DE · Wilmington · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Wilmington, DE

Respiratory Therapists in the Wilmington area earn a median of $41.19 per hour, about $85,680 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $36.62 and $46.80. That ranks 36th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 92nd of 248 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Wilmington. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Wilmington.

Open Respiratory Therapist roles in Wilmington

More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Wilmington

1 more open role from employers in Wilmington. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

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

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Respiratory Therapist pay in Wilmington, DE

The metro median is 2% below the Delaware statewide median of $42.01 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 2,740 respiratory therapists employed in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.08).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$33.73$70,16013% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$36.62$76,1705% below U.S. median
Median$41.19$85,6806% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$46.80$97,34021% above U.S. median
Top 10%$48.83$101,57026% above U.S. median

How Wilmington ranks

  • 36th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 92nd of 248 after adjusting for local prices

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 Wilmington

  • Overall prices in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington run 3% above the U.S. average (index 102.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 13% above the U.S. average (index 113.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $41.19 median hour buys what $40.16 buys at the national price level, 4% 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 Wilmington paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,483
  • Per year: $74,142
  • Per month: $6,178

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

Travel assignment per diem in Wilmington

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$127
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,407
13-week assignment$18,291

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).

Hospitals in Wilmington

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Wilmington, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Wilmington Va Medical Center
Wilmington, DE
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
St Francis Hospital
Wilmington, DE
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Wilmington, DE
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes

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
Camden, NJ27 mi$41.19/hr71,749
Philadelphia, PA28 mi$41.19/hr1,573,916
Vineland, NJ34 mi$47.13/hr62,070
Lancaster, PA46 mi$38.10/hr58,441
Reading, PA47 mi$39.16/hr96,000
Trenton, NJ53 mi$47.13/hr91,193

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Delaware · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Delaware

RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Delaware requires for your role with the Delaware licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Delaware taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Delaware state guide

Other healthcare roles in Wilmington

Wilmington city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Wilmington, DE?

Respiratory Therapists in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area have a median pay of $41.19 per hour, about $85,680 a year. The middle half earn between $36.62 and $46.80 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington ranks 92nd of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 36th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring respiratory therapists in Wilmington?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Wilmington. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Wilmington.

Do I need a Delaware license to work in Wilmington as a respiratory therapist?

RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Delaware requires for your role with the Delaware 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 Wilmington?

The federal per diem benchmark in Wilmington is $127 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,407 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Wilmington?

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

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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 Wilmington, DE
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Delaware list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • ChristianaCareNewark, DE · 3 postings$46.29/ hr$35–$57
  • CommonSpirit HealthSACRAMENTO, CA · 8 postings$56.70/ hr$47–$71
  • MultiCareTacoma, WA · 18 postings$54.16/ hr$29–$68
  • Fairview Health ServicesGrand Rapids, MN · 7 postings$53.34/ hr$36–$63

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Delaware list

2What they are offering now

Low$35Median$46.29High$57

3 RT postings with published pay in Delaware, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 3 RT roles

  1. Respiratory Therapist - Full Time Flex (36 hrs per week) - (6:30a - 7p) Day - Newark - $10K Sign On BonusPermanent
    $39.50–$54.31/ hour
    ChristianaCare · Newark, DE · posted yesterday
  2. Respiratory Therapist III - Day - Full Time Flex (36 hours weekly) - WilmingtonPermanent
    $38.98–$53.60/ hour
    ChristianaCare · Wilmington, DE · posted 13 days ago

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