TX · Harlingen · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Harlingen, TX

Respiratory Therapists in the Harlingen area earn a median of $29.43 per hour, about $61,220 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $28.72 and $36.12. That ranks 259th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 229th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Harlingen. The free report below lists employers near Harlingen and what they pay.

More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Harlingen

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

Respiratory Therapist pay in Harlingen, TX

The metro median is 21% below the Texas statewide median of $37.28 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 100 respiratory therapists employed in the Brownsville-Harlingen metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.70).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$25.99$54,06033% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$28.72$59,74026% below U.S. median
Median$29.43$61,22024% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$36.12$75,1307% below U.S. median
Top 10%$38.16$79,3701% below U.S. median

How Harlingen ranks

  • 259th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 229th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 18th of 18 Texas 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 Harlingen, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Harlingen

  • Overall prices in Brownsville-Harlingen run 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 42% below the U.S. average (index 57.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $29.43 median hour buys what $34.23 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.

Estimate your Harlingen paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,059
  • Per year: $52,974
  • Per month: $4,414
  • Texas has no state income tax on wages.

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

Travel assignment per diem in Harlingen

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$127
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,407
13-week assignment$18,291

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 Texas

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

PermanentPosted 7 days ago

Supervisory Respiratory Therapist

Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Fort Sam Houston, TX

$69k–$90k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888071200
Top 25% payNew this week
View role

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Texas

Hospitals in Harlingen

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Harlingen Medical Center
Harlingen, TX
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Vhs Harlingen Hospital Company Llc
Harlingen, TX
Acute careFor-profit2 of 5Yes
Palms Behavioral Health
Harlingen, TX
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Rio Grande State Center
Harlingen, TX
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
Brownsville, TX20 mi$29.43/hr191,967
Edinburg, TX30 mi$30.31/hr108,733
Pharr, TX31 mi$30.31/hr81,142
McAllen, TX34 mi$30.31/hr148,782
Mission, TX39 mi$30.31/hr88,574
Corpus Christi, TX113 mi$33.45/hr317,317

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Texas · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Texas

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

Texas 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.

Texas state guide

Other healthcare roles in Harlingen

Harlingen city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Harlingen, TX?

Respiratory Therapists in the Brownsville-Harlingen metro area have a median pay of $29.43 per hour, about $61,220 a year. The middle half earn between $28.72 and $36.12 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Brownsville-Harlingen ranks 229th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 259th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Harlingen?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Harlingen, led by Harlingen Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Texas license to work in Harlingen as a respiratory therapist?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Harlingen is $127 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,407 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Harlingen?

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

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

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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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 Harlingen, TX
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Texas list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • CommonSpirit HealthBRYAN, TX · 7 postings$34.78/ hr$25–$45
  • 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 Texas list

2What they are offering now

Low$26Median$35.89High$44

8 RT postings with published pay in Texas, 8 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 8 RT roles

  1. Registered Respiratory TherapistPermanent
    $30.10–$44.77/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Bryan, TX · posted today
  2. Certified Respiratory TherapistPermanent
    $25.42–$37.82/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Bryan, TX · posted today

+ 6 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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