Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Lakeland, FL: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Lakeland, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $86.3K, 5% over the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $79.4K to $89.7K.

Pay

The median is the middle of respiratory therapists already employed, not a starting wage. The 25th is the lower quarter of that group. The 75th is what the upper quarter already earns.

Percentile	Metro	FL	U.S.
25th	$79,440	$75,210	$74,520
Median	$86,300	$81,160	$82,280
75th	$89,710	$87,990	$98,730

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

6.5

Metro employment

250

National growth, 2025 to 2035

8.5%

National openings a year

8.6 thousand

This is the same score as the free check.

Who's hiring

Peace River Center For Personal Development, 3 campuses
Adventhealth Polk North, 2 campuses
Bartow Hma, 1 campuses
Baycare Health Systems, 1 campuses
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Lakeland, 1 campuses
Everest Rehabilitation Hospital Lakeland, 1 campuses

Campuses on file in the provider extract, not live job ads.

License and training

Every state except Alaska licenses respiratory therapists. Most employers want the NBRC's CRT or RRT credential. Confirm your state board's rules before you hire or start.

Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, respiratory therapists

The work

You see your assigned patients, check each ventilator, give treatments, and adjust settings with the physician and the nurse. Codes and rapid responses can interrupt that plan at any hour.

Night shifts are common in hospital work, and weekends rotate. You also teach patients and families how to use oxygen and other equipment at home.

Nearby metros

Tampa, FL · 33 miles
Orlando, FL · 49 miles
Homosassa Springs, FL · 63 miles
North Port, FL · 70 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Lakeland.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

Upload your resume, see your match score, and let local employers find you

Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Lakeland?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Lakeland, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Peace River Center For Personal Development, Adventhealth Polk North, Bartow Hma.

Do I need a license to work as an RT in Florida?

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the Florida board before you start in Lakeland.

What should a hospital in Lakeland weigh when hiring an RT?

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Lakeland has about as many of these workers as a typical metro. This metro is 6% over the Florida median.