FL · Sarasota · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Sarasota, FL

Respiratory Therapists in the Sarasota area earn a median of $39.30 per hour, about $81,740 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $36.63 and $39.76. That ranks 63rd of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 154th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Sarasota. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Sarasota.

More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Sarasota

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

PermanentPosted 21 days ago

Now Hiring Respiratory Therapists

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System · Sarasota, FL

Pay range with your report
  • 00110 - 3337 - Respiratory Care Services
  • Req 50057
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Respiratory Therapist pay in Sarasota, FL

The metro median is 3% above 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 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.81).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$32.31$67,20016% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$36.63$76,1905% below U.S. median
Median$39.30$81,7402% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$39.76$82,7003% above U.S. median
Top 10%$47.22$98,22022% above U.S. median

How Sarasota ranks

  • 63rd of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 154th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd 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 Sarasota

  • Overall prices in North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota run 2% above the U.S. average (index 102.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 28% above the U.S. average (index 128.0).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $39.30 median hour buys what $38.37 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.

Estimate your Sarasota paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,415
  • Per year: $70,740
  • Per month: $5,895
  • Florida has no state income tax on wages.

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Sarasota

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$154
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,680
13-week assignment$21,840

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 Sarasota as they open.

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Florida

Hospitals in Sarasota

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Sarasota, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Sarasota, FL
Acute careGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Hca Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital
Sarasota, FL
Acute careFor-profit4 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
Bradenton, FL11 mi$39.30/hr58,184
North Port, FL29 mi$39.30/hr92,875
St. Petersburg, FL30 mi$38.63/hr267,102
Pinellas Park, FL37 mi$38.63/hr53,503
Largo, FL42 mi$38.63/hr82,337
Tampa, FL44 mi$38.63/hr414,547

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 Sarasota

Sarasota city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Sarasota, FL?

Respiratory Therapists in the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metro area have a median pay of $39.30 per hour, about $81,740 a year. The middle half earn between $36.63 and $39.76 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota ranks 154th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 63rd of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% above the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Sarasota?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Sarasota, led by Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Florida license to work in Sarasota 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 Sarasota?

The federal per diem benchmark in Sarasota is $154 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,680 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Sarasota?

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

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

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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 Sarasota, 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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