Respiratory therapist salary

Open respiratory therapist jobs post a median of $43 an hour, with the middle half paying $38–$49.25: about $89,400 a year full time. Measured from 1,012 jobs at 205 employers that state their pay, read from each employer's own job board.

Median posted /hr

Middle half /hr

A year, full time

estimate, 2,080 hours

BLS median /hr

May 2025

The jobs themselves: Respiratory therapist jobs

What respiratory therapists are paid

Each bar counts the open jobs posting an hourly rate in its step of pay (a range at its midpoint). The middle half of employers' rates is in the darker color.

Posted hourly rates of 1,012 open jobs. The chart spans the 2nd to the 98th percentile; the lowest rate posted is $11.79, the highest $96.07.

Posted on open jobs

$38–$49.25/hr

Middle half of 596 employer rates (each employer's advertised range once), median $43. 29% of the 3,546 open respiratory therapist jobs state an hourly rate. 643 more state an "up to" ceiling, a weekly travel rate, a per-visit fee, or a rate far from the rest (a differential read as pay), left out.

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Respiratory therapist pay by employer

What each employer posts for respiratory therapists, the employers with the most jobs stating pay first. An employer with at least 5 such jobs has a page of its own with every range it posts.

Employer	Median posted	Posted range	Jobs stating pay
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions	$40.50	$32.64–$62.40	77
Select Medical	$41	$30.47–$60	38
UPMC	$41.25	$18.19–$65.95	37
Advocate Health	$41.25	$30.70–$60	29
Baptist Health South Florida	$38.75	$33.09–$55.89	25
CommonSpirit Health	$46	$22.51–$70.52	21
Endeavor Health	$42.25	$19.71–$55.94	20
Ascension	$38.50	$21.36–$75.37	20
RWJBarnabas Health	$51	$40.74–$60.60	18
Rochester Regional Health	$42.50	$18.64–$54.67	18
AdventHealth	$40.50	$25.17–$61.88	18
Providence	$46.75	$16.25–$73.44	16
Hackensack Meridian Health	$44.50	$39.92–$47.76	15
ScionHealth	$39.75	$27–$60	15
UChicago Medicine	$44.25	$38.32–$47.55	14
Boston Medical Center	$50	$33.33–$66.77	13
UMass Memorial Health	$41.50	$26.95–$61.79	13
BJC HealthCare	$36.75	$17–$53.81	13
Beth Israel Lahey Health	$51.50	$35–$79.56	12
Kaiser Permanente	$57	$40.02–$74.13	11
Atlantic Health	$51	$41.79–$73.56	11
Mass General Brigham	$46	$32.03–$66.30	11
Prime Healthcare	$39	$25–$60.22	11
Children's National Hospital	$56.25	$22.87–$86.26	10
MultiCare Health System	$50	$35.94–$68.50	10
PAM Health	$60	$44–$85	9
Mary Washington Healthcare	$47	$35.77–$59.15	9
Mayo Clinic	$44.25	$19.92–$58.09	9
Northwestern Medicine	$44.25	$31.57–$56.73	9
Emory Healthcare	$35	$21–$46.50	9
NewYork-Presbyterian	$69.25	$59.22–$73	8
Fairview Health Services	$53.25	$36.09–$63.04	8
Inova	$47.25	$32.30–$62.62	8
Sentara Health	$46.50	$37.61–$80	8
FutureCare	$42.50	$40–$45	8
VCU Health	$35.75	$28.22–$56.29	8
Carle Health	$43.50	$22.10–$54.95	7
Mercyhealth	$42	$27.17–$62.57	7
Carilion Clinic	$38	$27.70–$45.71	7
Valley Health (Virginia)	$36.75	$29.40–$44.10	7

Median of each employer's own jobs (a range at its midpoint), and the lowest and highest rate it posts. Jobs stating pay link to the employer's open jobs.

Respiratory therapist pay by state

States where at least 8 open jobs from 3 employers state an hourly rate, highest median first. Each opens the state's own page, with its towns and employers.

