PermanentPosted today
Respiratory Care Practitioner III
CommonSpirit Health · Sacramento, CA
$58.06–$67.60/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
Pay for respiratory therapists in California centers on $49.10 per hour, or about $102,120 a year. The lower quarter earns under $43.62 and the upper quarter over $60.46. That is 27% above the U.S. median of $38.68 per hour. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz. The free report below lists employers near Santa Cruz and what they pay.
- $49.10median pay per hour, California
- $44–$60typical range per hour
- 110cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Santa Cruz, CA
Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 18,310 respiratory therapists employed in California.
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $37.57 | $78,150 | 3% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $43.62 | $90,730 | 13% above U.S. median |
| Median | $49.10 | $102,120 | 27% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $60.46 | $125,760 | 56% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $66.35 | $138,010 | 72% 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 Santa Cruz
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
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 Santa Cruz Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Santa Cruz, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $148 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,638 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,294 |
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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Santa Cruz County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Cruz, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 15 mi | $49.10/hr | 51,320 |
| Cupertino, CA | 24 mi | $65.91/hr | 58,710 |
| Gilroy, CA | 25 mi | $65.91/hr | 60,390 |
| San Jose, CA | 25 mi | $65.91/hr | 997,368 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 27 mi | $65.91/hr | 133,132 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 28 mi | $65.91/hr | 156,792 |
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 Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, led by Dominican Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Cruz is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Santa Cruz?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Cruz and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Cruz.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Santa Cruz 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.
Get your free pay report
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 reportSanta Cruz, 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.