PermanentPosted yesterday
Respiratory Therapist I
Shriners Hospitals for Children · Philadelphia, PA
$34.75–$52.12/ hour
New this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Reading, PA
Pay for respiratory therapists in the Reading area centers on $39.16 per hour, or about $81,440 a year. The lower quarter earns under $36.01 and the upper quarter over $49.14. That ranks 69th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 86th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Reading. The free report below lists employers near Reading and what they pay.
- $39.16median pay per hour, Reading
- $36–$49typical range per hour
- 150respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 97cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Reading, PA
The metro median is 7% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36.62 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 150 respiratory therapists employed in the Reading metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.01).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.30 | $63,020 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $36.01 | $74,900 | 7% below U.S. median |
| Median | $39.16 | $81,440 | 1% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $49.14 | $102,210 | 27% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $49.14 | $102,210 | 27% above U.S. median |
How Reading ranks
- 69th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 86th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 10 Pennsylvania 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 Reading
- Overall prices in Reading run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 15% below the U.S. average (index 85.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $39.16 median hour buys what $40.35 buys at the national price level, 4% 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 Reading Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Reading, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Reading paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,410
- Per year: $70,488
- Per month: $5,874
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Reading metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Reading
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $117 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,337 |
| 13-week assignment | $17,381 |
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 Pennsylvania
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Reading as they open.
PermanentPosted 21 days ago
Respiratory Therapist - Full-time Days
Select Medical · Mckeesport, PA
$28.61–$41.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
110+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Pennsylvania
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PermanentPosted 24 days ago
Respiratory Therapist - Full-time Nights
Select Medical · Natrona Heights, PA
$28.61–$39.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Respiratory Therapist - Full-time Nights
Select Medical · Camp Hill, PA
$31.00–$43.87/ hour
Hospitals in Reading
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Reading, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State Health St. Joseph Reading, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Haven Behavioral Hospital Of Eastern Pennsylvania Reading, PA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Tower Behavioral Health Reading, PA | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | 29 mi | $38.10/hr | 58,441 |
| Allentown, PA | 29 mi | $37.54/hr | 127,138 |
| Bethlehem, PA | 35 mi | $37.54/hr | 79,453 |
| Wilmington, DE | 47 mi | $41.19/hr | 73,176 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 48 mi | $41.19/hr | 1,573,916 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 51 mi | $36.50/hr | 50,649 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Pennsylvania · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Pennsylvania
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Pennsylvania requires for your role with the Pennsylvania licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Pennsylvania taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Reading
Reading city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Reading, PA?
Respiratory Therapists in the Reading metro area have a median pay of $39.16 per hour, about $81,440 a year. The middle half earn between $36.01 and $49.14 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Reading a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Reading ranks 86th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 69th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Reading?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Reading, led by Penn State Health St. Joseph. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Reading as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Pennsylvania requires for your role with the Pennsylvania 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 Reading?
The federal per diem benchmark in Reading is $117 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,337 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Reading?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Reading and across Pennsylvania. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Reading.
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What do employers near Reading 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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110+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Select MedicalMckeesport, PA · 3 postings$34.80/ hr$29–$44
- 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 Pennsylvania list
2What they are offering now
Low$29Median$36.12High$50
4 RT postings with published pay in Pennsylvania, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 4 RT roles
- Respiratory Therapist IPermanent$34.75–$52.12/ hour
- Respiratory Therapist - Full-time DaysPermanent$28.61–$41.00/ hour
+ 2 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.