PermanentPosted today
Respiratory Care Practitioner III
CommonSpirit Health · Sacramento, CA
$58.06–$67.60/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Merced, CA
Pay for respiratory therapists in the Merced area centers on $47.19 per hour, or about $98,150 a year. The lower quarter earns under $45.66 and the upper quarter over $63.68. That ranks 19th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 9th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Merced. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Merced.
- $47.19median pay per hour, Merced
- $46–$64typical range per hour
- 40respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 98cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Merced, CA
The metro median is 4% below the California statewide median of $49.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 40 respiratory therapists employed in the Merced metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.57).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $38.36 | $79,790 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $45.66 | $94,970 | 18% above U.S. median |
| Median | $47.19 | $98,150 | 22% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $63.68 | $132,450 | 65% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $63.68 | $132,450 | 65% above U.S. median |
How Merced ranks
- 19th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 9th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 13th 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 Merced
- Overall prices in Merced run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 78.6).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $47.19 median hour buys what $48.02 buys at the national price level, 24% 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 Merced Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Merced, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Merced paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,699
- Per year: $84,942
- Per month: $7,078
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Merced metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Merced
| 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 California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Merced as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Respiratory Care Practitioner
CommonSpirit Health · Northridge, CA
$48.74–$60.02/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
230+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in California
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 today
Respiratory Therapist - Full-time
Select Medical · San Diego, CA
$41.00–$55.18/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP II) - Respiratory Therapy
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Montclair, CA
$29.00–$39.03/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Respiratory Care Practioner III
CommonSpirit Health · Folsom, CA
$58.06–$67.59/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Respiratory Therapy Clin Specialist
CommonSpirit Health · San Bernardino, CA
$47.41–$70.52/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Hospitals in Merced
CMS lists 1 hospital in Merced, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Medical Center Merced, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turlock, CA | 25 mi | $49.91/hr | 72,888 |
| Madera, CA | 32 mi | $40.70/hr | 69,094 |
| Modesto, CA | 37 mi | $49.91/hr | 220,592 |
| Fresno, CA | 52 mi | $40.70/hr | 550,105 |
| Manteca, CA | 53 mi | $46.77/hr | 94,292 |
| Clovis, CA | 55 mi | $40.70/hr | 127,993 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Merced
Merced city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Merced, CA?
Respiratory Therapists in the Merced metro area have a median pay of $47.19 per hour, about $98,150 a year. The middle half earn between $45.66 and $63.68 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Merced a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Merced ranks 9th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 19th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Merced?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Merced, led by Mercy Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Merced 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 Merced?
The federal per diem benchmark in Merced 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 Merced?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Merced and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Merced.
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What do employers near Merced 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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230+ Respiratory Therapist roles in California, 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 reportMerced, 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
- Respiratory Care Practitioner IIIPermanent$58.06–$67.60/ hour
- Respiratory Care PractitionerPermanent$48.74–$60.02/ hour
+ 44 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.