PermanentPosted today
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Sutter Health · San Francisco, CA
Pay range with your report
New this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in San Francisco, CA
Respiratory Therapists in the San Francisco 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 13 hospitals in San Francisco. The free report below lists employers near San Francisco and what they pay.
- $63.13median pay per hour, San Francisco
- $49–$70typical range per hour
- 1,940respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 116cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Respiratory Therapist roles in San Francisco
2 more open roles from employers in San Francisco. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Respiratory Care Practitioner II
Sutter Health · San Francisco, CA
Pay range with your report
New this week
Respiratory Therapist pay in San Francisco, 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).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $45.64 | $94,930 | 18% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $49.28 | $102,500 | 27% above U.S. median |
| Median | $63.13 | $131,320 | 63% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $69.58 | $144,730 | 80% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $73.09 | $152,030 | 89% above U.S. median |
How San Francisco 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.
Get the San Francisco Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near San Francisco, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in San Francisco
- 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.
Estimate your San Francisco 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 San Francisco
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $263 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,485 |
| 13-week assignment | $32,305 |
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 San Francisco as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Respiratory Care Practitioner III
CommonSpirit Health · Sacramento, CA
$58.06–$67.60/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
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 San Francisco
CMS lists 13 hospitals in San Francisco, 5 of the 10 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Pacific Medical Center - Mission Bernal San Francisco, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Francisco San Francisco, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| San Francisco Va Medical Center San Francisco, CA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Ucsf Health St. Mary's Hospital San Francisco, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Ucsf Medical Center San Francisco, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| California Pacific Medical Center- Van Ness Campus San Francisco, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| California Pacific Medical Ctr-Davies Campus Hosp San Francisco, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | No |
| Ucsf Health Saint Francis Hospital San Francisco, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Chinese Hospital San Francisco, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hosp & Trauma Ctr San Francisco, CA | Acute care | Government and federal | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daly City, CA | 31 mi | $63.13/hr | 101,418 |
| San Rafael, CA | 34 mi | $63.13/hr | 59,961 |
| Petaluma, CA | 42 mi | $62.33/hr | 59,393 |
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 San Francisco
San Francisco city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in San Francisco, 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco?
CMS lists 13 hospitals in San Francisco, led by California Pacific Medical Center - Mission Bernal. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in San Francisco 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 San Francisco?
The federal per diem benchmark in San Francisco is $263 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,485 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in San Francisco?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in San Francisco and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near San Francisco.
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What do employers near San Francisco 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 reportSan Francisco, 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.