Respiratory Therapist jobs in Honolulu, HI
The median respiratory therapist pay in the Honolulu area is $45.52 per hour ($94,670 a year), with the typical range running from $43.78 to $47.44. That ranks 28th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 70th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 7 hospitals in Honolulu. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Honolulu.
- $45.52median pay per hour, Urban Honolulu
- $44–$47typical range per hour
- 270respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 111cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Honolulu, HI
The metro median is in line with the Hawaii statewide median of $45.52 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 270 respiratory therapists employed in the Urban Honolulu metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.68).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $41.20 | $85,700 | 7% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $43.78 | $91,060 | 13% above U.S. median |
| Median | $45.52 | $94,670 | 18% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $47.44 | $98,680 | 23% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $47.96 | $99,760 | 24% above U.S. median |
How Honolulu ranks
- 28th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 70th 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 Honolulu
- Overall prices in Urban Honolulu run 11% above the U.S. average (index 111.0, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 36% above the U.S. average (index 135.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $45.52 median hour buys what $41.02 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Honolulu Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Honolulu, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Honolulu paycheck
- Per year: $81,936
- Per month: $6,828
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Urban Honolulu metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Honolulu
| Item | Federal 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).
Hospitals in Honolulu
CMS lists 7 hospitals in Honolulu, 3 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital Honolulu, HI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kuakini Medical Center Honolulu, HI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Straub Clinic And Hospital Honolulu, HI | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| The Queens Medical Center Honolulu, HI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Kapiolani Medical Center For Women & Children Honolulu, HI | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Shriners Hospital For Children Honolulu, HI | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Tripler Amc (Ft Shafter) Honolulu, HI | Acute Care - Department of Defense | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
License and tax basics in Hawaii
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Hawaii requires for your role with the Hawaii licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Hawaii taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Honolulu
Honolulu city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Honolulu, HI?
Respiratory Therapists in the Urban Honolulu metro area have a median pay of $45.52 per hour, about $94,670 a year. The middle half earn between $43.78 and $47.44 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Honolulu a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Urban Honolulu ranks 70th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 28th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% above the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Honolulu?
CMS lists 7 hospitals in Honolulu, led by Kaiser Foundation Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Hawaii license to work in Honolulu as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Hawaii requires for your role with the Hawaii 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 Honolulu?
The federal per diem benchmark in Honolulu 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 Honolulu?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Honolulu and across Hawaii. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Honolulu.
What do employers near Honolulu 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 Hawaii, 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 Hawaii 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 Hawaii 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 Honolulu, HI, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.