OH · Dayton · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Dayton, OH

Respiratory Therapists in the Dayton area earn a median of $39.80 per hour, about $82,780 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $38.23 and $44.97. That ranks 58th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 27th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Dayton. The free report below lists employers near Dayton and what they pay.

More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Dayton

3 more open roles from employers in Dayton. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Dayton, OH

The metro median is 6% above the Ohio statewide median of $37.69 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 520 respiratory therapists employed in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek metro area, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.57).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$31.47$65,46019% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$38.23$79,5201% below U.S. median
Median$39.80$82,7803% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$44.97$93,54016% above U.S. median
Top 10%$46.68$97,09021% above U.S. median

How Dayton ranks

  • 58th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 27th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st 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.

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Named employers near Dayton, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Dayton

  • Overall prices in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 27% below the U.S. average (index 72.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $39.80 median hour buys what $42.94 buys at the national price level, 11% 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.

Estimate your Dayton paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,433
  • Per year: $71,640
  • Per month: $5,970

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Dayton

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$115
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,323
13-week assignment$17,199

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 Dayton as they open.

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Ohio

Hospitals in Dayton

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Dayton, 2 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Dayton Va Medical Center
Dayton, OH
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Kettering Health Dayton
Dayton, OH
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5No
Miami Valley Hospital
Dayton, OH
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Dayton Childrens Hospital
Dayton, OH
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
Shriners Hospitals For Children
Dayton, OH
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedNo
Haven Behavioral Hospital Of Dayton
Dayton, OH
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Respiratory Therapist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Kettering, OH7 mi$39.80/hr57,028
Middletown, OH21 mi$38.33/hr52,291
Springfield, OH24 mi$36.16/hr58,138
Hamilton, OH33 mi$38.33/hr63,953
Cincinnati, OH47 mi$38.33/hr314,915
Columbus, OH66 mi$39.13/hr933,263

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.

Ohio state guide

Other healthcare roles in Dayton

Dayton city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Dayton, OH?

Respiratory Therapists in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek metro area have a median pay of $39.80 per hour, about $82,780 a year. The middle half earn between $38.23 and $44.97 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Dayton a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?

Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek ranks 27th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 58th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Dayton?

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Dayton, led by Dayton Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Ohio license to work in Dayton 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 Dayton?

The federal per diem benchmark in Dayton is $115 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,323 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Dayton?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Dayton and across Ohio. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Dayton.

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What do employers near Dayton pay respiratory therapists? Get the report.

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · RT near Dayton, OH
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

  1. Respiratory Therapist - Full-timePermanent
    $35.00–$47.10/ hour
    Select Medical · Columbus, OH · posted today
  2. Respiratory Therapist - Full-Time NightsPermanent
    $35.00–$47.10/ hour
    Select Medical · Columbus, OH · posted yesterday

+ 3 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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