KS · Topeka · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Topeka, KS

Respiratory Therapists in the Topeka area earn a median of $36.84 per hour, about $76,640 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $29.76 and $38.08. That ranks 143rd of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 59th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Topeka. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Topeka.

More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Topeka

1 more open role from employers in Topeka. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Topeka, KS

The metro median is 4% above the Kansas statewide median of $35.38 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 110 respiratory therapists employed in the Topeka metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.06).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$25.33$52,69035% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$29.76$61,90023% below U.S. median
Median$36.84$76,6405% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$38.08$79,2102% below U.S. median
Top 10%$44.74$93,06016% above U.S. median

How Topeka ranks

  • 143rd of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 59th 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.

Get the Topeka Respiratory Therapist pay report

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

Get my free pay report

What your pay buys in Topeka

  • Overall prices in Topeka run 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.8, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 35% below the U.S. average (index 65.0).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $36.84 median hour buys what $41.48 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 Topeka paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,326
  • Per year: $66,312
  • Per month: $5,526

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

Travel assignment per diem in Topeka

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 Kansas

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

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Kansas

Hospitals in Topeka

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Topeka, 2 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Stormont Vail Hospital
Topeka, KS
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Va Eastern Kansas Healthcare System
Topeka, KS
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
University Of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus
Topeka, 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
Lawrence, KS24 mi$35.38/hr97,271
Shawnee, KS48 mi$38.44/hr69,724
Lenexa, KS48 mi$38.44/hr59,427
Olathe, KS48 mi$38.44/hr149,035
Manhattan, KS50 mi$35.38/hr54,700
Kansas City, KS52 mi$38.44/hr156,752

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 Topeka

Topeka city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Topeka, KS?

Respiratory Therapists in the Topeka metro area have a median pay of $36.84 per hour, about $76,640 a year. The middle half earn between $29.76 and $38.08 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Topeka ranks 59th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 143rd of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Topeka?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Topeka, led by Stormont Vail Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Kansas license to work in Topeka 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 Topeka?

The federal per diem benchmark in Topeka 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 Topeka?

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

Free for every candidate

What do employers near Topeka 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

25+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Kansas, 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 Topeka, 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.

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