PermanentPosted 14 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist
CommonSpirit Health · Hixson, TN
$27.97–$41.60/ hour
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Kingsport, TN
Respiratory Therapists in the Kingsport area earn a median of $29.44 per hour, about $61,230 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $24.92 and $31.49. That ranks 258th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 233rd of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Kingsport. The free report below lists employers near Kingsport and what they pay.
- $29.44median pay per hour, Kingsport
- $25–$31typical range per hour
- 160respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 86cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Kingsport, TN
The metro median is 6% below the Tennessee statewide median of $31.25 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 160 respiratory therapists employed in the Kingsport-Bristol metro area, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.55).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $23.20 | $48,260 | 40% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $24.92 | $51,830 | 36% below U.S. median |
| Median | $29.44 | $61,230 | 24% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $31.49 | $65,500 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $41.38 | $86,070 | 7% above U.S. median |
How Kingsport ranks
- 258th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 233rd of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 7th of 7 Tennessee 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 Kingsport
- Overall prices in Kingsport-Bristol run 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.4, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 44% below the U.S. average (index 56.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $29.44 median hour buys what $34.06 buys at the national price level, 12% 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.
Get the Kingsport Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Kingsport, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Kingsport paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,060
- Per year: $52,992
- Per month: $4,416
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Kingsport-Bristol metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Kingsport
| Item | Federal 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 Tennessee
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Kingsport as they open.
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70+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Tennessee
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Hospitals in Kingsport
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Kingsport, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center Kingsport, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Indian Path Community Hospital Kingsport, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Creekside Behavioral Health Kingsport, TN | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City, TN | 15 mi | $31.25/hr | 73,635 |
| Asheville, NC | 66 mi | $39.23/hr | 94,992 |
| Knoxville, TN | 87 mi | $30.06/hr | 198,722 |
| Mooresville, NC | 116 mi | $37.37/hr | 52,884 |
| Gastonia, NC | 116 mi | $37.37/hr | 85,535 |
| Greenville, SC | 117 mi | $36.12/hr | 74,371 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Tennessee · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Tennessee
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Tennessee does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.
Other healthcare roles in Kingsport
Kingsport city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Kingsport, TN?
Respiratory Therapists in the Kingsport-Bristol metro area have a median pay of $29.44 per hour, about $61,230 a year. The middle half earn between $24.92 and $31.49 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Kingsport a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Kingsport-Bristol ranks 233rd of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 258th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Kingsport?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Kingsport, led by Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Kingsport as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee 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 Kingsport?
The federal per diem benchmark in Kingsport 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 Kingsport?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Kingsport and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Kingsport.
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What do employers near Kingsport 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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70+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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
- Registered Respiratory TherapistPermanent$27.97–$41.60/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.