WI · Appleton · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Appleton, WI

The median respiratory therapist pay in the Appleton area is $39.11 per hour ($81,350 a year), with the typical range running from $38.50 to $47.19. That ranks 71st of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 37th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Appleton. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Appleton.

More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Appleton

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

PermanentPosted 17 days ago

Respiratory Therapist

Ascension Health · Appleton, WI

Pay range with your report
  • Part Time
  • Req 1310162
View role

Respiratory Therapist pay in Appleton, WI

The metro median is 1% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $39.50 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 50 respiratory therapists employed in the Appleton metro area, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.47).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$31.88$66,31018% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$38.50$80,080in line with U.S. median
Median$39.11$81,3501% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$47.19$98,16022% above U.S. median
Top 10%$47.19$98,16022% above U.S. median

How Appleton ranks

  • 71st of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 37th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 5th of 8 Wisconsin 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 Appleton, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Appleton

  • Overall prices in Appleton run 8% below the U.S. average (index 92.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 29% below the U.S. average (index 70.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $39.11 median hour buys what $42.32 buys at the national price level, 9% 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 Appleton paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,408
  • Per year: $70,398
  • Per month: $5,866

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

Travel assignment per diem in Appleton

ItemFederal 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 Wisconsin

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

PermanentPosted today

Respiratory Therapist

Hospital Sisters Health System · Green Bay, WI

$32.58–$48.87/ hour
  • Part time
  • Req R1038022
New this week
View role

All Respiratory Therapist jobs in Wisconsin

Hospitals in Appleton

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Ascension Ne Wisconsin - St Elizabeth Campus
Appleton, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Thedacare Regional Medical Center - Appleton Inc
Appleton, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

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
Oshkosh, WI20 mi$39.50/hr67,242
Green Bay, WI26 mi$37.57/hr106,311
Milwaukee, WI87 mi$39.91/hr563,531
Waukesha, WI88 mi$39.91/hr71,461
West Allis, WI90 mi$39.91/hr59,784
Madison, WI97 mi$39.27/hr285,300

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Wisconsin · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Wisconsin

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

Wisconsin taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Wisconsin state guide

Other healthcare roles in Appleton

Appleton city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Appleton, WI?

Respiratory Therapists in the Appleton metro area have a median pay of $39.11 per hour, about $81,350 a year. The middle half earn between $38.50 and $47.19 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Appleton ranks 37th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 71st of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do respiratory therapists work in Appleton?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Appleton, led by Ascension Ne Wisconsin - St Elizabeth Campus. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Appleton as a respiratory therapist?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Appleton 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 Appleton?

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

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

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
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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 Appleton, WI
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportAppleton, WI · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Advocate HealthWisconsin · 4 postings$41.33/ hr$33–$50
  • Hospital Sisters Health SystemGreen Bay, WI · 3 postings$40.72/ hr$33–$49
  • MercyWisconsin · 9 postings$39.01/ hr$26–$51

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

2What they are offering now

Low$31Median$41.33High$51

17 RT postings with published pay in Wisconsin, 11 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 17 RT roles

  1. Respiratory TherapistPermanent
    $32.58–$48.87/ hour
    Hospital Sisters Health System · Green Bay, WI · posted today
  2. Respiratory Therapist (RT)Permanent
    $33.05–$49.60/ hour
    Advocate Health · Wisconsin · posted 13 days ago

+ 15 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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