PermanentPosted today
Respiratory Therapist, RRT - Nights- Full Time
ScionHealth · Chicago, IL
$32.00–$47.55/ hour
New this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Chicago, IL
Pay for respiratory therapists in the Chicago area centers on $39.86 per hour, or about $82,900 a year. The lower quarter earns under $38.30 and the upper quarter over $45.66. The CMS hospital directory lists 33 hospitals in Chicago. That ranks 53rd of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 149th of 248 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Chicago.
- $39.86median pay per hour, Chicago
- $38–$46typical range per hour
- 4,040respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 5open roles with published pay
Open Respiratory Therapist roles in Chicago
PermanentPosted yesterday
Respiratory Care Practitioner - RRT
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Chicago, IL
$37.00–$49.80/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
25+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Chicago, IL
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted yesterday
Respiratory Therapist - RRT
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Chicago, IL
$37.00–$49.80/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Certified Respiratory Therapist
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Chicago, IL
$33.50–$45.09/ hour
PermanentPosted 29 days ago
Respiratory Therapist
Shriners Hospitals for Children · Chicago, IL
$33.47–$50.22/ hour
More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Chicago
8 more open roles from employers in Chicago. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted yesterday
Certified Respiratory Therapist - CRT
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Chicago, IL
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Ascension Health · Chicago, IL
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 27 days ago
Respiratory Therapist, RRT Part-Time, Nights
The University of Chicago Medicine · Chicago, IL
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 27 days ago
Respiratory Therapist, CRT Full-TIme Nights
The University of Chicago Medicine · Chicago, IL
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 27 days ago
Respiratory Therapist, RRT
The University of Chicago Medicine · Chicago, IL
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 28 days ago
Respiratory Care Practitioner II, Full-Time, Days ($20,000 Sign-On Bonus)
Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 28 days ago
Respiratory Care Practitioner II, Full-Time, Nights ($20,000 Sign-On Bonus)
Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 28 days ago
Respiratory Care Practitioner I, Full-Time, Days ($20,000 Sign-On Bonus)
Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL
Pay range with your report
Get the Chicago Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Chicago, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring respiratory therapists near Chicago
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 3 | $43.40 |
| ScionHealth | 1 | $39.77 |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children | 1 | $41.84 |
Respiratory Therapist pay in Chicago, IL
The metro median is 2% above the Illinois statewide median of $39.09 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 4,040 respiratory therapists employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.02).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $33.23 | $69,120 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $38.30 | $79,660 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Median | $39.86 | $82,900 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $45.66 | $94,970 | 18% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $47.29 | $98,360 | 22% above U.S. median |
How Chicago ranks
- 53rd of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 149th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 6 Illinois 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 Chicago
- Overall prices in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin run 4% above the U.S. average (index 103.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 12% above the U.S. average (index 112.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $39.86 median hour buys what $38.48 buys at the national price level, 1% below 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 Chicago paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,435
- Per year: $71,748
- Per month: $5,979
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Chicago
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $195 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,009 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,117 |
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 Chicago
CMS lists 33 hospitals in Chicago, 6 of the 22 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Jesse Brown Va Medical Center - Va Chicago Healthcare System Chicago, IL | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| The University Of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Illinois Hospital And Clinics Chicago, IL | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Presence Saints Mary And Elizabeth Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Swedish Hospital Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cicero, IL | 4 mi | $39.86/hr | 82,090 |
| Berwyn, IL | 5 mi | $39.86/hr | 55,152 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Illinois · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Illinois
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Illinois requires for your role with the Illinois licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Illinois taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Chicago
Chicago city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Chicago, IL?
Respiratory Therapists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area have a median pay of $39.86 per hour, about $82,900 a year. The middle half earn between $38.30 and $45.66 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Chicago a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin ranks 149th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 53rd of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring respiratory therapists in Chicago?
We list 5 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in Chicago. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Chicago.
Do I need a Illinois license to work in Chicago as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Illinois requires for your role with the Illinois 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 Chicago?
The federal per diem benchmark in Chicago is $195 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,009 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Chicago?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chicago and across Illinois. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chicago.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Chicago 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
120+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Illinois, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RT pay reportChicago, IL · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Central Maine Healthcare CorporationChicago, IL · 7 postings$43.40/ hr$34–$53
- ScionHealthChicago, IL · 2 postings$39.89/ hr$32–$48
- Advocate HealthIllinois · 2 postings$44.38/ hr$36–$53
- Silver Cross HospitalNew Lenox, IL · 7 postings$42.84/ hr$38–$48
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$31Median$40.72High$50
39 RT postings with published pay in Illinois, 25 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 39 RT roles
- Respiratory Therapist, RRT - Nights- Full TimePermanent$32.00–$47.55/ hour
- Respiratory Therapist RegisteredPermanent$29.30–$34.47/ hour
+ 37 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.