Respiratory Therapists pay range in Lakeland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $89,710 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Lakeland earn between $79,440 and $89,710.
- $68K10th
- $79K25th
- $86KMedian
- $90K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,860 | $6,988 | $40.32 |
| Median | $86,300 | $7,192 | $41.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,440 | $6,620 | $38.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,710 | $7,476 | $43.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Lakeland vs. Florida and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Lakeland earn about the same as the Florida average ($82,400) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | $83,860 | $86,300 | $67,670 | $89,710 | 250 |
| Florida | $82,400 | $81,160 | $64,240 | $100,310 | 8,820 |
| United States | $87,300 | $82,280 | $63,660 | $118,050 | 139,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Respiratory Therapists salary after taxes in Lakeland
On the average salary of $83,860, a single filer in Lakeland takes home about $67,826 a year, or $5,652 a month and $2,609 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Lakeland a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lakeland area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $83,860 buys what about $86,328 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Lakeland ($46,140). A typical home costs $298,816, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Florida cities
Lakeland ranks 4th of 17 Florida metro areas for this job; Tampa pays the most ($84,520).
- Tampa$84,520
- Fort Myers$84,440
- Miami$84,380
- Lakeland$83,860
- Pensacola$83,800
- Sebastian$82,070
- Sarasota$81,440
- Orlando$81,430
- Port St. Lucie$81,400
- Tallahassee$80,530
Highest-paying cities for respiratory therapists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($146,490).
- San Jose, CA$146,490
- Santa Cruz, CA$133,510
- Vallejo, CA$133,510
- San Francisco, CA$128,490
- Sacramento, CA$124,410
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Respiratory Therapists salary in Lakeland: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Lakeland?
$40.32 an hour on average, and $41.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Lakeland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Lakeland?
About $67,826 a year ($5,652 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,860. Florida has no state income tax.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Lakeland than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($87,300).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1126; area Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL (29460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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