Respiratory therapist earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level respiratory therapist earnings begin at:

$48.23 per hour

$100,320 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level respiratory therapist earnings begin at:

$46.40 per hour

$96,510 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level respiratory therapist earnings begin at:

$40.48 per hour

$84,210 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level respiratory therapist earnings begin at:

$37.89 per hour

$78,800 per year

10th percentile

Starting level respiratory therapist earnings begin at:

$33.91 per hour

$70,520 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Respiratory therapist salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Minnesota $98,710
Alaska $97,950
New Hampshire $95,940
Hawaii $94,210
Delaware $91,080
Maryland $88,960
Rhode Island $86,900
Colorado $86,220
Nevada $85,480
Connecticut $85,230
Wisconsin $84,210
Illinois $84,090
Vermont $83,820
Georgia $83,700
Virginia $82,910
Maine $82,470
Nebraska $81,590
North Dakota $81,230
Montana $81,190
Florida $81,160
Utah $80,650
North Carolina $80,090
Ohio $79,920
Michigan $79,850
Arizona $79,780
Indiana $79,730
Texas $79,540
Wyoming $79,330
Oklahoma $78,800
Pennsylvania $78,490
Idaho $78,460
Missouri $78,390
South Carolina $77,740
Kansas $76,970
Louisiana $75,240
Iowa $74,760
Arkansas $73,870
Kentucky $72,750
Tennessee $72,140
New Mexico $68,870
West Virginia $68,670
South Dakota $68,240
Alabama $66,150
Mississippi $63,270
Puerto Rico $21,720
District of Columbia $111,950
New York $107,810
California $104,820
Massachusetts $102,170
Washington $101,130
New Jersey $100,810
Oregon $100,560

How much does a Respiratory Therapist earn?

Respiratory therapy is part of the booming healthcare industry, which, as of 2012, was responsible for 18 percent of the total U.S. gross national product, according to a Georgetown University, Center on Education and the Workforce report. What’s more, the Center estimates that because of the increasing demand for healthcare services, the demand for healthcare workers is expected to grow twice as fast as for other industries.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, an average yearly salary for a respiratory therapist is as follows: Less than one year of work experience earns from $29,087 – $55,652 per year; one to four years receives from $24,850 – $59,507 per year; five to nine years receives from $35,802 – $70,472 per year; 10 to 19 years earns from $30,161 – $71,247 per year; 20+ years of experience receives from $44,557 – $71,011 per year. The highest paid in the respiratory therapist profession work in the metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Santa Cruz, California, and Sacramento, California. The Vallejo, California area also pays well, as does the city of San Jose, California. Other well paying areas are Hawaii $66,890; Connecticut $73,670; Nevada $67,270; New Jersey $71,610; and New York, $69,730.

According to the BLS, an average hourly wage and yearly salary earned by the lowest 10th percentile of respiratory therapists is around $19.55 per hour, or $40,660 per year, whereas those in the 90th percentile received $35.77 per hour or $74,400 per year. Respiratory therapists’ employed in colleges, universities, and professional schools earned a higher annual salary ($67,060) when compared to those employed in rental consumer goods ($40,660).

How do respiratory therapist salaries compare to similar careers?

Respiratory therapists earn about the same as related careers in Wisconsin. On average, they make less than magnetic resonance imaging technologists but more than cardiovascular technologists and technicians.

Career Median Salary
Magnetic resonance imaging technologist salary $95K
Orthotist and prosthetist salary $90K
Occupational therapist salary $92K
Genetic counselor salary $92K
Nurse educator salary $85K
Respiratory therapist salary $84K
Speech language pathologist salary $83K
Hearing aid specialist salary $77K
Radiologic technologist salary $79K
Cardiovascular technologist and technician salary $74K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)