PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Respiratory Therapist New Grad Full-Time
Select Medical · Saint Charles, MO
$35.30–$47.50/ hour
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Lee's Summit, MO
Respiratory Therapists in the Lee's Summit 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 Lee's Summit. The free report below lists employers near Lee's Summit and what they pay.
- $38.44median pay per hour, Kansas City
- $34–$43typical range per hour
- 1,040respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 93cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Lee's Summit, MO
The metro median is 8% above the Missouri statewide median of $35.52 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).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.09 | $64,670 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $33.62 | $69,930 | 13% below U.S. median |
| Median | $38.44 | $79,950 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $42.53 | $88,460 | 10% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $45.27 | $94,160 | 17% above U.S. median |
How Lee's Summit ranks
- 90th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 58th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 6 Missouri 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 Lee's Summit
- 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.
Get the Lee's Summit Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Lee's Summit, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Lee's Summit 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 Lee's Summit
| Item | Federal 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 Missouri
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Lee's Summit as they open.
PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Respiratory Therapist Full-Time
Select Medical · Saint Charles, MO
$35.30–$47.50/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
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Hospitals in Lee's Summit
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Lee's Summit, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Luke's East Hospital Lees Summit, MO | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Lee's Summit Medical Center Lees Summit, MO | Acute care | For-profit | 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Springs, MO | 9 mi | $38.44/hr | 61,246 |
| Independence, MO | 11 mi | $38.44/hr | 121,629 |
| Lawrence, KS | 47 mi | $35.38/hr | 97,271 |
| St. Joseph, MO | 62 mi | $35.52/hr | 71,098 |
| Topeka, KS | 71 mi | $36.84/hr | 125,467 |
| Columbia, MO | 111 mi | $32.19/hr | 130,900 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Missouri · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Missouri
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Missouri requires for your role with the Missouri licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Missouri taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Lee's Summit, MO?
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 Lee's Summit 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 Lee's Summit?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Lee's Summit, led by Saint Luke's East Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Missouri license to work in Lee's Summit as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Missouri requires for your role with the Missouri 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 Lee's Summit?
The federal per diem benchmark in Lee's Summit 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 Lee's Summit?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Lee's Summit and across Missouri. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Lee's Summit.
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What do employers near Lee's Summit 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
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50+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Missouri, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Missouri list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Select MedicalSaint Charles, MO · 2 postings$41.40/ hr$35–$48
- 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
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Missouri 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: 2 RT roles
- Respiratory Therapist New Grad Full-TimePermanent$35.30–$47.50/ hour
- Respiratory Therapist Full-TimePermanent$35.30–$47.50/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.