PA · Scranton · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Scranton, PA

Pay for respiratory therapists in the Scranton area centers on $35.23 per hour, or about $73,270 a year. The lower quarter earns under $30.02 and the upper quarter over $37.23. That ranks 190th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 174th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Scranton. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Scranton.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Scranton, PA

The metro median is 4% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36.62 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 190 respiratory therapists employed in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.83).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$29.40$61,15024% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$30.02$62,44022% below U.S. median
Median$35.23$73,2709% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$37.23$77,4404% below U.S. median
Top 10%$38.69$80,480in line with U.S. median

How Scranton ranks

  • 190th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 174th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 8th 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 Scranton

  • Overall prices in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre run 6% below the U.S. average (index 93.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 33% below the U.S. average (index 67.0).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $35.23 median hour buys what $37.66 buys at the national price level, 3% 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.

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Estimate your Scranton paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,268
  • Per year: $63,414
  • Per month: $5,284

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Scranton

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 Pennsylvania

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

PermanentPosted yesterday

Respiratory Therapist I

Shriners Hospitals for Children · Philadelphia, PA

$34.75–$52.12/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req JR100101
New this week
View role

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Pennsylvania

Hospitals in Scranton

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Geisinger-Community Medical Center
Scranton, PA
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Regional Hospital Of Scranton
Scranton, PA
Acute careFor-profit2 of 5Yes

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
Bethlehem, PA56 mi$37.54/hr79,453
Allentown, PA57 mi$37.54/hr127,138
Reading, PA75 mi$39.16/hr96,000
Plainfield, NJ85 mi$50.40/hr56,507
Paterson, NJ85 mi$50.40/hr160,463
Clifton, NJ87 mi$50.40/hr90,322

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.

Pennsylvania state guide

Other healthcare roles in Scranton

Scranton city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Scranton, PA?

Respiratory Therapists in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre metro area have a median pay of $35.23 per hour, about $73,270 a year. The middle half earn between $30.02 and $37.23 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre ranks 174th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 190th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% below the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Scranton?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Scranton, led by Geisinger-Community Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Scranton 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 Scranton?

The federal per diem benchmark in Scranton 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 Scranton?

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

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Pay report · RT near Scranton, PA
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

  1. Respiratory Therapist IPermanent
    $34.75–$52.12/ hour
    Shriners Hospitals for Children · Philadelphia, PA · posted yesterday
  2. Respiratory Therapist - Full-time DaysPermanent
    $28.61–$41.00/ hour
    Select Medical · Mckeesport, PA · posted 21 days ago

+ 2 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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