CA · Chico · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Chico, CA

Respiratory Therapists in California earn a median of $49.10 per hour, about $102,120 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $43.62 and $60.46. That is 27% above the U.S. median of $38.68 per hour. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Chico. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Chico.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Chico, CA

Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 18,310 respiratory therapists employed in California.

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$37.57$78,1503% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$43.62$90,73013% above U.S. median
Median$49.10$102,12027% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$60.46$125,76056% above U.S. median
Top 10%$66.35$138,01072% above U.S. median

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 Chico

  • Overall prices in Chico run 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.9).

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.

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

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Estimate your Chico paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,768
  • Per year: $88,380
  • Per month: $7,365

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

Travel assignment per diem in Chico

ItemFederal 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 California

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

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in California

Hospitals in Chico

CMS lists 1 hospital in Chico, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Enloe Health
Chico, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes

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
Yuba City, CA44 mi$49.10/hr69,148
Redding, CA63 mi$57.48/hr93,502
Lincoln, CA67 mi$62.10/hr56,268
Rocklin, CA72 mi$62.10/hr75,129
Roseville, CA73 mi$62.10/hr163,304
Woodland, CA75 mi$62.10/hr62,983

Respiratory Therapist jobs in California · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

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

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

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Chico

Chico city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Chico, CA?

Respiratory Therapists in California have a median pay of $49.10 per hour, about $102,120 a year. The middle half earn between $43.62 and $60.46 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Where do respiratory therapists work in Chico?

CMS lists 1 hospital in Chico, led by Enloe Health. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Chico as a respiratory therapist?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Chico 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 Chico?

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

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Pay report · RT near Chico, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportChico, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 2 postings$84.17/ hr$72–$96
  • CommonSpirit HealthSACRAMENTO, CA · 8 postings$56.70/ hr$47–$71
  • Sharp HealthCareLa Mesa, CA · 5 postings$46.92/ hr$41–$58
  • Sharp HealthcareLa Mesa, CA · 3 postings$46.92/ hr$41–$53

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$33Median$46.92High$61

46 RT postings with published pay in California, 41 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 46 RT roles

  1. Respiratory Care Practitioner IIIPermanent
    $58.06–$67.60/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Sacramento, CA · posted today
  2. Respiratory Care PractitionerPermanent
    $48.74–$60.02/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Northridge, CA · posted today

+ 44 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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