PermanentPosted 13 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist
CommonSpirit Health · Hot Springs, AR
$26.70–$39.71/ hour
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Fort Smith, AR
Respiratory Therapists in the Fort Smith area earn a median of $34.39 per hour, about $71,520 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $31.21 and $36.19. That ranks 198th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 97th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Fort Smith.
- $34.39median pay per hour, Fort Smith
- $31–$36typical range per hour
- 100respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 86cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Fort Smith, AR
The metro median is 5% above the Arkansas statewide median of $32.67 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 100 respiratory therapists employed in the Fort Smith metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.18).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $26.64 | $55,410 | 31% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $31.21 | $64,920 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Median | $34.39 | $71,520 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $36.19 | $75,280 | 6% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $37.39 | $77,770 | 3% below U.S. median |
How Fort Smith ranks
- 198th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 97th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 4 Arkansas 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 Fort Smith
- Overall prices in Fort Smith run 14% below the U.S. average (index 85.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 47% below the U.S. average (index 53.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $34.39 median hour buys what $40.04 buys at the national price level, 4% above 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 Fort Smith Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Fort Smith, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Fort Smith paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,238
- Per year: $61,902
- Per month: $5,158
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Fort Smith metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Fort Smith
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Arkansas
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Fort Smith as they open.
PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist
CommonSpirit Health · Little Rock, AR
$26.70–$39.71/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
20+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Arkansas
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 29 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Veterans Health Administration · Fayetteville, AR
$41k–$97k/ year
Hospitals in Fort Smith
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Hospital Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Baptist Health - Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Respiratory Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 51 mi | $35.34/hr | 103,134 |
| Springdale, AR | 59 mi | $35.34/hr | 89,368 |
| Rogers, AR | 68 mi | $35.34/hr | 75,639 |
| Bentonville, AR | 70 mi | $35.34/hr | 61,791 |
| Broken Arrow, OK | 92 mi | $37.12/hr | 122,756 |
| Tulsa, OK | 101 mi | $37.12/hr | 415,154 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Arkansas · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Arkansas
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Arkansas taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Fort Smith
Fort Smith city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Fort Smith, AR?
Respiratory Therapists in the Fort Smith metro area have a median pay of $34.39 per hour, about $71,520 a year. The middle half earn between $31.21 and $36.19 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Fort Smith a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Fort Smith ranks 97th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 198th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Fort Smith?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith, led by Mercy Hospital Fort Smith. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Arkansas license to work in Fort Smith as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas 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 Fort Smith?
The federal per diem benchmark in Fort Smith is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Fort Smith?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Fort Smith and across Arkansas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Fort Smith.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Fort Smith 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.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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20+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Arkansas, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Arkansas list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- CommonSpirit HealthHot Springs, AR · 2 postings$33.20/ hr$27–$40
- 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 Arkansas list
2What they are offering now
Low$20Median$33.20High$47
3 RT postings with published pay in Arkansas, 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
- Registered Respiratory TherapistPermanent$26.70–$39.71/ hour
- Registered Respiratory TherapistPermanent$26.70–$39.71/ hour
+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.