Respiratory Therapist Salary in Florida (2026)
Florida respiratory therapists earn a mean of $82,400/yr (BLS OEWS May 2025), 6% below the national mean of $87,300.
Mean: $82,400Median: $81,160Hourly: $39.61/hrEmployed: 8,820
Florida vs National Average
Florida Mean$82,400
National Mean$87,300
Percentile range in Florida: $64,240 (10th) to $100,310 (90th).
Cost of Living Context
Florida has a cost of living index of 97 (national baseline: 100). The COL-adjusted salary equivalent is approximately $84,900, representing the purchasing power of this salary in a hypothetical average-cost US market.
Florida Metro Area Breakdown
BLS OEWS May 2025 mean annual wages by metropolitan statistical area.
#1Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
$84,520#2Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach
$84,380#3Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
$81,430#4Jacksonville
$80,430#5Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville
$78,720Top 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 6% below the national mean. A large supply of CoARC-accredited RT programmes increases competition for positions, and the market is dominated by large for-profit hospital systems that tend to pay less than academic medical centers. The gap to the national average has narrowed sharply in recent years as Florida wages rose. Demand is strong due to the large elderly population.
Which Florida metro pays RTs the most?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater narrowly leads Florida metros at $84,520 mean annual (BLS OEWS May 2025), with Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach close behind at $84,380 and Orlando at $81,430. Academic medical centers in these metros 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.