OR · Salem · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Salem, OR

Pay for respiratory therapists in Oregon centers on $46.21 per hour, or about $96,130 a year. The lower quarter earns under $39.66 and the upper quarter over $48.74. That is 19% above the U.S. median of $38.68 per hour. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Salem. The free report below lists employers near Salem and what they pay.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Salem, OR

Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 1,410 respiratory therapists employed in Oregon.

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$38.60$80,290in line with U.S. median
Lower quartile$39.66$82,4903% above U.S. median
Median$46.21$96,13019% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$48.74$101,38026% above U.S. median
Top 10%$53.07$110,39037% above U.S. median

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 Salem

  • Overall prices in Salem run 4% above the U.S. average (index 103.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 10% above the U.S. average (index 110.3).

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.

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

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Estimate your Salem paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,664
  • Per year: $83,178
  • Per month: $6,932

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for Oregon. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Salem

ItemFederal 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).

Open Respiratory Therapist roles in Oregon

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Salem as they open.

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Oregon

Hospitals in Salem

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Salem, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Salem Hospital
Salem, OR
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Oregon State Hospital Distinct Part
Salem, OR
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot 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
Albany, OR21 mi$46.21/hr57,156
Corvallis, OR27 mi$46.21/hr61,993
Tigard, OR36 mi$47.97/hr57,301
Beaverton, OR40 mi$47.97/hr98,302
Hillsboro, OR42 mi$47.97/hr110,337
Portland, OR46 mi$47.97/hr635,749

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Oregon · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Oregon

RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Oregon requires for your role with the Oregon licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Oregon taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Oregon state guide

Other healthcare roles in Salem

Salem city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Salem, OR?

Respiratory Therapists in Oregon have a median pay of $46.21 per hour, about $96,130 a year. The middle half earn between $39.66 and $48.74 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Where do respiratory therapists work in Salem?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Salem, led by Salem Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Oregon license to work in Salem as a respiratory therapist?

RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Oregon requires for your role with the Oregon 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 Salem?

The federal per diem benchmark in Salem 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 Salem?

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

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What do employers near Salem 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.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
    Roles open for you right now

    Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.

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20+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Oregon, sent free by email

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Pay report · RT near Salem, OR
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Oregon 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 Oregon 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: 1 RT roles

  1. Pulmonary Rehab Respiratory Therapist (Relief)Permanent
    $42.87–$63.89/ hour
    Saint Charles Health System · Bend, OR · posted 29 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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