FL · Palm Bay · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Palm Bay, FL

Pay for respiratory therapists in the Palm Bay area centers on $35.62 per hour, or about $74,090 a year. The lower quarter earns under $31.43 and the upper quarter over $37.60. That ranks 181st of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 209th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Palm Bay. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Palm Bay.

More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Palm Bay

1 more open role from employers in Palm Bay. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Palm Bay, FL

The metro median is 7% below the Florida statewide median of $38.32 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 240 respiratory therapists employed in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.13).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$26.22$54,54032% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$31.43$65,37019% below U.S. median
Median$35.62$74,0908% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$37.60$78,2103% below U.S. median
Top 10%$41.77$86,8808% above U.S. median

How Palm Bay ranks

  • 181st of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 209th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 15th 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.

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What your pay buys in Palm Bay

  • Overall prices in Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville run in line with the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $35.62 median hour buys what $35.62 buys at the national price level, 8% 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.

Estimate your Palm Bay paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,282
  • Per year: $64,116
  • Per month: $5,343
  • Florida has no state income tax on wages.

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Palm Bay

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$173
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,729
13-week assignment$22,477

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 Palm Bay as they open.

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Florida

Hospitals in Palm Bay

CMS lists 1 hospital in Palm Bay, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Palm Bay Hospital
Palm Bay, FL
Acute careFor-profit3 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
Melbourne, FL11 mi$35.62/hr87,561
Fort Pierce, FL42 mi$38.32/hr50,805
St. Cloud, FL42 mi$38.72/hr71,036
Orlando, FL48 mi$38.72/hr334,854
Port St. Lucie, FL50 mi$38.32/hr258,575
Kissimmee, FL52 mi$38.72/hr84,756

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 Palm Bay

Palm Bay city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Palm Bay, FL?

Respiratory Therapists in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville metro area have a median pay of $35.62 per hour, about $74,090 a year. The middle half earn between $31.43 and $37.60 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville ranks 209th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 181st of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run in line with the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Palm Bay?

CMS lists 1 hospital in Palm Bay, led by Palm Bay Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Florida license to work in Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay?

The federal per diem benchmark in Palm Bay is $173 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,729 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Palm Bay?

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

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · RT near Palm Bay, 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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