PermanentPosted today
Respiratory Therapist, RRT - Nights- Full Time
ScionHealth · Chicago, IL
$32.00–$47.55/ hour
New this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Rockford, IL
Respiratory Therapists in the Rockford area earn a median of $36.90 per hour, about $76,740 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $33.33 and $41.81. That ranks 142nd of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 96th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Rockford. The free report below lists employers near Rockford and what they pay.
- $36.90median pay per hour, Rockford
- $33–$42typical range per hour
- 150respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 92cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Rockford, IL
The metro median is 6% below the Illinois statewide median of $39.09 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 150 respiratory therapists employed in the Rockford metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.24).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.05 | $62,500 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $33.33 | $69,330 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Median | $36.90 | $76,740 | 5% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $41.81 | $86,960 | 8% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $45.09 | $93,790 | 17% above U.S. median |
How Rockford ranks
- 142nd of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 96th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd 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 Rockford
- Overall prices in Rockford run 8% below the U.S. average (index 92.2, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 30% below the U.S. average (index 70.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $36.90 median hour buys what $40.04 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.
Get the Rockford Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Rockford, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Rockford paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,328
- Per year: $66,420
- Per month: $5,535
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Rockford metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Rockford
| 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).
Open Respiratory Therapist roles in Illinois
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Rockford as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Respiratory Therapist Registered
OSF Healthcare System · Mendota, IL
$29.30–$34.47/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
120+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Illinois
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 Care Practitioner - RRT
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Chicago, IL
$37.00–$49.80/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Respiratory Therapist - RRT
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Chicago, IL
$37.00–$49.80/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted yesterday
Registered Respiratory Therapist-RRT/CRT-PRN
Hospital Sisters Health System · Highland, IL
$32.58–$48.87/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
CRT/RRT- Fulltime Nights
Southern Illinois Healthcare · Illinois
$28.80–$44.64/ hour
New this week
Hospitals in Rockford
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Rockford, 0 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javon Bea Hospital Rockford, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Uw Health Rockford, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Saint Anthony Medical Center Rockford, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville, WI | 30 mi | $38.97/hr | 66,428 |
| Elgin, IL | 41 mi | $39.86/hr | 114,701 |
| Hoffman Estates, IL | 49 mi | $39.86/hr | 50,920 |
| Aurora, IL | 52 mi | $39.86/hr | 180,710 |
| Schaumburg, IL | 53 mi | $39.86/hr | 77,099 |
| Palatine, IL | 53 mi | $39.86/hr | 65,951 |
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 Rockford
Rockford city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Rockford, IL?
Respiratory Therapists in the Rockford metro area have a median pay of $36.90 per hour, about $76,740 a year. The middle half earn between $33.33 and $41.81 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Rockford a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Rockford ranks 96th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 142nd of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Rockford?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Rockford, led by Javon Bea Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Illinois license to work in Rockford 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 Rockford?
The federal per diem benchmark in Rockford 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 Rockford?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Rockford and across Illinois. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Rockford.
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What do employers near Rockford 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.
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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 reportRockford, IL · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Advocate HealthIllinois · 2 postings$44.38/ hr$36–$53
- Central Maine Healthcare CorporationChicago, IL · 7 postings$43.40/ hr$34–$53
- Silver Cross HospitalNew Lenox, IL · 7 postings$42.84/ hr$38–$48
- MercyIllinois · 7 postings$42.22/ hr$31–$63
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.