State	Median posted	Middle half	BLS median	Jobs
Washington	$53	$46.50–$56.25	$48.62 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	42
California	$52.25	$46–$61.75	$50.40 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	77
New Jersey	$49.25	$45.50–$51.75	$48.47 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	81
Oregon	$48.25	$47.75–$50.50	$48.34 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	14
Massachusetts	$47.25	$43–$51.50	$49.12 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	70
Virginia	$45.75	$39.50–$47.50	$39.86 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	64
Minnesota	$45.25	$41–$49	$47.46 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	26
Arizona	$45	$44.50–$46.25	$38.36 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	8
New York	$44.50	$40.25–$58.50	$51.83 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	63
Colorado	$43	$38.75–$48.25	$41.45 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	26
Pennsylvania	$42.25	$39–$44.75	$37.74 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	45
Wisconsin	$41.25	$38.25–$43.25	$40.48 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	37
Maryland	$41	$39.75–$42.50	$42.77 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	25
Illinois	$40.50	$36.75–$44.50	$40.43 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	123
Florida	$40.50	$37.75–$43.25	$39.02 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	70
Ohio	$40	$35–$44.75	$38.42 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	28
Michigan	$40	$36.25–$41	$38.39 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	9
Indiana	$38.50	$36.75–$42	$38.33 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	17
Texas	$38.25	$35.75–$40.50	$38.24 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	35
North Carolina	$37.75	$32.25–$41.25	$38.51 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	36
Vermont	$37.75	$32.50–$38.50	$40.30 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	10
Tennessee	$37.25	$35.50–$39	$34.68 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	25
Missouri	$36.75	$35.50–$41.50	$37.69 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	26
Iowa	$36.75	$32.25–$39	$35.94 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	11
Kansas	$36.75	$35–$43.25	$37.01 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	8
Georgia	$36	$35.25–$38.75	$40.24 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	15
Alabama	$31	$30–$34.50	$31.81 (source: BLS OEWS, state medians, opens in a new tab)	10

Median and middle half of employers' rates in the state. BLS medians are for the occupation's main SOC code in the state (May 2025).

Night shift respiratory therapist pay

Where one employer posts both night and other respiratory therapist jobs in the same state (71 such employers and states), the night jobs post the same base rate as the rest (the median gap is $0): most employers state their night differential apart from the base pay, so check the posting for it.

Employer, state	Night jobs, median	Other jobs, median
UPMC, PA	$40.75 (2)	$41.25 (33)
Baptist Health South Florida, FL	$38.75 (2)	$38.75 (23)
Endeavor Health, IL	$42.25 (11)	$42.25 (9)
RWJBarnabas Health, NJ	$49.75 (4)	$51 (14)
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, TN	$37.25 (6)	$35.50 (11)
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, FL	$40.50 (6)	$43.50 (11)
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, TX	$37.25 (8)	$39.75 (9)
Select Medical, OH	$42 (5)	$44 (11)

A job counts as a night job when its title names nights ("Nights", "NOC", "7p-7a"). Jobs in brackets.

Respiratory therapist jobs that state a yearly salary

Some jobs state a salary for the year instead of an hourly rate. They are measured on their own here, never converted.

5 open jobs from 3 employers state a yearly salary: a median of $81,600, the middle half $72,600 to $93,100, from $55,000 to $108,605 posted.

Best-paid open respiratory therapist jobs

The open jobs posting the highest hourly rates tonight, at most two from one employer.

Respiratory Care Practitioner/Registered Respiratory Therapist (RCP/RRT) 13-week Nights Assignment $85/hr | Stoughton Specialty
PAM Health · Stoughton, MA· today
$85/hr
Respiratory Care Specialist
UW Medicine · Seattle, WA· 1mo ago
$84.68/hr
Respiratory Therapist IV - 0.9 - Days - Respiratory Care Services @ MV
El Camino Health · Mountain View, CA· 1w ago
$72.28–$96.07/hr
Respiratory Care Specialist (Respiratory Therapist 3)
UW Medicine · Seattle, WA· 2mo ago
$83.00/hr
Lead Respiratory Care Practitioner NICU/PICU
Sutter Health · San Francisco, CA· 1mo ago
$68.06–$95.28/hr
Travel Registered Respiratory Therapist
Sentara Health · Suffolk, VA· 6d ago
$80.00/hr
Respiratory Therapist - Per Diem
UCSF Health · San Francisco, CA· 2mo ago
$79.87/hr
Respiratory Care Practitioner II (Nights)
Stanford Medicine Children's Health · Palo Alto, CA· 1mo ago
$71.02–$80.54/hr
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Sutter Health · San Francisco, CA· 1w ago
$61.73–$86.42/hr
Registered Respiratory Care Practitioner (Per Diem)
Montage Health · Monterey, CA· 3w ago
$62.67–$83.84/hr
Per Diem Respiratory Therapist (Adult) | NYP-Allen Hospital | Flex Shift
NewYork-Presbyterian · New York· 3w ago
$73.00/hr
Per Diem Respiratory Therapist (Adult) | NYP-CUIMC | Flex Shift
NewYork-Presbyterian · New York· 3w ago
$73.00/hr

Every open job: Respiratory therapist jobs

What BLS measures

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys what people employed in the occupation earn, at every level of experience. A posting advertises what a new hire is offered, so the two measure different things.

