Major Employers in Central Florida: Where to Work and Where to Live

What are the major employment sectors in Central Florida?

Central Florida's economy is diverse and growing. The region's largest employment sectors include healthcare, tourism and hospitality, technology and aerospace, finance and professional services, education, and government. Each sector has distinct job hubs that influence where employees choose to live. Below is a breakdown of the major employers in each sector, their locations, and the nearby residential communities that make sense for each job hub.

Healthcare

Orlando Health

Location: Downtown Orlando (main campus), South Orlando, and multiple locations throughout Central Florida. Orlando Health is one of the largest healthcare systems in the region, with the main campus serving as a major employer in the downtown area.

Nearby neighborhoods: Downtown Orlando, Thornton Park, Delaney Park, College Park, Baldwin Park, and Audubon Park. These neighborhoods offer commutes of 10 to 20 minutes to the main campus.

Housing price range: $350,000 to $800,000+ for single-family homes in the core neighborhoods. Condos and townhomes in downtown start around $250,000.

AdventHealth

Location: Winter Park (main campus), Altamonte Springs, Orlando, and multiple locations. AdventHealth is one of the largest private employers in Central Florida, with a major medical campus in Winter Park and additional hospitals throughout the region.

Nearby neighborhoods: Winter Park, Maitland, Altamonte Springs, Baldwin Park, College Park, and Audubon Park. Commutes to the Winter Park campus range from 10 to 25 minutes from these areas.

Housing price range: $350,000 to $1 million+ in Winter Park. More affordable options in Altamonte Springs and Maitland from $280,000 to $450,000.

Lake Nona Medical City

Location: Lake Nona, southeast Orlando. This is one of the fastest-growing medical employment hubs in the country, with the VA Medical Center, Nemours Children's Hospital, UCF College of Medicine, and numerous research and clinical facilities.

Nearby neighborhoods: Lake Nona (Laureate Park, Eagle Creek), Narcoossee, St. Cloud, and Sunbridge. Commutes to Medical City are 5 to 20 minutes from within Lake Nona and 15 to 30 minutes from Narcoossee and St. Cloud.

Housing price range: $400,000 to $700,000 in Lake Nona communities. More affordable options in St. Cloud and Narcoossee from $300,000 to $450,000.

HCA Florida Hospitals

Location: Multiple locations throughout Central Florida, including Osceola, Orange, and Lake counties. HCA operates several hospitals and outpatient centers in the region.

Nearby neighborhoods: Vary by location. Central Florida locations include areas near Kissimmee, Osceola County, and Lake County communities.

Tourism and Hospitality

Walt Disney World

Location: Lake Buena Vista, southwest Orange County. Disney is the largest single-site employer in Central Florida, with tens of thousands of employees across its theme parks, resorts, and support operations.

Nearby neighborhoods: Celebration, Horizon West (Hamlin, Waterleigh), Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Four Corners, and Kissimmee. Commutes range from 10 to 30 minutes from these communities. Celebration and Horizon West are the most popular choices for Disney employees who want to live close to work.

Housing price range: $350,000 to $650,000 in Celebration and Horizon West. More affordable options in Kissimmee and Four Corners from $280,000 to $400,000.

Universal Orlando Resort

Location: Southwest Orlando, near the intersection of I-4 and Universal Boulevard. Universal is the second-largest theme park employer in the region.

Nearby neighborhoods: Dr. Phillips, MetroWest, Windermere, Williamsburg, and College Park. Commutes range from 10 to 25 minutes from these areas.

Housing price range: $350,000 to $700,000 in Dr. Phillips and Windermere. More affordable options in MetroWest and Williamsburg from $280,000 to $400,000.

SeaWorld Orlando

Location: Southwest Orlando, near the intersection of I-4 and SeaWorld Drive.

Nearby neighborhoods: Dr. Phillips, MetroWest, Williamsburg, South Orlando, and Hunters Creek. Commutes are 10 to 25 minutes from these areas.

Technology and Aerospace

Lockheed Martin

Location: East Orlando (near UCF) and southwest Orlando. Lockheed Martin is one of the largest aerospace and defense employers in Central Florida, with major facilities in the Central Florida Research Park and other locations.

Nearby neighborhoods: For the East Orlando campus: Avalon Park, Waterford Lakes, Alafaya, and the UCF area. For the southwest campus: Dr. Phillips, Windermere, and MetroWest. Commutes from the recommended neighborhoods are 10 to 25 minutes.

Housing price range: $300,000 to $500,000 in Avalon Park and Waterford Lakes. $350,000 to $700,000 in Dr. Phillips and Windermere.

Siemens

Location: Winter Park. Siemens has a significant presence in Central Florida with its energy and gas turbine operations.

