WA · Vancouver · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Vancouver, WA

Respiratory Therapists in the Vancouver area earn a median of $47.97 per hour, about $99,780 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $39.57 and $48.74. That ranks 16th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 16th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Vancouver. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Vancouver.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Vancouver, WA

The metro median is 3% above the Washington statewide median of $46.71 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 820 respiratory therapists employed in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.77).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$38.60$80,290in line with U.S. median
Lower quartile$39.57$82,3102% above U.S. median
Median$47.97$99,78024% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$48.74$101,38026% above U.S. median
Top 10%$50.43$104,89030% above U.S. median

How Vancouver ranks

  • 16th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 16th of 248 after adjusting for local prices

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 Vancouver

  • Overall prices in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro run 5% above the U.S. average (index 105.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 25% above the U.S. average (index 125.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $47.97 median hour buys what $45.50 buys at the national price level, 18% 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.

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Named employers near Vancouver, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Vancouver paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,727
  • Per year: $86,346
  • Per month: $7,196
  • Washington has no state income tax on wages.

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

Travel assignment per diem in Vancouver

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$155
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,687
13-week assignment$21,931

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 Washington

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

PermanentPosted 7 days ago

Respiratory Therapist

Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Tacoma, WA

$76k–$99k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888533700
New this week
View role

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Washington

Hospitals in Vancouver

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Vancouver, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center
Vancouver, WA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Peacehealth Southwest Medical Cente
Vancouver, WA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5No
Rainier Springs
Vancouver, WA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot 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
Portland, OR7 mi$47.97/hr635,749
Gresham, OR12 mi$47.97/hr111,507
Salem, OR53 mi$46.21/hr180,406
Albany, OR74 mi$46.21/hr57,156
Corvallis, OR81 mi$46.21/hr61,993
Lacey, WA98 mi$46.71/hr58,644

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Washington · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Washington

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

Washington 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.

Washington state guide

Other healthcare roles in Vancouver

Vancouver city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Vancouver, WA?

Respiratory Therapists in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro area have a median pay of $47.97 per hour, about $99,780 a year. The middle half earn between $39.57 and $48.74 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro ranks 16th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 16th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 5% above the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Vancouver?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Vancouver, led by Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Washington license to work in Vancouver as a respiratory therapist?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Vancouver is $155 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,687 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Vancouver?

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

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What do employers near Vancouver 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 Vancouver, WA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportVancouver, WA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 2 postings$59.29/ hr$43–$77
  • MultiCareTacoma, WA · 18 postings$54.16/ hr$29–$68
  • CommonSpirit HealthGIG HARBOR, WA · 2 postings$53.50/ hr$39–$69

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$36Median$54.16High$68

24 RT postings with published pay in Washington, 21 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 24 RT roles

  1. Respiratory Care Practitioner Registered PRNPer diem
    $40.83–$67.48/ hour
    MultiCare · Tacoma, WA · posted yesterday
  2. Respiratory Care Practitioner Registered PRNPer diem
    $40.83–$67.48/ hour
    MultiCare · Tacoma, WA · posted yesterday

+ 22 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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