Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist salary in Arkansas

Respiratory Therapists in Arkansas earn a median of $32.67 per hour, about $67,960 a year, 16% below the U.S. median of $38.68. The middle half earn between $28.67 and $36.19 per hour. The highest median among Arkansas metro areas is in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR, at $35.34 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.

Respiratory Therapist pay in Arkansas: percentiles

LevelArkansas per hourArkansas per yearU.S. per hour
Lowest 10%$25.22$52,460$29.76
Lower quartile$28.67$59,630$32.89
Median$32.67$67,960$38.68
Upper quartile$36.19$75,280$45.93
Top 10%$39.83$82,850$52.32

Respiratory Therapist pay by metro area in Arkansas

Metro areaMedian / hrMedian / yearEmployedvs Arkansas medianAfter cost of living
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR$35.34$73,5002008% above$38.69
Fort Smith, AR-OK$34.39$71,5201005% above$40.04
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR$33.84$70,3805504% above$37.87
Jonesboro, AR$29.50$61,36011010% below$34.35

Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).

Respiratory Therapist pay in states next to Arkansas

StateMedian / hrMedian / yearCompared with Arkansas
Louisiana$33.72$70,1403% above Arkansas
Missouri$35.52$73,8809% above Arkansas
Mississippi$29.48$61,32010% below Arkansas
Oklahoma$36.58$76,08012% above Arkansas
Tennessee$31.25$65,0004% below Arkansas
Texas$37.28$77,55014% above Arkansas

What employers are posting in Arkansas

  • 3roles with published pay
  • $33.20median pay per hour
  • $23–$43typical published range
  • 2employers hiring
EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
CommonSpirit Health2$33.20
Veterans Health Administration1$33.13

Midpoints of pay ranges in 3 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Arkansas · Respiratory Therapist salary nationwide · Arkansas state guide

Common questions

How much does a respiratory therapist make in Arkansas?

The median is $32.67 per hour, about $67,960 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $25.22 and the top 10% earn over $39.83 (BLS, May 2024).

Which Arkansas city pays respiratory therapists the most?

Among Arkansas metro areas, Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR has the highest median at $35.34 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.

Where does Arkansas rank for respiratory therapist pay?

Arkansas ranks 43rd of 50 states by median respiratory therapist pay.

Is this the same as the pay in job postings?

No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.

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Pay report · RT near Arkansas
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Arkansas list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • CommonSpirit HealthHOT SPRINGS, AR · 2 postings$33.20/ hr$27–$40
  • CommonSpirit HealthSACRAMENTO, CA · 8 postings$56.70/ hr$47–$71
  • MultiCareTacoma, WA · 18 postings$54.16/ hr$29–$68
  • Fairview Health ServicesGrand Rapids, MN · 7 postings$53.34/ hr$36–$63

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Arkansas list

2What they are offering now

Low$20Median$33.20High$47

3 RT postings with published pay in Arkansas, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 3 RT roles

  1. Registered Respiratory TherapistPermanent
    $26.70–$39.71/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Hot Springs, AR · posted 13 days ago
  2. Registered Respiratory TherapistPermanent
    $26.70–$39.71/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Little Rock, AR · posted 17 days ago

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