CA · Stockton · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Stockton, CA

Pay for respiratory therapists in the Stockton area centers on $46.77 per hour, or about $97,280 a year. The lower quarter earns under $45.20 and the upper quarter over $60.04. That ranks 21st of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 20th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Stockton. The free report below lists employers near Stockton and what they pay.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Stockton, CA

The metro median is 5% below the California statewide median of $49.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 390 respiratory therapists employed in the Stockton-Lodi metro area, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.53).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$37.36$77,7103% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$45.20$94,02017% above U.S. median
Median$46.77$97,28021% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$60.04$124,88055% above U.S. median
Top 10%$62.55$130,10062% above U.S. median

How Stockton ranks

  • 21st of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 20th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 14th 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 Stockton

  • Overall prices in Stockton-Lodi run 5% above the U.S. average (index 105.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 16% above the U.S. average (index 115.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $46.77 median hour buys what $44.51 buys at the national price level, 15% 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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Named employers near Stockton, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Stockton paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,684
  • Per year: $84,186
  • Per month: $7,016

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Stockton-Lodi metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Stockton

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$132
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,442
13-week assignment$18,746

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 Stockton as they open.

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in California

Respiratory Therapist salary in California

Hospitals in Stockton

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Stockton, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
St Joseph's Medical Center Of Stockton
Stockton, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Dameron Hospital
Stockton, CA
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
St Joseph's Behavioral Health Center
Stockton, 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
Lodi, CA10 mi$46.77/hr68,642
Manteca, CA14 mi$46.77/hr94,292
Brentwood, CA23 mi$63.13/hr66,286
Antioch, CA27 mi$63.13/hr118,453
Modesto, CA29 mi$49.91/hr220,592
Elk Grove, CA31 mi$62.10/hr182,797

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 Stockton

Stockton city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Stockton, CA?

Respiratory Therapists in the Stockton-Lodi metro area have a median pay of $46.77 per hour, about $97,280 a year. The middle half earn between $45.20 and $60.04 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Stockton-Lodi ranks 20th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 21st of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 5% above the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Stockton?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Stockton, led by St Joseph's Medical Center Of Stockton. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Stockton is $132 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,442 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Stockton?

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

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

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

Your RT pay reportStockton, 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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