CA · Fremont · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Fremont, CA

Respiratory Therapists in the Fremont area earn a median of $63.13 per hour, about $131,320 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $49.28 and $69.58. That ranks 3rd of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 6th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Fremont. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Fremont.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Fremont, CA

The metro median is 29% above the California statewide median of $49.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 1,940 respiratory therapists employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.91).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$45.64$94,93018% above U.S. median
Lower quartile$49.28$102,50027% above U.S. median
Median$63.13$131,32063% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$69.58$144,73080% above U.S. median
Top 10%$73.09$152,03089% above U.S. median

How Fremont ranks

  • 3rd of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 6th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd of 16 California 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 Fremont

  • Overall prices in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont run 16% above the U.S. average (index 115.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 95% above the U.S. average (index 194.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $63.13 median hour buys what $54.60 buys at the national price level, 41% 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.

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Estimate your Fremont paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,273
  • Per year: $113,634
  • Per month: $9,470

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

Travel assignment per diem in Fremont

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$145
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,659
13-week assignment$21,567

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 California

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

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in California

Hospitals in Fremont

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Fremont, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont
Fremont, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Washington Hospital
Fremont, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
Bhc Fremont Hospital Inc
Fremont, CA
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
Milpitas, CA5 mi$65.91/hr79,746
Union City, CA9 mi$63.13/hr66,196
Sunnyvale, CA9 mi$65.91/hr156,792
Santa Clara, CA9 mi$65.91/hr133,132
Mountain View, CA10 mi$65.91/hr87,316
Pleasanton, CA12 mi$63.13/hr75,664

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 Fremont

Fremont city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Fremont, CA?

Respiratory Therapists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area have a median pay of $63.13 per hour, about $131,320 a year. The middle half earn between $49.28 and $69.58 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ranks 6th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 3rd of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 16% above the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Fremont?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Fremont, led by Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Fremont 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 Fremont?

The federal per diem benchmark in Fremont is $145 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,659 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Fremont?

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

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

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

Your RT pay reportFremont, 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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