CA · Turlock · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Turlock, CA

Respiratory Therapists in the Turlock area earn a median of $49.91 per hour, about $103,820 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $39.60 and $61.35. That ranks 9th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 10th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Turlock. The free report below lists employers near Turlock and what they pay.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Turlock, CA

The metro median is 2% above the California statewide median of $49.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 290 respiratory therapists employed in the Modesto metro area, 1.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.67).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$37.79$78,6002% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$39.60$82,3702% above U.S. median
Median$49.91$103,82029% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$61.35$127,61059% above U.S. median
Top 10%$68.53$142,54077% above U.S. median

How Turlock ranks

  • 9th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 10th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 8th 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 Turlock

  • Overall prices in Modesto run 4% above the U.S. average (index 104.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 8% above the U.S. average (index 108.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $49.91 median hour buys what $47.94 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.

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Named employers near Turlock, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Turlock paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,797
  • Per year: $89,838
  • Per month: $7,486

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

Travel assignment per diem in Turlock

ItemFederal 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 Turlock as they open.

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in California

Hospitals in Turlock

CMS lists 1 hospital in Turlock, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Emanuel Medical Center
Turlock, CA
Acute careFor-profit2 of 5Yes

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
Modesto, CA12 mi$49.91/hr220,592
Merced, CA25 mi$47.19/hr96,073
Manteca, CA28 mi$46.77/hr94,292
Tracy, CA36 mi$46.77/hr100,136
Stockton, CA41 mi$46.77/hr324,975
Lodi, CA49 mi$46.77/hr68,642

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 Turlock

Turlock city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Turlock, CA?

Respiratory Therapists in the Modesto metro area have a median pay of $49.91 per hour, about $103,820 a year. The middle half earn between $39.60 and $61.35 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Modesto ranks 10th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 9th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% above the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Turlock?

CMS lists 1 hospital in Turlock, led by Emanuel Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Turlock 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 Turlock?

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

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    What they are offering now

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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 Turlock, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportTurlock, 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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