Respiratory Therapist salary in Virginia
Respiratory Therapists in Virginia earn a median of $38.27 per hour, about $79,600 a year, 1% below the U.S. median of $38.68. The middle half earn between $32.64 and $44.71 per hour. The highest median among Virginia metro areas is in Charlottesville, VA, at $40.23 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $38.27median pay per hour
- $79,600median pay per year
- 2,960employed in Virginia
- #21of 50 states by median pay
Respiratory Therapist pay in Virginia: percentiles
| Level | Virginia per hour | Virginia per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $29.25 | $60,840 | $29.76 |
| Lower quartile | $32.64 | $67,890 | $32.89 |
| Median | $38.27 | $79,600 | $38.68 |
| Upper quartile | $44.71 | $93,000 | $45.93 |
| Top 10% | $49.37 | $102,690 | $52.32 |
Respiratory Therapist pay by metro area in Virginia
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs Virginia median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $40.23 | $83,680 | 110 | 5% above | — |
| Richmond, VA | $38.50 | $80,070 | 560 | 1% above | $39.34 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38.44 | $79,960 | 600 | in line with | $39.25 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $35.95 | $74,770 | 120 | 6% below | $40.23 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $32.48 | $67,550 | 40 | 15% below | $35.03 |
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 Virginia
| State | Median / hr | Median / year | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $50.12 | $104,240 | 31% above Virginia |
| Kentucky | $31.57 | $65,670 | 18% below Virginia |
| Maryland | $41.14 | $85,570 | 7% above Virginia |
| North Carolina | $37.04 | $77,050 | 3% below Virginia |
| Tennessee | $31.25 | $65,000 | 18% below Virginia |
| West Virginia | $31.91 | $66,370 | 17% below Virginia |
What employers are posting in Virginia
- 57roles with published pay
- $38.09median pay per hour
- $29–$55typical published range
- 7employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Sentara Healthcare | 16 | $46.44 |
| Valley Health | 12 | $36.75 |
| VCU Health System | 10 | $35.64 |
| Mary Washington Healthcare | 10 | $46.95 |
| Carilion Clinic | 6 | $38.09 |
| LifePoint Health | 2 | $31.24 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 1 | $43.13 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 57 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 Virginia · Respiratory Therapist salary nationwide · Virginia state guide
Common questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Virginia?
The median is $38.27 per hour, about $79,600 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $29.25 and the top 10% earn over $49.37 (BLS, May 2024).
Which Virginia city pays respiratory therapists the most?
Among Virginia metro areas, Charlottesville, VA has the highest median at $40.23 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does Virginia rank for respiratory therapist pay?
Virginia ranks 21st 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.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 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.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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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.