Do you have a high-level qualification and credentials? Welcome to a place where it may not mean much. Sure, we have professionals in Key West like doctors, lawyers, teachers, government employees but, as you can imagine, the competition for some positions is fierce and the cost of living is higher than anywhere in the United States except possibly Hawaii. .
Public Servants – We’re talking policemen, firefighters, and teachers, they earn what their mainland counterparts earn, but given the bloody cost of living that permeates the entire island chain, these types of annual salaries will seem like a lot less. And don’t forget that the Bubba system still rules Key West. In this close bond, some would say that the “incestuous” arrangement, the local official in charge of hiring for a vacant position often considers a friend or family member to be the most qualified for the job. Hmm, I miss how that works.
And don’t forget that shells stick together. Though in some ways it is no longer the quiet island topped off at the end of the road, in some ways it is, populated by generations of residents descended from scavengers, pirates, smugglers and various other types of outlaws. These people stay, live, work and raise their families here. They have a kind of “rights” mentality when it comes to the few “good” jobs that open. If you are not a local you will probably be frustrated by going this route. To the devil. living on less money a year than Donald Trump spends to get his private jet listed. You don’t need his silly jobs on Bubba anyway.
Do you have an entrepreneurial nature? Does the thought of staring at a computer inside a cubicle eight hours a day make you want to hit the kittens? If so, take heart, the Florida Keys are a great place to implement your business ideas. Hey, maybe one of them really makes money. Artists, writers, and other creative types have found a wide open frontier for personal expression in Key West. True nutters end up making a living (sometimes) by performing for the Mallory Square crowd that gathers each night in celebration of the sunset. Witness acrobats, stilt walkers, pet performances, tropical-inspired art, musicians, contortionists, fire-eaters, and (when not in jail) the southernmost piper. Get used to the phrase “southernmost.” In the Florida Keys you are nothing if you are not the southernmost variation. But let’s go back to the sunset artists. They just show up and play for tips. If you think this could be a stressful way to earn a living, you’re right, but dozens of people do it anyway. Others line up certain blocks on Duval Street and Whitehead Street to sell their skills as cartoonists and painters. A guy walks through Old Town Key West with a parrot on his shoulder, offering to let tourists take a picture with him, a true Key West “eccentric” for $ 5 or $ 10 each. A bum considering moving to paradise could certainly opt for a more traditional business model, but keep in mind that the rent for commercial space anywhere south of Florida City is very high. How high? Take my word – REALLY loud. Do you want the numbers to go with that description? A 3,900-square-foot retail space at 608 Duval Street rents for more than $ 16,000 per month. Do you want to do that AND live with ten greats a year? Good luck. If you want to earn money, go online. I will talk about this more at another time.