SOC 29-1126 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Respiratory Therapists — Florida
Florida · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Florida is $81,160 per year, close to the national median of $82,280 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Florida is $81,160 per year, close to the national median of $82,280 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $75,210 and $87,990. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $64,240 and the ninetieth at $100,310.
The area has 8,820 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.9 of every thousand jobs. Florida ranks number 27th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Lakeland records the highest median at $86,300. Of the 777 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 159th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,240 | −21.9% |
| 25th | $75,210 | −8.6% |
| Median (50th) | $81,160 | −1.4% |
| 75th | $87,990 | +6.9% |
| 90th | $100,310 | +21.9% |
| Mean | $82,400 | +0.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lakeland | $86,300 | 250 | |
| 2 | Sebastian | $83,310 | 90 | |
| 3 | North Port | $83,110 | 260 | |
| 4 | Port St. Lucie | $82,860 | 190 | |
| 5 | Orlando | $82,070 | 1,190 | |
| 6 | Jacksonville | $81,760 | 670 | |
| 7 | Tampa | $81,630 | 1,320 | |
| 8 | Pensacola | $81,540 | 200 | |
| 9 | Miami | $80,880 | 2,620 | |
| 10 | Cape Coral | $80,680 | 350 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $81,160 buys what $78,491 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$81,160as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$78,491US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $81,160 a year, 1.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,240 to $100,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 8,820 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 27th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lakeland, at $86,300.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Florida?
The median annual wage is $81,160, or $39.02 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $82,280, so pay in Florida is 1.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Florida earns more than $100,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,240 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lakeland, at $86,300 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 8,820 jobs in this occupation in Florida. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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