Respiratory Therapist salary in California
Respiratory Therapists in California earn a median of $49.10 per hour, about $102,120 a year, 27% above the U.S. median of $38.68. The middle half earn between $43.62 and $60.46 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $65.91 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $49.10median pay per hour
- $102,120median pay per year
- 18,310employed in California
- #3of 50 states by median pay
Respiratory Therapist pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $37.57 | $78,150 | $29.76 |
| Lower quartile | $43.62 | $90,730 | $32.89 |
| Median | $49.10 | $102,120 | $38.68 |
| Upper quartile | $60.46 | $125,760 | $45.93 |
| Top 10% | $66.35 | $138,010 | $52.32 |
Respiratory Therapist pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $65.91 | $137,080 | 950 | 34% above | $59.69 |
| Vallejo, CA | $63.71 | $132,520 | 190 | 30% above | $58.73 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $63.13 | $131,320 | 1,940 | 29% above | $54.60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $62.33 | $129,640 | 210 | 27% above | $57.83 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62.10 | $129,180 | 1,070 | 26% above | $58.22 |
| Redding, CA | $57.48 | $119,560 | 80 | 17% above | $57.09 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $50.43 | $104,890 | 100 | 3% above | $46.35 |
| Modesto, CA | $49.91 | $103,820 | 290 | 2% above | $47.94 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49.32 | $102,590 | 1,430 | in line with | $44.08 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48.68 | $101,250 | 7,010 | 1% below | $42.86 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $48.54 | $100,970 | 320 | 1% below | $43.91 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $47.40 | $98,590 | 380 | 3% below | $46.98 |
| Merced, CA | $47.19 | $98,150 | 40 | 4% below | $48.02 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $46.77 | $97,280 | 390 | 5% below | $44.51 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46.67 | $97,080 | 2,210 | 5% below | $43.85 |
| Fresno, CA | $40.70 | $84,650 | 580 | 17% below | $39.84 |
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 California
What employers are posting in California
- 46roles with published pay
- $46.92median pay per hour
- $34–$60typical published range
- 14employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| ScionHealth | 10 | $32.39 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 8 | $56.70 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 8 | $40.22 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 5 | $46.92 |
| Kaweah Delta Health Care District | 3 | $46.78 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 3 | $46.92 |
| El Camino Health | 2 | $84.17 |
| Select Medical | 1 | $48.09 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 46 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 California · Respiratory Therapist salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in California?
The median is $49.10 per hour, about $102,120 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $37.57 and the top 10% earn over $66.35 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays respiratory therapists the most?
Among California metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median at $65.91 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for respiratory therapist pay?
California ranks 3rd 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.
What do employers near you pay respiratory therapists? Get the report.
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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 reportCalifornia · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 2 postings$84.17/ hr$72–$96
- CommonSpirit HealthSACRAMENTO, CA · 8 postings$56.70/ hr$47–$71
- Sharp HealthCareLa Mesa, CA · 5 postings$46.92/ hr$41–$58
- Sharp HealthcareLa Mesa, CA · 3 postings$46.92/ hr$41–$53
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
46 RT postings with published pay in California, 41 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 46 RT roles
- Respiratory Care Practitioner IIIPermanent$58.06–$67.60/ hour
- Respiratory Care PractitionerPermanent$48.74–$60.02/ hour
+ 44 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.