KS · Kansas City · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Kansas City, KS

Respiratory Therapists in the Kansas City area earn a median of $38.44 per hour, about $79,950 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $33.62 and $42.53. That ranks 90th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 58th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Kansas City. The free report below lists employers near Kansas City and what they pay.

More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Kansas City

5 more open roles from employers in Kansas City. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Kansas City, KS

The metro median is 9% above the Kansas statewide median of $35.38 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 1,040 respiratory therapists employed in the Kansas City metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.07).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$31.09$64,67020% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$33.62$69,93013% below U.S. median
Median$38.44$79,9501% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$42.53$88,46010% above U.S. median
Top 10%$45.27$94,16017% above U.S. median

How Kansas City ranks

  • 90th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 58th of 248 after adjusting for local prices

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.

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

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What your pay buys in Kansas City

  • Overall prices in Kansas City run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.5, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 13% below the U.S. average (index 86.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $38.44 median hour buys what $41.54 buys at the national price level, 7% 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 Kansas City paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,384
  • Per year: $69,192
  • Per month: $5,766

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

Travel assignment per diem in Kansas City

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$135
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,505
13-week assignment$19,565

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).

Open Respiratory Therapist roles in Kansas

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

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Kansas

Respiratory Therapist salary in Kansas

Hospitals in Kansas City

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Kansas City, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
University Of Kansas Hospital
Kansas City, KS
Acute careGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Providence Medical Center
Kansas City, KS
Acute careNonprofit3 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
Shawnee, KS8 mi$38.44/hr69,724
Kansas City, MO10 mi$38.44/hr516,032
Lawrence, KS30 mi$35.38/hr97,271
St. Joseph, MO44 mi$35.52/hr71,098
Topeka, KS52 mi$36.84/hr125,467
Manhattan, KS100 mi$35.38/hr54,700

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Kansas · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Kansas

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

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

Kansas state guide

Other healthcare roles in Kansas City

Kansas City city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Kansas City, KS?

Respiratory Therapists in the Kansas City metro area have a median pay of $38.44 per hour, about $79,950 a year. The middle half earn between $33.62 and $42.53 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Kansas City ranks 58th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 90th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Kansas City?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Kansas City, led by University Of Kansas Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Kansas license to work in Kansas City as a respiratory therapist?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Kansas City is $135 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,505 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Kansas City?

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

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What do employers near Kansas City pay respiratory therapists? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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

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    What they are offering now

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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 Kansas City, KS
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • 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
  • Centrastate Healthcare SystemFreehold, NJ · 3 postings$51.30/ hr$38–$65

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Kansas list

2What they are offering now

Low$29Median$41.44High$58

396 RT postings with published pay in the US, 319 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 1 RT roles

  1. Respiratory Therapist - Full TimePermanent
    $30.00–$40.38/ hour
    Select Medical · Wichita, KS · posted 10 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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