Nearby neighborhoods: Winter Park, Maitland, and Baldwin Park. Commutes are 10 to 20 minutes from these areas.

Electronic Arts (EA)

Location: Orlando (southwest area). EA has a major studio focused on game development.

Nearby neighborhoods: Dr. Phillips, Windermere, and MetroWest. Commutes are 10 to 20 minutes.

Amazon

Location: Multiple locations throughout Central Florida, including fulfillment centers and delivery stations in Orlando, Deltona, and Lakeland.

Nearby neighborhoods: Vary by location. Amazon's Central Florida facilities are spread across the region, with positions in logistics, warehousing, and corporate operations.

UCF Research Park

Location: East Orlando, adjacent to the University of Central Florida. The Central Florida Research Park is one of the largest research parks in the country, housing over 100 companies including Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, and Siemens.

Nearby neighborhoods: Avalon Park, Waterford Lakes, Alafaya, and the UCF area. Commutes from these neighborhoods are 5 to 15 minutes.

Housing price range: $280,000 to $450,000 in the UCF area and Waterford Lakes. $350,000 to $550,000 in Avalon Park.

Aerospace and Defense

Northrop Grumman

Location: Multiple locations in Central Florida, including the Orlando area.

Nearby neighborhoods: East Orlando, Avalon Park, and Waterford Lakes for the UCF-area facilities. Dr. Phillips and Windermere for the southwest locations.

L3Harris

Location: Multiple locations in Central Florida, including the Orlando and Melbourne areas.

Nearby neighborhoods: East Orlando and the UCF area for the Orlando facilities. For the Melbourne/Space Coast operations, consider communities in Brevard County such as Viera, Suntree, and Melbourne.

Patrick Space Force Station

Location: Brevard County, about 60 miles east of Orlando. This is a major Space Force and military installation.

Nearby neighborhoods: Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Indialantic, and Melbourne Beach. The commute from East Orlando takes roughly 45 to 60 minutes.

Note: For detailed information on Space Coast and Brevard County communities, consult local resources specific to that area.

Finance and Business Services

Bank of America

Location: Downtown Orlando. Bank of America has a significant operations center and regional headquarters downtown.

Nearby neighborhoods: Downtown Orlando, Thornton Park, Lake Eola Heights, College Park, and Baldwin Park. Commutes to downtown are 5 to 15 minutes from these neighborhoods.

Housing price range: $350,000 to $800,000+ in the core downtown neighborhoods. Condos in downtown start around $250,000.

Deloitte

Location: Downtown Orlando. Deloitte has a major office in the central business district.

Nearby neighborhoods: Similar to Bank of America: downtown Orlando, Thornton Park, College Park, and Baldwin Park. Commutes are 5 to 15 minutes.

KPMG

Location: Lake Nona. KPMG has a major training and conference center, as well as office space, in Lake Nona.

Nearby neighborhoods: Lake Nona, Laureate Park, Eagle Creek, and St. Cloud. Commutes are 5 to 15 minutes from within Lake Nona.

Accenture

Location: Multiple locations in Central Florida, including the Orlando area.

Education

University of Central Florida (UCF)

Location: East Orlando. UCF is one of the largest universities in the nation by enrollment, with a major campus in east Orlando and additional regional campuses.

Nearby neighborhoods: Avalon Park, Waterford Lakes, Alafaya, and the UCF area. Commutes are 5 to 15 minutes. Oviedo and Winter Springs are also popular choices, with commutes of 15 to 25 minutes.

Housing price range: $280,000 to $450,000 in the UCF area. $350,000 to $600,000 in Oviedo and Winter Springs.

Rollins College

Location: Winter Park. Rollins is a private liberal arts college in the heart of Winter Park.

Nearby neighborhoods: Winter Park, Maitland, and Baldwin Park. Commutes are 5 to 15 minutes.

Housing price range: $400,000 to $1 million+ in Winter Park. More affordable options in Maitland from $300,000 to $500,000.

Valencia College

Location: Multiple campuses throughout Orange County and Osceola County. Valencia is one of the largest community colleges in Florida.

Nearby neighborhoods: Vary by campus location. The main east campus is near the UCF area, and the west campus serves the MetroWest/Dr. Phillips area.

Seminole State College

Location: Sanford, with additional campuses in Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, and Heathrow. Seminole State serves the northern part of Central Florida.

Nearby neighborhoods: Sanford, Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs, and Oviedo. Commutes vary by campus location.

Government

City of Orlando

Location: Downtown Orlando. City Hall and most municipal offices are located in the central business district.

Nearby neighborhoods: Downtown Orlando, Thornton Park, and College Park. Commutes of 5 to 15 minutes.

