AL · Madison · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Madison, AL

Respiratory Therapists in the Madison area earn a median of $32.33 per hour, about $67,250 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $25.16 and $39.19. That ranks 225th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 221st of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in the Madison metro area. The free report below lists employers near Madison and what they pay.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Madison, AL

The metro median is 5% above the Alabama statewide median of $30.78 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 260 respiratory therapists employed in the Huntsville metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.11).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$23.88$49,67038% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$25.16$52,33035% below U.S. median
Median$32.33$67,25016% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$39.19$81,5201% above U.S. median
Top 10%$39.86$82,9103% above U.S. median

How Madison ranks

  • 225th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 221st of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd of 7 Alabama 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.

What your pay buys in Madison

  • Overall prices in Huntsville run 7% below the U.S. average (index 93.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 22% below the U.S. average (index 77.9).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $32.33 median hour buys what $34.74 buys at the national price level, 10% 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.

Get the Madison Respiratory Therapist pay report

Named employers near Madison, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

Get my free pay report

Estimate your Madison paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,164
  • Per year: $58,194
  • Per month: $4,849

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

Travel assignment per diem in Madison

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$139
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,491
13-week assignment$19,383

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 Alabama

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Madison as they open.

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Alabama

Hospitals in the Huntsville area

CMS lists 4 hospitals in the Huntsville area, 0 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Crestwood Medical Center
Huntsville, AL
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Huntsville Hospital
Huntsville, AL
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Athens Limestone Hospital
Athens, AL
Acute careGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
Unity Psychiatric Care - Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

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
Huntsville, AL5 mi$32.33/hr230,402
Decatur, AL16 mi$27.63/hr57,974
Spring Hill, TN72 mi$37.57/hr59,398
Murfreesboro, TN81 mi$37.57/hr168,387
Birmingham, AL82 mi$31.31/hr196,357
Franklin, TN83 mi$37.57/hr89,142

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Alabama · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Alabama

RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Alabama requires for your role with the Alabama licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Alabama taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Alabama state guide

Other healthcare roles in Madison

Madison city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Madison, AL?

Respiratory Therapists in the Huntsville metro area have a median pay of $32.33 per hour, about $67,250 a year. The middle half earn between $25.16 and $39.19 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Huntsville ranks 221st of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 225th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Madison?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in the Huntsville area, led by Crestwood Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Alabama license to work in Madison as a respiratory therapist?

RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Alabama requires for your role with the Alabama 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 Madison?

The federal per diem benchmark in Madison is $139 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,491 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Madison?

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

Free for every candidate

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

Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
    Roles open for you right now

    Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.

Get your free pay report

45+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Alabama, sent free by email

Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.

Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
That email doesn't look quite right.
Please choose your role.
Please enter your city or ZIP.

Free for candidates. No phone number, no cold calls. One-click unsubscribe.

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 Madison, AL
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Alabama list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • North Mississippi Health ServicesHamilton, AL · 2 postings$30.69/ hr$25–$37
  • 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

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Alabama list

2What they are offering now

Low$25Median$30.69High$39

3 RT postings with published pay in Alabama, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 3 RT roles

  1. Respiratory Therapist - Full-time Night shiftPermanent
    $28.98–$39.00/ hour
    Select Medical · Birmingham, AL · posted 2 days ago
  2. REGISTERED RESPIRATORY THERAPISTPermanent
    $24.55–$36.83/ hour
    North Mississippi Health Services · Hamilton, AL · posted 22 days ago

+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
Check my pay