KY · Bowling Green · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Bowling Green, KY

Respiratory Therapists in the Bowling Green area earn a median of $30.00 per hour, about $62,400 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $29.02 and $34.28. That ranks 254th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 237th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Bowling Green. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Bowling Green.

More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Bowling Green

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

Respiratory Therapist pay in Bowling Green, KY

The metro median is 5% below the Kentucky statewide median of $31.57 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 120 respiratory therapists employed in the Bowling Green metro area, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.64).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$24.57$51,11036% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$29.02$60,36025% below U.S. median
Median$30.00$62,40022% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$34.28$71,30011% below U.S. median
Top 10%$36.39$75,6906% below U.S. median

How Bowling Green ranks

  • 254th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 237th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 5th of 6 Kentucky 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.

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

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What your pay buys in Bowling Green

  • Overall prices in Bowling Green run 10% below the U.S. average (index 90.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 37% below the U.S. average (index 63.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $30.00 median hour buys what $33.27 buys at the national price level, 14% 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.

Estimate your Bowling Green paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,080
  • Per year: $54,000
  • Per month: $4,500

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

Travel assignment per diem in Bowling Green

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 Kentucky

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

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Kentucky

Respiratory Therapist salary in Kentucky

Hospitals in Bowling Green

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Bowling Green, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
The Medical Center (Bowling Green)
Bowling Green, KY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Tristar Greenview Regional Hospital
Bowling Green, KY
Acute careFor-profit2 of 5Yes
Rivendell Behavioral Health Services
Bowling Green, KY
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

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
Gallatin, TN41 mi$37.57/hr52,489
Hendersonville, TN47 mi$37.57/hr63,947
Lebanon, TN54 mi$37.57/hr51,501
Clarksville, TN58 mi$30.64/hr185,690
Nashville, TN59 mi$37.57/hr704,963
Owensboro, KY66 mi$30.83/hr60,675

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Kentucky · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Kentucky

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

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

Kentucky state guide

Other healthcare roles in Bowling Green

Bowling Green city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Bowling Green, KY?

Respiratory Therapists in the Bowling Green metro area have a median pay of $30.00 per hour, about $62,400 a year. The middle half earn between $29.02 and $34.28 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Bowling Green ranks 237th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 254th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% below the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Bowling Green?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Bowling Green, led by The Medical Center (Bowling Green). Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Kentucky license to work in Bowling Green as a respiratory therapist?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Bowling Green 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 Bowling Green?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Bowling Green and across Kentucky. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Bowling Green.

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What do employers near Bowling Green pay respiratory therapists? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    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 Bowling Green, KY
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportBowling Green, KY · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • CommonSpirit HealthLondon, KY · 2 postings$32.65/ hr$25–$37
  • University Medical Center, Inc.Louisville, KY · 2 wage offers$31.46/ hr$31–$32
  • UofL Health - Louisville, Inc.Louisville, KY · 2 wage offers$30.79/ hr$29–$32

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$30Median$31.46High$32

4 employer-reported wage offers for RT in federal filings in Kentucky, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 RT roles

  1. Registered Respiratory TherapistPer diem
    $34.35–$34.35/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · London, KY · posted 10 days ago
  2. Certified Respiratory TherapistPermanent
    $24.88–$37.00/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Lexington, KY · posted 17 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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