FL · Apopka · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Apopka, FL

Respiratory Therapists in the Apopka area earn a median of $38.72 per hour, about $80,540 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $34.13 and $39.38. That ranks 83rd of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 158th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 18 hospitals in the Apopka metro area. The free report below lists employers near Apopka and what they pay.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Apopka, FL

The metro median is 1% above the Florida statewide median of $38.32 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 1,110 respiratory therapists employed in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.90).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$30.37$63,17021% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$34.13$70,99012% below U.S. median
Median$38.72$80,540in line with U.S. median
Upper quartile$39.38$81,9102% above U.S. median
Top 10%$47.21$98,20022% above U.S. median

How Apopka ranks

  • 83rd of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 158th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 7th of 17 Florida metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Apopka

  • Overall prices in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford run 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 23% above the U.S. average (index 123.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $38.72 median hour buys what $38.18 buys at the national price level, 1% below the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

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Named employers near Apopka, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Apopka paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,394
  • Per year: $69,696
  • Per month: $5,808
  • Florida has no state income tax on wages.

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Apopka

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$147
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,589
13-week assignment$20,657

Travel respiratory therapist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Respiratory Therapist roles in Florida

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Apopka as they open.

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Florida

Hospitals in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area

CMS lists 18 hospitals in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area, 2 of the 12 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Orlando Va Medical Center
Orlando, FL
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Orlando Health
Orlando, FL
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Adventhealth Orlando
Orlando, FL
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Orlando Health South Lake Hospital
Clermont, FL
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Orlando Health-Health Central Hospital
Ocoee, FL
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Oviedo Medical Center
Oviedo, FL
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Ucf Lake Nona Hospital
Orlando, FL
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Uf Health Leesburg Hospital
Leesburg, FL
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Central Florida Lake Monroe Hospital
Sanford, FL
Acute careFor-profit2 of 5Yes
Hca Florida Osceola Hospital
Kissimmee, FL
Acute careFor-profit2 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Respiratory Therapist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Ocoee, FL8 mi$38.72/hr51,269
Sanford, FL17 mi$38.72/hr66,919
Deltona, FL24 mi$36.23/hr100,513
Port Orange, FL42 mi$36.23/hr66,556
Daytona Beach, FL43 mi$36.23/hr86,015
Winter Haven, FL47 mi$38.76/hr59,975

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Florida · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Florida

RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Florida requires for your role with the Florida licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Florida does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.

Florida state guide

Other healthcare roles in Apopka

Apopka city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Apopka, FL?

Respiratory Therapists in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area have a median pay of $38.72 per hour, about $80,540 a year. The middle half earn between $34.13 and $39.38 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Apopka a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford ranks 158th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 83rd of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% above the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Apopka?

CMS lists 18 hospitals in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area, led by Orlando Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Florida license to work in Apopka as a respiratory therapist?

RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Florida requires for your role with the Florida licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Apopka?

The federal per diem benchmark in Apopka is $147 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,589 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Apopka?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Apopka and across Florida. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Apopka.

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What do employers near Apopka pay respiratory therapists? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · RT near Apopka, FL
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Florida list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • CommonSpirit HealthSACRAMENTO, CA · 8 postings$56.70/ hr$47–$71
  • MultiCareTacoma, WA · 18 postings$54.16/ hr$29–$68
  • Fairview Health ServicesGrand Rapids, MN · 7 postings$53.34/ hr$36–$63
  • Centrastate Healthcare SystemFreehold, NJ · 3 postings$51.30/ hr$38–$65

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Florida list

2What they are offering now

Low$29Median$41.44High$58

396 RT postings with published pay in the US, 319 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 RT roles

  1. Pulmonary Function Tech (Registered Respiratory Therapist), Bronchoscopy - PRNPer diem
    $32.43–$48.66/ hour
    Mayo Clinic · Jacksonville, FL · posted today
  2. Respiratory Therapist - Full Time - Night ShiftPermanent
    $33.43–$45.00/ hour
    Select Medical · Miami Lakes, FL · posted 22 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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