HealthcareUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Respiratory Therapist Salary
in Jacksonville, FL

Assess and treat patients with breathing disorders including asthma and COPD. Median salary in Jacksonville: $71K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$71K
per year
Take-home: $50K

Salary range in Jacksonville

Entry level (25th)$57,000
Median (50th)$71,000
Senior (75th)$88,000
Top earner (90th)$110,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Jacksonville, Florida. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →

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What the numbers say for Jacksonville

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.

Cost-of-living adjusted picture

Adjusted for Jacksonville's cost-of-living index (93), the median Respiratory Therapist salary buys the equivalent of $76,344 in a US-average-cost city. That's $4,344 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.

No state income tax — $7K effective edge

Florida has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $6,603 per year at this salary level compared to a California Respiratory Therapist on the same gross pay. A Jacksonville Respiratory Therapist would need to earn $78,280 in California to net the same take-home.

Rent eats 32% of take-home

Average 1-bedroom rent in Jacksonville ($1,350/mo) consumes approximately 32% of an after-tax median Respiratory Therapist salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($88K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.

Key facts for Jacksonville

Median salary
$71K
annual
Take-home pay
$50K
after fed/state tax
COL index
93
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$1,350
per month
YoY growth
+3.8%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Jacksonville Respiratory Therapist to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $71K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast — Jacksonville

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Respiratory Therapist salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED →$59K$64K$70K$75K$80K201920212023202520272029
2026
$73K
projected
2027
$75K
projected
2028
$76K
projected
2029
$78K
projected
2030
$80K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$71,000+$0
2028 projected$71,000+$0
2029 projected$71,000+$0
2030 projected$71,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Respiratory Therapist Salary in Jacksonville, Florida: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Respiratory Therapist salary in Jacksonville, FL is $71,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Jacksonville–FL metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Respiratory Therapist in Jacksonville

Entry-level Respiratory Therapists in Jacksonville with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $57,000 and $71,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $71,000 to $88,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $88,000 to $110,000 or more.

Cost of living in Jacksonville for Respiratory Therapists

Jacksonville has a cost of living index of 93 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 7% further in Jacksonville than the national average. Crucially, Florida has no state income tax — giving Jacksonville-based Respiratory Therapists an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Respiratory Therapist

Associate's or Bachelor's in Respiratory Therapy; RRT credential. 5% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Respiratory Therapist salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Jacksonville (current)$71K93
Miami$79K123
Tampa$73K102
Orlando$72K100
St. Petersburg$71K105
Hialeah$83K115