IA · Sioux City · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Sioux City, IA

Respiratory Therapists in the Sioux City area earn a median of $29.55 per hour, about $61,460 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $27.63 and $34.25. That ranks 256th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 231st of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Sioux City. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Sioux City.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Sioux City, IA

The metro median is 11% below the Iowa statewide median of $33.07 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 50 respiratory therapists employed in the Sioux City metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.69).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$25.86$53,79033% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$27.63$57,47029% below U.S. median
Median$29.55$61,46024% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$34.25$71,24011% below U.S. median
Top 10%$36.09$75,0707% below U.S. median

How Sioux City ranks

  • 256th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 231st of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 7th 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 Sioux City

  • Overall prices in Sioux City run 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.5, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 42% below the U.S. average (index 57.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $29.55 median hour buys what $34.18 buys at the national price level, 12% 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.

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

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Estimate your Sioux City paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,064
  • Per year: $53,190
  • Per month: $4,432

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

Travel assignment per diem in Sioux City

ItemFederal 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 Iowa

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Sioux City as they open.

Per diemPosted 30+ days ago

Respiratory Therapist

CommonSpirit Health · Council Bluffs, IA

$33.84–$50.34/ hour
  • Per diem
  • Req 94789448272
View role

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Iowa

Respiratory Therapist salary in Iowa

Hospitals in Sioux City

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Sioux City, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Mercyone Siouxland Medical Center
Sioux City, IA
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
St Lukes Regional Medical Center
Sioux City, IA
Acute careNonprofit2 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
Sioux Falls, SD74 mi$29.43/hr209,289
Omaha, NE87 mi$38.30/hr489,265
Council Bluffs, IA91 mi$38.30/hr62,665
Bellevue, NE96 mi$38.30/hr64,777
Lincoln, NE117 mi$36.46/hr300,619
Ames, IA145 mi$36.70/hr69,026

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.

Iowa state guide

Other healthcare roles in Sioux City

Sioux City city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Sioux City, IA?

Respiratory Therapists in the Sioux City metro area have a median pay of $29.55 per hour, about $61,460 a year. The middle half earn between $27.63 and $34.25 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Sioux City ranks 231st of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 256th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Sioux City?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Sioux City, led by Mercyone Siouxland Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Iowa license to work in Sioux City 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 Sioux City?

The federal per diem benchmark in Sioux City 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 Sioux City?

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

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Pay report · RT near Sioux City, 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.

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