There are 7,470 respiratory therapists (RTs) employed in Florida, the third most among all of the U.S. states. The profession is under the jurisdiction of the Florida Board of Respiratory Care which licenses, monitors, educates and, when necessary disciplines RTs to ensure that they meet minimum standards for safe practice.
According to the 2010 Census, at 17.3 percent, Florida has the highest percentage of any state of persons over 65 years of age. Not only is it known that cardiopulmonary problems increase with age but seniors are more likely to have once been heavy smokers since they were raised before the public was made aware of the serious lung problems associated with the habit. Many RTs are involved in organizing and teaching smoking cessation programs.
Florida respiratory theraspists statewide earn an annual mean salary of $53,380. Earnings differ according to location and education. Applicants who want to get ahead should aim to receive an RRT credential and advance their educations as much as possible.
Salary differences between CRTs and RRTs in fifteen Florida cities are:
Florida City
CRT Salary
RRT Salary
Daytona Beach
$51603
$56903
Fort Lauderdale
$54548
$59295
West Palm Beach
$54057
$58761
The difference between the highest (Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale) and lowest (Pensacola) RRT salaries is only $4,600.
The table below provides 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) salary information for respiratory therapists in Florida.
Area Name
Employment
Annual Mean Salary
Annual Median Salary
Annual 25th Percentile Salary
Annual 75th Percentile Salary
Annual 90th Percentile Salary
Cape Coral-Fort Myers FL
190
53130
53750
50030
57480
59710
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin FL
50
47180
46930
41880
52560
58280
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach FL
210
49430
49390
43400
56050
60070
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach FL Metropolitan Division
870
53200
53960
46540
60670
69540
Gainesville FL
250
44260
43430
36610
51770
57870
Jacksonville FL
580
52700
52950
47390
58390
63910
Lakeland-Winter Haven FL
200
49910
50120
42250
57600
63520
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach FL
2710
54720
53310
45560
60420
70840
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall FL Metropolitan Division
1340
55760
51830
44100
60530
72900
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota FL
240
55540
55550
50730
60410
68850
Ocala FL
80
50590
52420
45580
57350
60360
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford FL
840
55800
55510
47060
64800
72780
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville FL
180
54050
53960
48200
59710
68640
Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach FL
60
50740
51950
41100
59430
67880
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent FL
180
50390
50740
44810
56470
59970
Port St. Lucie FL
80
53030
52700
46570
58290
66370
Sebastian-Vero Beach FL
Estimate Not Released
54490
54090
46720
60850
70620
Tallahassee FL
90
50500
50070
43010
57510
65700
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater FL
1020
53440
53300
47090
58760
65720
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach FL Metropolitan Division
500
54630
54780
49620
59950
68620
Northwest Florida nonmetropolitan area
80
49690
47800
42780
56660
66600
Northeast Florida nonmetropolitan area
100
48390
47140
42670
54640
59650
South Florida nonmetropolitan area
90
51680
51720
45540
57670
62010