PermanentPosted today
Respiratory Therapist - Full-time
Select Medical · Columbus, OH
$35.00–$47.10/ hour
New this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Cleveland, OH
The median respiratory therapist pay in the Cleveland area is $37.56 per hour ($78,130 a year), with the typical range running from $35.97 to $39.88. That ranks 120th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 99th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 8 hospitals in Cleveland. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Cleveland.
- $37.56median pay per hour, Cleveland
- $36–$40typical range per hour
- 1,330respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 94cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Cleveland, OH
The metro median is in line with the Ohio statewide median of $37.69 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 1,330 respiratory therapists employed in the Cleveland metro area, 1.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.45).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.66 | $65,850 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $35.97 | $74,820 | 7% below U.S. median |
| Median | $37.56 | $78,130 | 3% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $39.88 | $82,950 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $44.95 | $93,500 | 16% above U.S. median |
How Cleveland ranks
- 120th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 99th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 11 Ohio 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 Cleveland
- Overall prices in Cleveland run 6% below the U.S. average (index 93.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 79.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $37.56 median hour buys what $39.99 buys at the national price level, 3% 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 Cleveland Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Cleveland, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Cleveland paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,352
- Per year: $67,608
- Per month: $5,634
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Cleveland metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Cleveland
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $159 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,673 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,749 |
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 Ohio
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Cleveland as they open.
PermanentPosted yesterday
Respiratory Therapist - Full-Time Nights
Select Medical · Columbus, OH
$35.00–$47.10/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
90+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Ohio
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.
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PermanentPosted 13 days ago
Respiratory Therapist - Full-Time Days
Select Medical · Columbus, OH
$35.00–$47.10/ hour
PermanentPosted 16 days ago
Respiratory Therapist - Full Time Nights
Select Medical · Cincinnati, OH
$34.92–$47.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 16 days ago
Respiratory Therapist (RT) / Nights Shift
Select Medical · Sylvania, OH
$33.34–$45.00/ hour
Hospitals in Cleveland
CMS lists 8 hospitals in Cleveland, 3 of the 6 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview Hospital Cleveland, OH | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Cleveland Clinic Cleveland, OH | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Louis Stokes Cleveland Va Medical Center Cleveland, OH | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Lutheran Hospital Cleveland, OH | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Metrohealth System Cleveland, OH | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Uh Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland, OH | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital For Rehab Cleveland, OH | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Rainbow Babies And Childrens Hospital Cleveland, OH | Children's | Nonprofit | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parma, OH | 7 mi | $37.56/hr | 79,350 |
| Cuyahoga Falls, OH | 21 mi | $36.59/hr | 50,979 |
| Elyria, OH | 23 mi | $37.56/hr | 53,604 |
| Akron, OH | 29 mi | $36.59/hr | 189,664 |
| Canton, OH | 49 mi | $36.16/hr | 69,211 |
| Youngstown, OH | 60 mi | $34.89/hr | 59,123 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Ohio · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Ohio
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Ohio requires for your role with the Ohio licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Ohio taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Cleveland
Cleveland city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Cleveland, OH?
Respiratory Therapists in the Cleveland metro area have a median pay of $37.56 per hour, about $78,130 a year. The middle half earn between $35.97 and $39.88 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Cleveland a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Cleveland ranks 99th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 120th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Cleveland?
CMS lists 8 hospitals in Cleveland, led by Fairview Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Ohio license to work in Cleveland as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Ohio requires for your role with the Ohio 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 Cleveland?
The federal per diem benchmark in Cleveland is $159 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,673 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Cleveland?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Cleveland and across Ohio. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Cleveland.
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What do employers near Cleveland 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.
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90+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Ohio, 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 Ohio list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Select MedicalColumbus, OH · 5 postings$41.05/ hr$33–$47
- 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 Ohio list
2What they are offering now
Low$34Median$41.05High$47
5 RT postings with published pay in Ohio, 5 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 5 RT roles
- Respiratory Therapist - Full-timePermanent$35.00–$47.10/ hour
- Respiratory Therapist - Full-Time NightsPermanent$35.00–$47.10/ hour
+ 3 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.