Respiratory Therapist - Full-time Day Shift
Select Medical · Des Moines, IA
Pay for respiratory therapists in Iowa centers on $33.07 per hour, or about $68,790 a year. The lower quarter earns under $30.32 and the upper quarter over $37.85. That is 15% below the U.S. median of $38.68 per hour. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Dubuque. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Dubuque.
Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 1,050 respiratory therapists employed in Iowa.
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $27.05 | $56,260 | 30% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $30.32 | $63,070 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Median | $33.07 | $68,790 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $37.85 | $78,730 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $40.13 | $83,470 | 4% above U.S. median |
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.
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.
Named employers near Dubuque, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportGross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for Iowa. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
| 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).
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Dubuque as they open.
Select Medical · Des Moines, IA
Select Medical · Des Moines, IA
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.
CommonSpirit Health · Council Bluffs, IA
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Dubuque, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finley Hospital Dubuque, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 62 mi | $31.22/hr | 137,904 |
| Davenport, IA | 65 mi | $32.58/hr | 100,938 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | $35.23/hr | 76,710 |
| Madison, WI | 76 mi | $39.27/hr | 285,300 |
| Waterloo, IA | 84 mi | $30.01/hr | 67,477 |
| Rockford, IL | 86 mi | $36.90/hr | 147,486 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Iowa · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
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.
Dubuque city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Respiratory Therapists in Iowa have a median pay of $33.07 per hour, about $68,790 a year. The middle half earn between $30.32 and $37.85 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Dubuque, led by Finley Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
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.
The federal per diem benchmark in Dubuque 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.
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Dubuque and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Dubuque.
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.
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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.
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list
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.
+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.