Per diemPosted 10 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist
CommonSpirit Health · London, KY
$34.35–$34.35/ hour
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Owensboro, KY
The median respiratory therapist pay in the Owensboro area is $30.83 per hour ($64,130 a year), with the typical range running from $30.83 to $31.12. That ranks 245th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 220th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Owensboro. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Owensboro.
- $30.83median pay per hour, Owensboro
- $31–$31typical range per hour
- 50respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Owensboro, KY
The metro median is 2% below the Kentucky statewide median of $31.57 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 50 respiratory therapists employed in the Owensboro metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.20).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $25.18 | $52,370 | 35% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $30.83 | $64,130 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Median | $30.83 | $64,130 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $31.12 | $64,730 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $37.19 | $77,360 | 4% below U.S. median |
How Owensboro ranks
- 245th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 220th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th 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.
What your pay buys in Owensboro
- Overall prices in Owensboro run 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 44% below the U.S. average (index 55.7).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $30.83 median hour buys what $34.79 buys at the national price level, 10% 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.
Get the Owensboro Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Owensboro, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Owensboro paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,110
- Per year: $55,494
- Per month: $4,624
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Owensboro metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Owensboro
| 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).
Open Respiratory Therapist roles in Kentucky
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Owensboro as they open.
PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Certified Respiratory Therapist
CommonSpirit Health · Lexington, KY
$24.88–$37.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
55+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Kentucky
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Hospitals in Owensboro
CMS lists 1 hospital in Owensboro, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro Health Regional Hospital Owensboro, KY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Respiratory Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | 28 mi | $38.72/hr | 115,395 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 66 mi | $30.00/hr | 79,076 |
| Clarksville, TN | 83 mi | $30.64/hr | 185,690 |
| Louisville, KY | 85 mi | $35.29/hr | 640,796 |
| Jeffersonville, IN | 87 mi | $35.29/hr | 52,912 |
| Gallatin, TN | 102 mi | $37.57/hr | 52,489 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Owensboro
Owensboro city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Owensboro, KY?
Respiratory Therapists in the Owensboro metro area have a median pay of $30.83 per hour, about $64,130 a year. The middle half earn between $30.83 and $31.12 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Owensboro a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Owensboro ranks 220th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 245th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Owensboro?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Owensboro, led by Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Kentucky license to work in Owensboro 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 Owensboro?
The federal per diem benchmark in Owensboro 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 Owensboro?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Owensboro and across Kentucky. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Owensboro.
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What do employers near Owensboro pay respiratory therapists? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RT pay reportOwensboro, 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
- Registered Respiratory TherapistPer diem$34.35–$34.35/ hour
- Certified Respiratory TherapistPermanent$24.88–$37.00/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.