Respiratory Therapist salary
The median respiratory therapist pay is $41.44 per hour, or about $86,195 a year, based on 396 postings with published pay from 59 employers. Collected October 15, 2026.
- 396roles with published pay
- $41.44median pay per hour
- $30–$55typical published range
- 59employers hiring
Pay percentiles, per hour and per year
| Level | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34.71 | $72,197 |
| 25th percentile | $37.48 | $77,958 |
| Median | $41.44 | $86,195 |
| 75th percentile | $46.44 | $96,595 |
| 90th percentile | $51.73 | $107,609 |
Respiratory Therapist salary by state, BLS data
Nationally the BLS median is $38.68 per hour, about $80,450 a year, across 136,420 workers. Pick a state for its metro areas, rankings and open roles.
| State | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $50.12 | $104,240 | 360 |
| New York | $49.91 | $103,820 | 6,780 |
| California | $49.10 | $102,120 | 18,310 |
| New Jersey | $47.13 | $98,020 | 3,200 |
| Washington | $46.71 | $97,150 | 1,850 |
| Massachusetts | $46.61 | $96,940 | 2,140 |
| Oregon | $46.21 | $96,130 | 1,410 |
| Hawaii | $45.52 | $94,670 | 310 |
| Alaska | $45.29 | $94,210 | 170 |
| Minnesota | $42.33 | $88,040 | 1,190 |
| Delaware | $42.01 | $87,380 | 410 |
| Maryland | $41.14 | $85,570 | 1,890 |
| New Hampshire | $40.20 | $83,620 | 390 |
| Rhode Island | $40.19 | $83,600 | 250 |
| Connecticut | $40.02 | $83,250 | 1,540 |
| Wisconsin | $39.50 | $82,160 | 1,940 |
| Georgia | $39.37 | $81,890 | 5,030 |
| Illinois | $39.09 | $81,310 | 5,450 |
| Montana | $38.92 | $80,950 | 390 |
| Florida | $38.32 | $79,710 | 8,840 |
| Virginia | $38.27 | $79,600 | 2,960 |
| Nevada | $38.23 | $79,510 | 1,420 |
| Maine | $38.14 | $79,330 | 450 |
| Arizona | $38.12 | $79,290 | 3,070 |
| Utah | $37.98 | $78,990 | 1,020 |
| Nebraska | $37.92 | $78,880 | 820 |
| Vermont | $37.87 | $78,760 | 230 |
| Ohio | $37.69 | $78,400 | 6,460 |
| Indiana | $37.41 | $77,820 | 3,330 |
| Texas | $37.28 | $77,550 | 11,860 |
| Michigan | $37.24 | $77,460 | 4,150 |
| North Carolina | $37.04 | $77,050 | 4,440 |
| North Dakota | $36.86 | $76,660 | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $36.62 | $76,160 | 5,850 |
| Oklahoma | $36.58 | $76,080 | 1,700 |
| South Carolina | $36.52 | $75,960 | 1,930 |
| Wyoming | $36.49 | $75,900 | 160 |
| Idaho | $36.30 | $75,510 | 820 |
| Missouri | $35.52 | $73,880 | 3,270 |
| Kansas | $35.38 | $73,580 | 1,260 |
| Louisiana | $33.72 | $70,140 | 2,280 |
| Iowa | $33.07 | $68,790 | 1,050 |
| Arkansas | $32.67 | $67,960 | 1,470 |
| New Mexico | $31.95 | $66,460 | 600 |
| West Virginia | $31.91 | $66,370 | 1,340 |
| Kentucky | $31.57 | $65,670 | 2,860 |
| Tennessee | $31.25 | $65,000 | 3,070 |
| South Dakota | $31.12 | $64,720 | 380 |
| Alabama | $30.78 | $64,010 | 2,250 |
| Mississippi | $29.48 | $61,320 | 1,690 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Respiratory Therapists.
Highest-paying metro areas
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $65.91 | $137,080 | 950 |
| Vallejo, CA | $63.71 | $132,520 | 190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $63.13 | $131,320 | 1,940 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $62.33 | $129,640 | 210 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62.10 | $129,180 | 1,070 |
| Redding, CA | $57.48 | $119,560 | 80 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $50.43 | $104,890 | 100 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $50.40 | $104,840 | 6,570 |
| Modesto, CA | $49.91 | $103,820 | 290 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49.32 | $102,590 | 1,430 |
Respiratory Therapist pay by state
| State | Postings | Median / hour | Median / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 24 | $54.16 | $112,653 |
| Minnesota | 22 | $48.38 | $100,630 |
| California | 46 | $46.92 | $97,594 |
| Delaware | 3 | $46.29 | $96,283 |
| Massachusetts | 50 | $44.80 | $93,184 |
| Arizona | 6 | $43.92 | $91,354 |
| New Jersey | 15 | $43.69 | $90,875 |
| Maryland | 8 | $42.16 | $87,693 |
| Nebraska | 6 | $42.09 | $87,547 |
| New York | 5 | $42.04 | $87,443 |
| Wisconsin | 17 | $41.33 | $85,966 |
| Ohio | 5 | $41.05 | $85,384 |
| Colorado | 10 | $40.95 | $85,176 |
| Illinois | 39 | $40.72 | $84,698 |
| Maine | 14 | $38.88 | $80,870 |
| North Carolina | 11 | $38.38 | $79,830 |
| Virginia | 57 | $38.09 | $79,227 |
| Michigan | 4 | $37.48 | $77,958 |
| Iowa | 3 | $37.48 | $77,958 |
| South Dakota | 5 | $36.62 | $76,170 |
Who pays what
| Employer | Postings | Median / hour | Median / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Camino Health | 2 | $84.17 | $175,074 |
| Stanford Children's Health | 1 | $75.78 | $157,622 |
| Montage Health | 1 | $73.25 | $152,360 |
| Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System | 1 | $72.77 | $151,362 |
| Seattle Children's | 2 | $59.29 | $123,323 |
| Rady Children's Hospital | 1 | $54.83 | $114,046 |
| MultiCare | 18 | $54.16 | $112,653 |
| Saint Charles Health System | 1 | $53.38 | $111,030 |
| Fairview Health Services | 7 | $53.34 | $110,947 |
| Centrastate Healthcare System | 3 | $51.30 | $106,704 |
What moves your pay
- Experience and credentials: certifications and years in the specialty usually move you up the published range.
- Shift: nights, weekends and holidays often add a differential on top of the base range.
- Setting: academic centers, trauma hospitals and large systems often publish higher ranges than community sites.
- Location: pay follows local cost of living and demand, so compare cities, not only states.
Method
Figures are the midpoints of pay ranges that employers published in 396 postings from 59 employers, collected October 15, 2026. They are not survey estimates and do not include overtime or bonuses.
Common questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make?
The median respiratory therapist pay across 396 postings with published pay is $41.44 per hour, about $86,195 a year. Half of the postings fall between $37 and $46 per hour.
Which states pay respiratory therapists the most?
Among states with at least 3 postings, the highest medians are Washington ($54.16/hr), Minnesota ($48.38/hr), California ($46.92/hr).
What do respiratory therapists get paid at other hospitals in Virginia?
- Mary Washington HealthcareVirginia$46.95/hr
- Sentara HealthcareSuffolk, VA$46.44/hr
- Carilion ClinicRoanoke, VA$38.09/hr
See all employers by name, how pay is moving and the roles that pay more.
Get the free pay reportFree for candidates · email onlyWhat do other employers pay respiratory therapists near you?
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- 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.
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Your RT pay reportVirginia · 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
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.