Respiratory Therapist jobs in Las Cruces, NM
Pay for respiratory therapists in the Las Cruces area centers on $31.04 per hour, or about $64,570 a year. The lower quarter earns under $28.76 and the upper quarter over $34.53. That ranks 241st of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 225th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Las Cruces. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Las Cruces.
- $31.04median pay per hour, Las Cruces
- $29–$35typical range per hour
- 60respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 90cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Las Cruces, NM
The metro median is 3% below the New Mexico statewide median of $31.95 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 60 respiratory therapists employed in the Las Cruces metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.84).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $26.25 | $54,600 | 32% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $28.76 | $59,820 | 26% below U.S. median |
| Median | $31.04 | $64,570 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $34.53 | $71,820 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $34.70 | $72,180 | 10% below U.S. median |
How Las Cruces ranks
- 241st of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 225th 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.
What your pay buys in Las Cruces
- Overall prices in Las Cruces 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 63.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $31.04 median hour buys what $34.41 buys at the national price level, 11% 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 Las Cruces Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Las Cruces, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Las Cruces paycheck
- Per year: $55,872
- Per month: $4,656
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Las Cruces metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Las Cruces
| 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).
Hospitals in Las Cruces
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Las Cruces, 0 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Crosses Regional Hospital Llc Las Cruces, NM | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Memorial Medical Center Las Cruces, NM | Acute care | For-profit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Mountain View Regional Medical Center Las Cruces, NM | Acute care | For-profit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Bhc Mesilla Valley Hospital, Llc Las Cruces, NM | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TX | 39 mi | $34.60/hr | 681,723 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 192 mi | $31.95/hr | 560,326 |
| Rio Rancho, NM | 204 mi | $31.95/hr | 112,524 |
| Tucson, AZ | 239 mi | $37.84/hr | 554,013 |
| Marana, AZ | 254 mi | $38.82/hr | 62,380 |
| Odessa, TX | 262 mi | $37.28/hr | 119,748 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in New Mexico · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in New Mexico
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New Mexico requires for your role with the New Mexico licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
New Mexico taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Las Cruces
Las Cruces city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Las Cruces, NM?
Respiratory Therapists in the Las Cruces metro area have a median pay of $31.04 per hour, about $64,570 a year. The middle half earn between $28.76 and $34.53 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Las Cruces a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Las Cruces ranks 225th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 241st of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Las Cruces?
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Las Cruces, led by Three Crosses Regional Hospital Llc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a New Mexico license to work in Las Cruces as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New Mexico requires for your role with the New Mexico 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 Las Cruces?
The federal per diem benchmark in Las Cruces 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 Las Cruces?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Las Cruces and across New Mexico. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Las Cruces.
What do employers near Las Cruces 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 New Mexico, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your New Mexico 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 New Mexico list
2What they are offering now
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 RT roles
Open RT roles near Las Cruces, NM, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.