shopping entices you, antique stores and flea markets pepper the area from the elegant to the eclectic.  

NAS Pensacola, best known as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation”, has trained aviators for every major conflict during the 20th century. Annually, 40,000 enlisted and officer students begin their initial training in the Pensacola Bay Area.  

The military is the largest economic engine in the greater Pensacola area, with more than $2.39 billion in salary and wages produced annually by more than 20,000 active duty and military/ federal employees and 30,000+ military retirees. Additionally, military spouses are estimated to contribute $170 million annually in local salaries as part of the $2.39 billion. As a result, nearly every community business is positively impacted by the military presence.  

Oriskany's Sink Day Arrives  

The ex-Oriskany, a decommissioned aircraft carrier, became the largest ship intentionally sunk as an artificial reef May 17th when it was sunk approximately 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Fla. After 25 years of service to the Navy in operations in Korea, Vietnam and the Mediterranean, the ex-Oriskany will now benefit marine life, sport fishing and recreation diving off the coast of the Florida panhandle. The 888-foot ship took about 37 minutes to sink below the surface.  

Barrancas National Cemetery 

The Barrancas National Cemetery was established in 1868 and encompasses over 100 acres (45 developed)on NAS Pensacola. During the early days of the Navy Yard, employees and their families were allowed to live on the reservation and a small community developed. After the town of Warrington was moved in the early 1930s, 840 civilian burial sites were relocated from the hill over looking Chevalier Field. 

Sherman Field 

Sherman Field was created due to the arrival of the jet age in the 1940s. The need arose for the airfield to handle the newer airplanes such as the F9F-6(Cougars) and the TV2(Seastar), which were high-speed aircraft. The planes required higher airspeeds to remain airborne. Dedicated on November 2, 1951, Sherman Field was built with the required longer runways for takeoffs and landings. It is currently the home of the Blue Angels and Training Air Wing SIX, which include Training Squadrons Four(VT-4), TEN(VT-10),and EIGHT-SIX(VT-86). The training squadrons fly a variety of aircraft and provide instruction to both student Naval Flight Officers, Air Force Student Navigators, and International students 

NAS Pensacola Lighthouse  

The construction of the first Pensacola lighthouse was completed in 1824. It was the first Lighthouse on the Gulf Coast and the second lighthouse in Florida. It was completed at a cost of $5,725. The lighthouse stood 80’above sea level on the northern entrance of the bay near the present day Lighthouse Point Restaurant. In 1832, the lighthouse guide warned against trying to use the light at night, when it would be most useful, because trees on Santa Rosa Island to the east and on the mainland to the west obscured the beam.  

The construction of the present lighthouse was begun in 1856. It was lit January 1, 1859. A first-order Fresnel lens, was cut and polished by Henri LePaute of Paris, France and was installed and lighted by a single whale oil lamp. In 1965, the lighthouse was automated so it no longer required the Keeper or Coast Guard personnel to live at the site. The former Keeper’s Quarters houses the Navy’s Command Display Center, which has exhibits pertaining to the history of the lighthouse and the Naval Air Station.