PermanentPosted today
Respiratory Therapist
Sentara Healthcare · Norfolk, VA
$37.61–$55.27/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Norfolk, VA
Pay for respiratory therapists in the Norfolk area centers on $38.44 per hour, or about $79,960 a year. The lower quarter earns under $37.07 and the upper quarter over $45.07. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Norfolk. That ranks 91st of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 123rd of 248 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Norfolk.
- $38.44median pay per hour, Virginia Beach
- $37–$45typical range per hour
- 600respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 3open roles with published pay
Open Respiratory Therapist roles in Norfolk
PermanentPosted yesterday
Senior Respiratory Therapist
Sentara Healthcare · Norfolk, VA
$41.74–$62.48/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
40+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Norfolk, VA
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PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Respiratory Therapist II
Sentara Healthcare · Norfolk, VA
$37.61–$55.27/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Get the Norfolk Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Norfolk, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportRespiratory Therapist pay in Norfolk, VA
The metro median is in line with the Virginia statewide median of $38.27 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 600 respiratory therapists employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.90).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.96 | $64,400 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $37.07 | $77,110 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Median | $38.44 | $79,960 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $45.07 | $93,750 | 17% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $48.41 | $100,690 | 25% above U.S. median |
How Norfolk ranks
- 91st of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 123rd of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 4 Virginia 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 Norfolk
- Overall prices in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: in line with the U.S. average (index 99.8).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $38.44 median hour buys what $39.25 buys at the national price level, 1% 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.
Estimate your Norfolk paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,384
- Per year: $69,192
- Per month: $5,766
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Norfolk
| 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).
Hospitals in Norfolk
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Norfolk, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Norfolk, VA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sentara Leigh Hospital Norfolk, VA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | No |
| Childrens Hospital Of The Kings Daughters Inc Norfolk, VA | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth, VA | 8 mi | $38.44/hr | 96,482 |
| Hampton, VA | 9 mi | $38.44/hr | 137,596 |
| Richmond, VA | 80 mi | $38.50/hr | 233,655 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 109 mi | $32.85/hr | 54,541 |
| Greenville, NC | 111 mi | $32.18/hr | 95,138 |
| Alexandria, VA | 139 mi | $46.45/hr | 159,102 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Virginia · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Virginia
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Virginia requires for your role with the Virginia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Virginia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Norfolk
Norfolk city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Norfolk, VA?
Respiratory Therapists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area have a median pay of $38.44 per hour, about $79,960 a year. The middle half earn between $37.07 and $45.07 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Norfolk a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk ranks 123rd of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 91st of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring respiratory therapists in Norfolk?
We list 3 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Norfolk. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Norfolk.
Do I need a Virginia license to work in Norfolk as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Virginia requires for your role with the Virginia 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 Norfolk?
The federal per diem benchmark in Norfolk 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 Norfolk?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Norfolk and across Virginia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Norfolk.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Norfolk 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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150+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Virginia, 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 reportNorfolk, VA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Mary Washington HealthcareVirginia · 10 postings$46.95/ hr$36–$62
- Sentara HealthcareSuffolk, VA · 16 postings$46.44/ hr$38–$62
- Carilion ClinicRoanoke, VA · 6 postings$38.09/ hr$28–$46
- Valley HealthWinchester, VA · 12 postings$36.75/ hr$29–$44
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$29Median$38.09High$55
57 RT postings with published pay in Virginia, 50 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 57 RT roles
- Respiratory TherapistPermanent$37.61–$55.27/ hour
- Respiratory Therapist IIPermanent$37.61–$55.27/ hour
+ 55 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.