Orange County Government

Location: Downtown Orlando. The Orange County Administration Center is located in the downtown area.

Nearby neighborhoods: Same as City of Orlando: downtown, Thornton Park, and College Park.

State of Florida Offices

Location: Multiple locations throughout Central Florida, including downtown Orlando and regional offices.

Federal Offices

Location: Multiple locations including the federal building in downtown Orlando and other regional offices.

Employer Comparison Table

Recent Employer News (2025-2026)

The job market in Central Florida has been active. Here is what changed recently and how it affects where you might live. For the full rundown, see the Central Florida news page.

• Universal Epic Universe: Opened May 22, 2025, as Universal's fourth theme park. Universal has said the park brings about 14,000 jobs to Central Florida. Employees often live in Dr. Phillips, MetroWest, Windermere, and nearby areas along the I-4 corridor.
• AdventHealth expansion: AdventHealth announced a $1 billion expansion of its Orlando campus, including a 440-bed patient and surgical tower. Two new hospitals opened in late 2025: AdventHealth Lake Nona (near Medical City) and AdventHealth Minneola in Lake County, each about 80 beds.
• Lake Nona tech moves: Siemens Energy relocated its regional operations to Lake Nona in August 2025, and AMD opened a research and design center in Orlando in July 2025, adding to the Medical City tech corridor.
• Lake Mary finance growth: BNY Mellon announced a major expansion in Lake Mary, reinforcing the I-4 north corridor as a finance and services hub.
• Polk County: Chick-fil-A is building a $150 million distribution center in Winter Haven (about 180 jobs), Home Depot announced a large Davenport store, and Publix is advancing a $121 million technology campus in downtown Lakeland.
• Osceola County tech: Belgian chipmaker Magics Technologies chose Osceola County for its first U.S. expansion in 2026, near NeoCity and the existing semiconductor corridor.

The Orlando metro added 8,800 jobs in 2025, the seventh-fastest growth among the 30 largest U.S. metros, and led Florida metros in private-sector job growth in mid-2025, according to state employment data.

How to choose where to live based on your job hub

When choosing where to live in Central Florida, consider these factors related to your employment:

• Commute time: Orlando's traffic is most congested on I-4, the 408 Expressway, and the 417 Greenway. Living on the same side of the city as your job can save 30 to 60 minutes per day. For example, living in Lake Nona if you work at Medical City, or in Avalon Park if you work at UCF or the Research Park.
• Toll roads: Many of Orlando's main thoroughfares are toll roads. Factor toll costs into your budget. An E-Pass or SunPass transponder is essential for most commuters. For a practical walkthrough of routes, tolls, and comparing daily commutes, grab the free Orlando Commuter's Navigation & Toll Road Guide.
• Housing affordability: Neighborhoods close to major job hubs in Winter Park, Dr. Phillips, and Windermere are more expensive. Consider communities in the outer suburbs where your housing dollar goes further, but factor in the longer commute.
• School districts: If you have children, school quality varies significantly by neighborhood. Research school zoning before choosing a home. See our school districts guide.
• Lifestyle fit: Consider what you want in a neighborhood: walkability, nightlife, parks, lakes, golf, or quiet suburban living. Each job hub has nearby neighborhoods that offer different lifestyles. Explore neighborhood guides.

Frequently Asked Questions About Employers in Central Florida

What are the major employment sectors in Central Florida?

The region's largest employment sectors are healthcare, tourism and hospitality, technology and aerospace, finance and professional services, education, and government. Each sector has distinct job hubs that influence where employees choose to live.

Which employers are based in downtown Orlando?

Downtown Orlando is home to Orlando Health's main campus, Bank of America, Deloitte, the City of Orlando, Orange County Government, and several federal offices. Neighborhoods like Thornton Park, College Park, and Baldwin Park offer commutes of 5 to 15 minutes.

Where do most Walt Disney World employees choose to live?

Celebration and Horizon West are popular choices near the resort, along with Windermere-area communities, Four Corners, and Kissimmee. Commutes from these communities generally range from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the park or office location.

Where should I live if I work at Lake Nona Medical City?

Lake Nona itself (Laureate Park, Eagle Creek) offers the shortest commutes of 5 to 20 minutes. Narcoossee and St. Cloud are more affordable options with commutes of roughly 15 to 30 minutes, and Sunbridge is another nearby growth area.

Are toll roads a big factor in Central Florida commutes?

Yes. Many of Orlando's main thoroughfares are toll roads, so toll costs should be part of your commute budget. An E-Pass or SunPass transponder is essential for most daily commuters.

Last updated: September 6, 2026. Published by Moving to Orlando Guide with Tyler Gibson. Employer information is based on publicly available data and may change. Employee counts and specific locations should be verified with each employer.