PermanentPosted yesterday
Respiratory Therapist - Full-time Day Shift
Select Medical · Des Moines, IA
$31.96–$43.00/ hour
New this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Des Moines, IA
Pay for respiratory therapists in the Des Moines area centers on $36.70 per hour, or about $76,340 a year. The lower quarter earns under $31.32 and the upper quarter over $37.85. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Des Moines. That ranks 150th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 98th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Des Moines and what they pay.
- $36.70median pay per hour, Des Moines
- $31–$38typical range per hour
- 240respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 2open roles with published pay
Open Respiratory Therapist roles in Des Moines
PermanentPosted yesterday
Respiratory Therapist - Full-time Night Shift
Select Medical · Des Moines, IA
$31.96–$43.00/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
15+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Des Moines, IA
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Named employers near Des Moines, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportRespiratory Therapist pay in Des Moines, 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).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $26.95 | $56,060 | 30% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $31.32 | $65,150 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Median | $36.70 | $76,340 | 5% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $37.85 | $78,730 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $42.69 | $88,800 | 10% above U.S. median |
How Des Moines 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 Des Moines
- 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines
| Item | Federal 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 Des Moines
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Des Moines, 1 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Va Central Iowa Healthcare System Des Moines, IA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines, IA | Acute care | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi Des Moines, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Des Moines, IA | 9 mi | $36.70/hr | 73,664 |
| Ankeny, IA | 11 mi | $36.70/hr | 76,727 |
| Ames, IA | 31 mi | $36.70/hr | 69,026 |
| Waterloo, IA | 91 mi | $30.01/hr | 67,477 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 103 mi | $31.22/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 108 mi | $35.23/hr | 76,710 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Iowa · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
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.
Other healthcare roles in Des Moines
Des Moines city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Des Moines, 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines?
We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Des Moines. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Des Moines.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Des Moines 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 Des Moines?
The federal per diem benchmark in Des Moines 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 Des Moines?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Des Moines and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Des Moines.
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What do employers near Des Moines 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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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.
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
- Respiratory Therapist - Full-time Day ShiftPermanent$31.96–$43.00/ hour
- Respiratory Therapist - Full-time Night ShiftPermanent$31.96–$43.00/ hour
+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.