IA · Ankeny · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Ankeny, IA

The median respiratory therapist pay in the Ankeny area is $36.70 per hour ($76,340 a year), with the typical range running from $31.32 to $37.85. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Ankeny and its metro area. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in the Ankeny metro area. The free report below lists employers near Ankeny and what they pay.

Open Respiratory Therapist roles near Ankeny

Roles in other cities of the Des Moines-West Des Moines area.

Get the Ankeny Respiratory Therapist pay report

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

Get my free pay report

Respiratory Therapist pay in Ankeny, IA

The metro median is 11% above the Iowa statewide median of $33.07 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 240 respiratory therapists employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.67).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$26.95$56,06030% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$31.32$65,15019% below U.S. median
Median$36.70$76,3405% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$37.85$78,7302% below U.S. median
Top 10%$42.69$88,80010% above U.S. median

How Ankeny ranks

  • 150th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 98th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 7 Iowa 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 Ankeny

  • Overall prices in Des Moines-West Des Moines run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 15% below the U.S. average (index 84.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $36.70 median hour buys what $40.02 buys at the national price level, 3% 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 Ankeny paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,321
  • Per year: $66,060
  • Per month: $5,505

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Ankeny

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$121
Meals and incidentals per day$80
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 the Des Moines-West Des Moines area

CMS lists 4 hospitals in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area, 1 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Va Central Iowa Healthcare System
Des Moines, IA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Broadlawns Medical Center
Des Moines, IA
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi
Des Moines, IA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center
Des Moines, IA
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes

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
Des Moines, IA11 mi$36.70/hr213,096
West Des Moines, IA16 mi$36.70/hr73,664
Ames, IA20 mi$36.70/hr69,026
Waterloo, IA83 mi$30.01/hr67,477
Cedar Rapids, IA100 mi$31.22/hr137,904
Iowa City, IA107 mi$35.23/hr76,710

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Iowa · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

Respiratory Therapist salary in Iowa

License and tax basics in Iowa

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

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

Iowa state guide

Other healthcare roles in Ankeny

Ankeny city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Ankeny, IA?

Respiratory Therapists in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area have a median pay of $36.70 per hour, about $76,340 a year. The middle half earn between $31.32 and $37.85 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Des Moines-West Des Moines ranks 98th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 150th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring respiratory therapists in Ankeny?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Ankeny.

Do I need a Iowa license to work in Ankeny as a respiratory therapist?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Ankeny is $121 a night for lodging and $80 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 Ankeny?

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

Free for every candidate

What do employers near Ankeny 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.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
    Roles 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 Iowa, sent free by email

Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.

Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
That email doesn't look quite right.
Please choose your role.
Please enter your city or ZIP.

Free for candidates. No phone number, no cold calls. One-click unsubscribe.

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 Ankeny, IA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Select MedicalDes Moines, IA · 2 postings$37.48/ hr$32–$43
  • 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 Iowa list

2What they are offering now

Low$32Median$37.48High$50

3 RT postings with published pay in Iowa, 2 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 Day ShiftPermanent
    $31.96–$43.00/ hour
    Select Medical · Des Moines, IA · posted yesterday
  2. Respiratory Therapist - Full-time Night ShiftPermanent
    $31.96–$43.00/ hour
    Select Medical · Des Moines, IA · posted yesterday

+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
Check my pay