IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This guide provides general information about employment opportunities in the state or jurisdiction covered by this guide. While we strive for accuracy, hiring policies change frequently. Always verify current hiring practices directly with employers. Individual results vary based on offense type, time since conviction, and specific job requirements. This is not legal advice. Consult an attorney for guidance on your specific situation.
Felon Friendly Jobs in Tampa, FL
2026 Employers, Free Reentry Help and Record Clearing
November 3, 2026
Looking for felon friendly jobs in Tampa? Tampa is the largest city in Hillsborough County and the center of the Tampa Bay job market. CareerSource Tampa Bay names health care, technology, advanced manufacturing and logistics as key local sectors, and Port Tampa Bay and Tampa International Airport anchor the region's supply chain jobs. Hiring decisions are made case by case, so always check the current job posting for the role and location you want. Last reviewed November 2026.
Employers hiring in the Tampa area
Large Tampa Bay employers include MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa General Hospital, BayCare Health System and Raymond James. The national employers below hire across the metro; start with our guides, then search each careers site for openings near you.
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Free job and reentry help in Tampa
CareerSource Tampa Bay: The public American Job Center for Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, with free job search help, training and hiring events, including second chance job fairs. Its CARE program with Abe Brown Ministries serves Hillsborough residents returning from incarceration. Tampa center: 9215 N. Florida Ave.
Abe Brown Ministries (inspHire): Reentry job placement, work readiness training, job coaching, transportation help and job retention support for people with incarceration experience, regardless of religious preference.
Bay Area Legal Services: Free civil legal help for people who qualify, with step-by-step guidance on sealing and expungement in Hillsborough County and record-sealing webinars. Call 800-625-2257.
FDLE Seal & Expunge Section: The state office that decides whether you're eligible to ask a court to seal or expunge a record and issues the Certificate of Eligibility you need before filing.
Clearing your record in Florida
Florida has two forms of record relief, sealing and expungement, and both are narrow:
Florida offers court-ordered sealing and expungement. First you apply to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for a Certificate of Eligibility ($75 fee), then you file a petition in court, and the judge decides. Some records are sealed automatically when the clerk sends FDLE a qualifying case result.
In general you can seal or expunge only one arrest record, in one proceeding. A record that has been sealed for 10 years may become eligible for expungement.
You aren't eligible if you were ever adjudicated guilty of any crime as an adult, and a felony conviction blocks relief even if your civil rights were restored. Some serious offenses, such as murder, sexual battery, robbery, arson, child abuse and drug trafficking, can't be sealed even when adjudication was withheld. A 2026 bill that would have allowed sealing some misdemeanor convictions didn't pass, so guides saying otherwise are wrong.
For free help, call Bay Area Legal Services at 800-625-2257. In Hillsborough County a hearing usually isn't required, but copies of your filing go to the State Attorney, FDLE and the arresting agency.
Your rights when applying in Tampa
Florida law (F.S. 112.011) says state agencies, counties and cities can't reject you only because of a past conviction, but they may if it was a felony or first-degree misdemeanor directly related to the job. Police, corrections, fire and some public safety jobs are exempt.
The City of Tampa removed the criminal history question from its own job applications and runs background checks after a conditional offer. City contractors can earn voluntary bonus points on bids for fair chance hiring.
No Tampa or Florida rule stops most private employers from asking about records on an application, so legal aid is your best first call if you think you were treated unfairly.
Federal Bonding Program: FloridaCommerce certifies a free fidelity bond of $5,000 to $25,000 for your first six months on the job. Request it at a CareerSource center with a written job offer.
The federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit lapsed for people hired after December 31, 2025, and hadn't been renewed as of fall 2026.
Next steps
Sources
This page is for general information and is not legal advice. Employer policies and laws change; confirm details with the employer or a legal aid organization before you rely on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can employers in Tampa ask about my record?
Most private employers can still ask, including on the application. The City of Tampa doesn't ask on its own applications and checks backgrounds only after a conditional offer.
Can a government job turn me down because of my record?
Florida law says a state, county or city employer can't reject you only because of a past conviction. They can if it was a felony or first-degree misdemeanor directly related to the job, and police, corrections and fire jobs are exempt.
What's the difference between sealing and expunging in Florida?
Both hide the record from the public. With sealing, some agencies can still see the full record; with expungement, most are only told that an expungement happened.
Can I seal a conviction in Florida?
Usually not. If you were adjudicated guilty of any crime as an adult, FDLE will deny the application. Relief is mainly for people whose adjudication was withheld or whose charges were dropped.
How many times can I seal a record?
Court-ordered sealing or expungement is generally limited to one arrest record in one proceeding. Automatic sealing has no such limit.
How do I start the sealing process?
Apply to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility, which costs $75. If you get one, file a petition with the court, and the judge makes the final decision.
Where can I get free legal help in Tampa?
Bay Area Legal Services offers free civil legal help to people who qualify. Call 800-625-2257 on weekdays.
Where can I get free job help in Tampa?
CareerSource Tampa Bay is the public job center, and its CARE program with Abe Brown Ministries focuses on people returning from incarceration.
What is the Federal Bonding Program?
It's free insurance that protects an employer for your first six months on the job. Ask a CareerSource center about it once you have a written job offer.
Is the WOTC tax credit still available to employers?
No. It lapsed for people hired after December 31, 2025, and hadn't been renewed as of fall 2026.