PermanentPosted 14 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Veterans Health Administration · Richmond, VA
$78k–$101k/ year
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Richmond, VA
Respiratory Therapists in the Richmond area earn a median of $38.50 per hour, about $80,070 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $34.59 and $43.74. That ranks 89th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 119th of 248 once local prices are factored in. 9 open roles with published pay are listed for Richmond. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Richmond.
- $38.50median pay per hour, Richmond
- $35–$44typical range per hour
- 560respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 9open roles with published pay
Open Respiratory Therapist roles in Richmond
PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Respiratory Therapist - Neonatal/Pediatric Transport - Nights
VCU Health System · Richmond, VA
$36.31–$56.29/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
50+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Richmond, VA
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Respiratory Therapist - CHOR Pavilion Brook Rd - Weekend Program (WEP) - Days
VCU Health System · Richmond, VA
$28.22–$46.51/ hour
PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Respiratory Therapist - CHOR Pavilion Brook Rd - Nights
VCU Health System · Richmond, VA
$29.00–$42.28/ hour
PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Respiratory Therapist - CHOR Pavilion Brook Rd - Days
VCU Health System · Richmond, VA
$29.00–$42.28/ hour
PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Respiratory Therapist 3 - NICU/PICU - Nights
VCU Health System · Richmond, VA
$29.00–$42.28/ hour
PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Respiratory Therapist 2 - Adults - Nights
VCU Health System · Richmond, VA
$29.00–$42.28/ hour
PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Respiratory Therapist - Richmond, VA
VCU Health System · Richmond, VA
$29.00–$42.28/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Respiratory Therapist - Richmond, VA
VCU Health System · Richmond, VA
$29.00–$42.28/ hour
More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Richmond
2 more open roles from employers in Richmond. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Respiratory Care Practitioner II – St. Mary's Hospital
Bon Secours Mercy Health · Richmond, VA
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Respiratory Care Practitioner NICU PICU — St. Mary's Hospital
Bon Secours Mercy Health · Richmond, VA
Pay range with your report
New this week
Get the Richmond Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Richmond, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring respiratory therapists near Richmond
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| VCU Health System | 8 | $35.64 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 1 | $43.13 |
Respiratory Therapist pay in Richmond, VA
The metro median is 1% above the Virginia statewide median of $38.27 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 560 respiratory therapists employed in the Richmond metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.97).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $25.06 | $52,120 | 35% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $34.59 | $71,950 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Median | $38.50 | $80,070 | in line with U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $43.74 | $90,980 | 13% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $45.45 | $94,540 | 18% above U.S. median |
How Richmond ranks
- 89th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 119th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st 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 Richmond
- Overall prices in Richmond run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 1% below the U.S. average (index 99.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $38.50 median hour buys what $39.34 buys at the national price level, 2% 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 Richmond paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,386
- Per year: $69,300
- Per month: $5,775
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Richmond metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Richmond
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $157 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,659 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,567 |
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).
Hospitals in Richmond
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Richmond, 5 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bon Secours St Marys Hospital Richmond, VA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Richmond Va Medical Center Richmond, VA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Cjw Medical Center Richmond, VA | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Henrico Doctors' Hospital Richmond, VA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Medical College Of Virginia Hospitals Richmond, VA | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital Richmond, VA | Acute care | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport News, VA | 61 mi | $38.44/hr | 183,056 |
| Hampton, VA | 73 mi | $38.44/hr | 137,596 |
| Suffolk, VA | 74 mi | $38.44/hr | 103,105 |
| Portsmouth, VA | 77 mi | $38.44/hr | 96,482 |
| Norfolk, VA | 80 mi | $38.44/hr | 231,105 |
| Chesapeake, VA | 87 mi | $38.44/hr | 254,997 |
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 Richmond
Richmond city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Richmond, VA?
Respiratory Therapists in the Richmond metro area have a median pay of $38.50 per hour, about $80,070 a year. The middle half earn between $34.59 and $43.74 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Richmond a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Richmond ranks 119th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 89th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring respiratory therapists in Richmond?
We list 9 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Richmond. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Richmond.
Do I need a Virginia license to work in Richmond 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 Richmond?
The federal per diem benchmark in Richmond is $157 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,659 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Richmond?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Richmond and across Virginia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Richmond.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Richmond 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.
Get your free pay report
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 reportRichmond, VA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- VCU Health SystemRichmond, VA · 10 postings$35.64/ hr$28–$56
- 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
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.