Respiratory Therapist Salary in Florida (2026)
Florida respiratory therapists earn a mean of $67,100/yr (BLS OES May 2024), 19% below the national mean of $82,430.
Mean: $67,100Median: $65,200Hourly: $32.26/hrEmployed: 8,600
Florida vs National Average
Florida Mean$67,100
National Mean$82,430
Percentile range in Florida: $47,800 (10th) to $88,000 (90th).
Cost of Living Context
Florida has a cost of living index of 97 (national baseline: 100). The COL-adjusted salary equivalent is approximately $69,200, representing the purchasing power of this salary in a hypothetical average-cost US market.
Florida Metro Area Breakdown
BLS OES May 2024 mean annual wages by metropolitan statistical area.
#1Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach
$70,400#2Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
$68,900#3Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
$67,500#4Jacksonville
$66,200#5Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville
$65,000Top RT Employers in Florida
AdventHealth
HCA Healthcare (Florida)
Baptist Health South Florida
Orlando Health
Jackson Health System
Tampa General Hospital
Florida Licensure Requirements
- Licensing Board
- Florida Board of Respiratory Care
- Initial Fee
- $165 initial application
- CE Hours Required
- 24 hours per 2-year renewal
- Renewal Cycle
- Every 2 years
All Florida applicants must hold an NBRC credential (CRT or RRT) and provide proof of completion of a CoARC-accredited programme. Background check required.
Frequently Asked Questions: Florida
Why is Florida RT salary below the national average?
Florida RT salaries are roughly 19% below the national mean for several structural reasons: a large supply of CoARC-accredited RT programmes increases competition for positions, Florida has a cost of living close to national average (not low enough to offset the pay gap), and the market is dominated by large for-profit hospital systems that tend to pay less than academic medical centers. Demand is strong due to the large elderly population but supply has kept pace.
Which Florida metro pays RTs the most?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale leads Florida metros at $70,400 mean annual (BLS May 2024), followed by Tampa-St. Petersburg at $68,900. Miami positions at academic medical centers like Jackson Health and Baptist Health typically pay at the top of the Florida range.
Does Florida require the RRT credential?
Florida requires RTs to be licensed by the Florida Board of Respiratory Care. Eligibility requires passing the NBRC TMC exam at minimum CRT level. Most Florida hospitals prefer or require the RRT for new hires, though entry-level positions at some community hospitals still accept CRT with RRT commitment within 1-2 years.
Is Florida a good state for travel RTs?
Florida is a mid-tier travel RT market. Pay packages run $1,700 to $2,200 per week, lower than California, New York or Massachusetts, but demand is consistently strong due to the large elderly population and seasonal snowbird patient volumes. Miami assignments tend to pay at the top of the Florida range.