Tawas City, Michigan: A Thriving Lakeside Community Offering Competitive Nursing Careers and a Balanced Lifestyle in Healthcare
Tawas City, Michigan, is a quaint lakeside community nestled along the shores of Lake Huron, surrounded by rolling hills and dense forests. Here, we pride ourselves on our small-town charm, where everyone knows each other and community events bring us all together. As a nursing professional residing here, I can attest to the uniquely vibrant nursing job market that this city offers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for registered nurses in Michigan hovers around $36.80 per hour, translating into approximately $76,600 a year. In Tawas City specifically, we find that wages range from $32.50 to $40.50 per hour, reflecting our city’s relatively modest cost of living while still being competitive. Notably, our town is conveniently situated about an hour away from larger job markets like Saginaw, which offers higher salaries but a more urban lifestyle, creating clear distinctions for nurses regarding work-life balance and professional opportunities.
Analyzing the nursing job market in Tawas City indicates steady growth and demand for skilled professionals. NurseRecruiter estimates that there is a current workforce of around 120 registered nurses in the city, translating to a localized per capita nursing rate that aligns with our population size of approximately 1,500 residents. Over the next five years, we anticipate a need for about 30 new nurses, driven primarily by retirements and the continuous demand for healthcare services. Our community is served by several healthcare facilities, including the Tawas St. Joseph Health System, which is a major employer here, alongside various clinics and long-term care facilities. In addition, travel nursing opportunities are primarily seasonally driven, peaking during the summer months when tourism surges in our area. However, compared to larger nearby cities like Saginaw and Midland, Tawas City faces a certain limitation in the number of travel nursing posts available, given the stability of local healthcare facilities prioritizing staff retention.
Our healthcare infrastructure includes a few hospitals and several clinics, with specialties ranging from family medicine to rehabilitation services, creating ample opportunities for nurses with diverse backgrounds. Recently, there have been investments in improving local healthcare facilities, which should further drive demand for various nursing specialties in the future. As for lifestyle, Tawas City offers a welcoming community filled with outdoor activities, summer festivals, and breathtaking views of the lake, making it a great place to balance work with leisure. With a population growth rate projected to stabilize, our city is committed to advancing local public health initiatives that focus on promoting wellness among residents, enhancing the need for qualified nursing professionals. Here, in Tawas City, we embrace community spirit and professional fulfillment, encouraging both current and prospective nurses to explore job opportunities through NurseRecruiter, where employers can also post openings to find talented, local candidates.
