Respiratory Therapist.
Tampa.
$78,000
median salary, 2% below the national average
$67,000 to $94,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Respiratory Therapist in Tampa earns a median of $78,000 in 2026. That is 2% below the national average. The range runs from $67,000 to $94,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Shift differentials for nights, weekends, and holidays contribute significantly to total earnings. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Respiratory Therapist in Tampa, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $81,630 for Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126) in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metropolitan area, based on 1,320 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$63,980
25th percentile
$77,710
Median
$81,630
75th percentile
$91,480
90th percentile
$96,480
Workers surveyed
1,320
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126) rather than Respiratory Therapist specifically. The Tampa range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-1126Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $70,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$51,000
to $62,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$66,000
to $82,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$86,000
to $101,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$98,000
to $121,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $22,000 to the total package.
Base
$78,000
Equity
$12,000
Bonus
$8,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $100,000
How Tampa compares.
Tampa, FL
$78,000
Cost of living: 4% below average
National Average
$80,000
Tampa is $2,000 below
Respiratory Therapist salary by city.
Salary by role in Tampa.
What you should know.
Here is what the Respiratory Therapist market actually looks like in Tampa. Tampa's economy combines a strong financial services sector with growing tech, healthcare, and defense industries. The city has attracted remote workers and corporate relocations seeking Florida's tax advantages. Tampa offers a favorable salary to cost of living ratio, with compensation levels that have risen significantly as the metro continues to grow. Shift differentials for nights, weekends, and holidays contribute significantly to total earnings. RTs working in ICU or neonatal units earn more than those in general floor care. The RRT credential is expected for most positions, and additional certifications in pulmonary function or transport add incremental pay.
Entry-level RTs earn $52,000 to $58,000 with the RRT credential. Experienced RTs in critical care reach $65,000 to $75,000 after five to seven years. Lead RTs or department supervisors can earn $78,000 to $92,000 with management responsibilities included. In Tampa, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Respiratory therapists receive shift differentials of $3 to $8 per hour, overtime opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. Some hospitals offer certification bonuses and tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees or specialty credentials. And on the tax side: florida has no state income tax, which is Tampa's biggest compensation advantage. There are no local income taxes either. Property taxes and insurance costs are the main financial considerations. When someone quotes you $78,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Frame your salary expectations against the no income tax benefit. Tampa employers know candidates are factoring in the tax savings, so be explicit about how it shapes your number. The range for Respiratory Therapists in Tampa runs from $67,000 to $94,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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- A Web Developer in Tampa earns $77,000 (1% less)
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Common questions.
Respiratory Therapist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Tampa.
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Respiratory Therapists in Tampa.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Respiratory Therapist Salary in Tampa, FL." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/respiratory-therapist/tampa
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