PermanentPosted today
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RCP II)
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Rumford, ME
$33.15–$44.62/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Portland, ME
Respiratory Therapists in the Portland area earn a median of $38.14 per hour, about $79,330 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $32.23 and $41.33. That ranks 98th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 179th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Portland. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Portland.
- $38.14median pay per hour, Portland
- $32–$41typical range per hour
- 190respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 102cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Portland, ME
The metro median is in line with the Maine statewide median of $38.14 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 190 respiratory therapists employed in the Portland-South Portland metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.76).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.56 | $65,640 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $32.23 | $67,040 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Median | $38.14 | $79,330 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $41.33 | $85,970 | 7% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $49.73 | $103,440 | 29% above U.S. median |
How Portland ranks
- 98th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 179th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 3 Maine 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 Portland
- Overall prices in Portland-South Portland run 2% above the U.S. average (index 101.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 5% above the U.S. average (index 105.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $38.14 median hour buys what $37.44 buys at the national price level, 3% 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 Portland Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Portland, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Portland paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,373
- Per year: $68,652
- Per month: $5,721
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Portland-South Portland metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Portland
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $152 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,624 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,112 |
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 Maine
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Portland as they open.
PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Respiratory Therapist
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Lewiston, ME
$33.15–$44.62/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
20+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Maine
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
- Free
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- Email only, no calls
PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Certified Respiratory Therapist
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Bridgton, ME
$32.00–$40.01/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Veterans Health Administration · Augusta, ME
$75k–$97k/ year
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 9 days ago
RRT (RCP II)
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Lewiston, ME
$33.15–$44.62/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Certified Respiratory Therapist - Pulmonary
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Lewiston, ME
$32.00–$40.01/ hour
Hospitals in Portland
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Portland, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainehealth Maine Medical Center Portland, ME | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Northern Light Mercy Hospital Portland, ME | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haverhill, MA | 74 mi | $47.97/hr | 68,291 |
| Manchester, NH | 78 mi | $40.17/hr | 116,386 |
| Lawrence, MA | 81 mi | $47.97/hr | 89,332 |
| Peabody, MA | 86 mi | $47.97/hr | 55,418 |
| Lynn, MA | 89 mi | $47.97/hr | 103,489 |
| Lowell, MA | 89 mi | $47.97/hr | 120,418 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Maine · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Maine
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Maine requires for your role with the Maine licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Maine taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Portland
Portland city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Portland, ME?
Respiratory Therapists in the Portland-South Portland metro area have a median pay of $38.14 per hour, about $79,330 a year. The middle half earn between $32.23 and $41.33 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Portland a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Portland-South Portland ranks 179th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 98th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% above the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Portland?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Portland, led by Mainehealth Maine Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Maine license to work in Portland as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Maine requires for your role with the Maine 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 Portland?
The federal per diem benchmark in Portland is $152 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,624 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Portland?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Portland and across Maine. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Portland.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Portland 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.
- 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
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
20+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Maine, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Maine list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Central Maine Healthcare CorporationLewiston, ME · 11 postings$38.88/ hr$25–$45
- MaineGeneral HealthAugusta, ME · 2 postings$33.84/ hr$24–$55
- CommonSpirit HealthSacramento, CA · 8 postings$56.70/ hr$47–$71
- MultiCareTacoma, WA · 18 postings$54.16/ hr$29–$68
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Maine list
2What they are offering now
Low$30Median$38.88High$45
14 RT postings with published pay in Maine, 12 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 14 RT roles
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RCP II)Permanent$33.15–$44.62/ hour
- Respiratory TherapistPermanent$33.15–$44.62/ hour
+ 12 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.