Respiratory Therapist jobs in Washington, DC
Pay for respiratory therapists in the Washington area centers on $46.45 per hour, or about $96,620 a year. The lower quarter earns under $39.70 and the upper quarter over $49.37. That ranks 24th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 33rd of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 10 hospitals in Washington. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Washington.
- $46.45median pay per hour, Washington
- $40–$49typical range per hour
- 1,510respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 109cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Washington, DC
The metro median is 7% below the District of Columbia statewide median of $50.12 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 1,510 respiratory therapists employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.55).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $36.90 | $76,750 | 5% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $39.70 | $82,580 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Median | $46.45 | $96,620 | 20% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $49.37 | $102,690 | 28% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $57.18 | $118,930 | 48% above U.S. median |
How Washington ranks
- 24th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 33rd 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 Washington
- Overall prices in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $46.45 median hour buys what $42.66 buys at the national price level, 10% 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.
Get the Washington Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Washington, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Washington paycheck
- Per year: $83,610
- Per month: $6,968
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Washington
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $234 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,282 |
| 13-week assignment | $29,666 |
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 Washington
CMS lists 10 hospitals in Washington, 1 of the 7 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sibley Memorial Hospital Washington, DC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Medstar Georgetown University Hospital Washington, DC | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Medstar Washington Hospital Center Washington, DC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| United Medical Center Washington, DC | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Washington Dc Va Medical Center Washington, DC | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| George Washington Univ Hospital Washington, DC | Acute care | For-profit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Howard University Hospital Corp Washington, DC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 1 of 5 | No |
| Children's National Hospital Washington, DC | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Psychiatric Institute Of Washington Washington, DC | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| St Elizabeths Hospital Washington, DC | Psychiatric | Government and federal | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, VA | 7 mi | $46.45/hr | 159,102 |
| Rockville, MD | 14 mi | $46.45/hr | 68,417 |
| Baltimore, MD | 35 mi | $40.80/hr | 568,271 |
| Lancaster, PA | 87 mi | $38.10/hr | 58,441 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 95 mi | $36.50/hr | 50,649 |
| Wilmington, DE | 98 mi | $41.19/hr | 73,176 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in District of Columbia · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in District of Columbia
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what District of Columbia requires for your role with the District of Columbia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
District of Columbia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Washington
Washington city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Washington, DC?
Respiratory Therapists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area have a median pay of $46.45 per hour, about $96,620 a year. The middle half earn between $39.70 and $49.37 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Washington a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ranks 33rd of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 24th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Washington?
CMS lists 10 hospitals in Washington, led by Sibley Memorial Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a District of Columbia license to work in Washington as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what District of Columbia requires for your role with the District of Columbia 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 Washington?
The federal per diem benchmark in Washington is $234 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,282 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Washington?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Washington and across District of Columbia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Washington.
What do employers near Washington 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
20+ Respiratory Therapist roles in District of Columbia, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your District of Columbia list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- 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
- Centrastate Healthcare SystemFreehold, NJ · 3 postings$51.30/ hr$38–$65
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your District of Columbia list
2What they are offering now
396 RT postings with published pay in the US, 319 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open RT roles
Open RT roles near Washington, DC, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.