Hourly wages, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Each figure opens its BLS page.
BLS occupation	10th pct	25th pct	Median	75th pct	90th pct	Employed
Respiratory Therapists (29-1126)	$30.61 (source: BLS OEWS, Respiratory Therapists, opens in a new tab)	$35.83 (source: BLS OEWS, Respiratory Therapists, opens in a new tab)	$39.56 (source: BLS OEWS, Respiratory Therapists, opens in a new tab)	$47.47 (source: BLS OEWS, Respiratory Therapists, opens in a new tab)	$56.75 (source: BLS OEWS, Respiratory Therapists, opens in a new tab)	139,790 (source: BLS OEWS, Respiratory Therapists, opens in a new tab)

The posted median ($43) is $3.44 above the BLS median ($39.56 (source: BLS OEWS May 2025, Respiratory Therapists, opens in a new tab)). Posted ranges run from a new hire's rate to an experienced one's, and their midpoint is counted here.

Respiratory therapist salary: common questions

How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour?

Open respiratory therapist jobs on CareJobs.Now that state an hourly rate post a median of $43, with the middle half between $38–$49.25 (1,012 jobs from 205 employers, each employer's advertised range counted once). Postings advertise a base rate, usually before shift differentials and bonuses. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics measured a median of $39.56/hr ($82,280 a year) for respiratory therapists in May 2025.

How much does a respiratory therapist make a year?

At the posted median of $43 an hour, full time (2,080 hours a year) comes to about $89,400, and the middle half to $79,000 to $102,400. That is arithmetic on the hourly rate, not a salary any job states. 5 open jobs state a yearly salary instead, a median of $81,600.

Which states pay respiratory therapists the most?

By the median hourly rate open jobs post: Washington ($53), California ($52.25) and New Jersey ($49.25). The lowest: Alabama ($31), Georgia ($36) and Kansas ($36.75). Each state's page breaks its pay down by town and employer.

Which employers pay respiratory therapists the most?

Among employers stating a rate on at least 5 open jobs: NewYork-Presbyterian ($69.25), PAM Health ($60) and Kaiser Permanente ($57). The employer table lists the 40 employers with the most jobs stating pay.

Do night shift respiratory therapists earn more?

Not in the base rate employers post: where one employer posts both night and other respiratory therapist jobs in the same state (71 such employers and states), the median gap is $0. Most state their night differential separately in the posting.

Where do these figures come from?

From the pay CareJobs.Now's open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own job board: 1,012 of 3,546 open respiratory therapist jobs (29%) state an hourly rate. No pay is estimated for a job that states none, "up to" ceilings and weekly travel rates are left out, and each employer's advertised range counts once in the median, so no single employer sets it.

More pay by job: Therapy & rehab

Respiratory therapist jobs →Every healthcare salary →Pay explorer →

Sources and method

Only pay a job states is used: a plain hourly or yearly figure or range in US dollars, read from the job's own posting. A range counts at its midpoint. In the median and the middle half each employer's advertised range counts once, so an employer posting one range in many towns does not set the figure; an employer's own figures count its jobs one by one. "Up to" ceilings, weekly travel rates and rates under a third or over three times the occupation's median are left out. The yearly estimate is the hourly rate times 2,080 hours (40 a week). A job counts under its occupation and every occupation above it, and under every state it is open in. A page exists while at least 8 jobs from 3 employers state a rate. BLS figures are as published.

CareJobs.Now job board: the pay open jobs state, read nightly from each employer's own careers site, published October 24, 2026
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126), published May 15, 2026
BLS OEWS May 2025: Respiratory Therapists by state, published May 15, 2026
BLS Employment Projections 2025-2035: Respiratory Therapists (Occupational Outlook Handbook), published August 27, 2026

Cite this page

CareJobs.Now. (2026). Respiratory therapist salary. Data as of October 24, 2026. https://carejobs.now/salaries/respiratory-therapist

How the board counts