Per diemPosted today
Pulmonary Function Tech (Registered Respiratory Therapist), Bronchoscopy - PRN
Mayo Clinic · Jacksonville, FL
$32.43–$48.66/ hour
New this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Lakeland, FL
Respiratory Therapists in the Lakeland area earn a median of $38.76 per hour, about $80,620 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $33.38 and $41.62. That ranks 79th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 104th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Lakeland. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Lakeland.
- $38.76median pay per hour, Lakeland
- $33–$42typical range per hour
- 270respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 97cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Lakeland, 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 270 respiratory therapists employed in the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.17).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $29.05 | $60,420 | 25% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $33.38 | $69,430 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Median | $38.76 | $80,620 | in line with U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $41.62 | $86,570 | 8% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $46.88 | $97,510 | 21% above U.S. median |
How Lakeland ranks
- 79th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 104th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 6th 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 Lakeland
- Overall prices in Lakeland-Winter Haven run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 4% below the U.S. average (index 95.9).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $38.76 median hour buys what $39.90 buys at the national price level, 3% above 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.
Get the Lakeland Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Lakeland, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Lakeland paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,395
- Per year: $69,768
- Per month: $5,814
- Florida has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Lakeland
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Lakeland as they open.
PermanentPosted 22 days ago
Respiratory Therapist - Full Time - Night Shift
Select Medical · Miami Lakes, FL
$33.43–$45.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
170+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Florida
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Hospitals in Lakeland
CMS lists 1 hospital in Lakeland, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland Regional Medical Center Lakeland, FL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 1 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Respiratory Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Haven, FL | 14 mi | $38.76/hr | 59,975 |
| Tampa, FL | 33 mi | $38.63/hr | 414,547 |
| Clermont, FL | 35 mi | $38.72/hr | 50,851 |
| Kissimmee, FL | 37 mi | $38.72/hr | 84,756 |
| St. Cloud, FL | 43 mi | $38.72/hr | 71,036 |
| Ocoee, FL | 44 mi | $38.72/hr | 51,269 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Lakeland
Lakeland city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Lakeland, FL?
Respiratory Therapists in the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area have a median pay of $38.76 per hour, about $80,620 a year. The middle half earn between $33.38 and $41.62 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Lakeland a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Lakeland-Winter Haven ranks 104th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 79th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Lakeland?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Lakeland, led by Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Florida license to work in Lakeland 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 Lakeland?
The federal per diem benchmark in Lakeland is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Lakeland?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Lakeland and across Florida. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Lakeland.
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What do employers near Lakeland pay respiratory therapists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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170+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Florida, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
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
- Pulmonary Function Tech (Registered Respiratory Therapist), Bronchoscopy - PRNPer diem$32.43–$48.66/ hour
- Respiratory Therapist - Full Time - Night ShiftPermanent$33.43–$45.00/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.