29 Series · SOC 29-1126
Respiratory Therapists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $82,280
- Median / year
- $118,050
- Top 10% earn
- +12.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 139,790
- US workers
Respiratory Therapists earn a median of $82,280 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $82,280, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $63,660 (10th percentile) to $118,050 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 139,790 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($111,950), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Respiratory Therapists earn a median of $82,280, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 75% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #44 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 12.1% by 2033.
- $82,280
- Median annual wage
- Top 25%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #44 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $111,950. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126) pays a national median of $82,280 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $63,660 at the 10th percentile to $118,050 at the 90th, with a mean of $87,300 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 139,790 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 395 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +12.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 8,800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.7 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $111,950, which is +36% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $149,680 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 139,790 jobs Median $82,280/yr
Median Salary
$82,280
per year
Median Hourly
$39.56/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$87,300
average
Employment
139,790
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Respiratory Therapists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$82,280 Top 25% higher than 75% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Respiratory Therapists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 29-series occupations with growth data, Respiratory Therapists sits on the faster-growing side at +12.1% growth and $82,280 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+12.1%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
8,800
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Respiratory Therapists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 3.9
Critical Thinking 3.9
Monitoring 3.9
Speaking 3.8
Reading Comprehension 3.6
Active Learning 3.6
Social Perceptiveness 3.6
Service Orientation 3.6
Coordination 3.4
Complex Problem Solving 3.4
Knowledge Areas
Customer and Personal Service 4.3
Medicine and Dentistry 4.3
English Language 3.9
Education and Training 3.7
Psychology 3.4
Biology 3.3
Computers and Electronics 3.2
Chemistry 3.1
Mathematics 3.1
Therapy and Counseling 2.9
Key Tasks
- ▸ Perform endotracheal intubation to maintain open airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own.
- ▸ Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- ▸ Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
- ▸ Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- ▸ Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
- ▸ Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
- ▸ Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
- ▸ Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
- ▸ Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
- ▸ Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$63,660
25th Percentile
$74,520
Median
$82,280
75th Percentile
$98,730
90th Percentile
$118,050
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $111,950 | +36% above national |
| 2 | New York | $107,810 | +31% above national |
| 3 | California | $104,820 | +27% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $102,170 | +24% above national |
| 5 | Washington | $101,130 | +23% above national |
| 6 | New Jersey | $100,810 | +23% above national |
| 7 | Oregon | $100,560 | +22% above national |
| 8 | Minnesota | $98,710 | +20% above national |
| 9 | Alaska | $97,950 | +19% above national |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $95,940 | +17% above national |
| 11 | Hawaii | $94,210 | +14% above national |
| 12 | Delaware | $91,080 | +11% above national |
| 13 | Maryland | $88,960 | +8% above national |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $86,900 | +6% above national |
| 15 | Colorado | $86,220 | +5% above national |
| 16 | Nevada | $85,480 | +4% above national |
| 17 | Connecticut | $85,230 | +4% above national |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $84,210 | +2% above national |
| 19 | Illinois | $84,090 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Vermont | $83,820 | +2% above national |
| 21 | Georgia | $83,700 | +2% above national |
| 22 | Virginia | $82,910 | +1% above national |
| 23 | Maine | $82,470 | same as national |
| 24 | Nebraska | $81,590 | 1% below national |
| 25 | North Dakota | $81,230 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Montana | $81,190 | 1% below national |
| 27 | Florida | $81,160 | 1% below national |
| 28 | Utah | $80,650 | 2% below national |
| 29 | North Carolina | $80,090 | 3% below national |
| 30 | Ohio | $79,920 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Michigan | $79,850 | 3% below national |
| 32 | Arizona | $79,780 | 3% below national |
| 33 | Indiana | $79,730 | 3% below national |
| 34 | Texas | $79,540 | 3% below national |
| 35 | Wyoming | $79,330 | 4% below national |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $78,800 | 4% below national |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $78,490 | 5% below national |
| 38 | Idaho | $78,460 | 5% below national |
| 39 | Missouri | $78,390 | 5% below national |
| 40 | South Carolina | $77,740 | 6% below national |
| 41 | Kansas | $76,970 | 6% below national |
| 42 | Louisiana | $75,240 | 9% below national |
| 43 | Iowa | $74,760 | 9% below national |
| 44 | Arkansas | $73,870 | 10% below national |
| 45 | Kentucky | $72,750 | 12% below national |
| 46 | Tennessee | $72,140 | 12% below national |
| 47 | New Mexico | $68,870 | 16% below national |
| 48 | West Virginia | $68,670 | 17% below national |
| 49 | South Dakota | $68,240 | 17% below national |
| 50 | Alabama | $66,150 | 20% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $63,270 | 23% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $35,000 | 57% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 395 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $149,680 | +82% above national |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $136,200 | +66% above national |
| 3 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $134,880 | +64% above national |
| 4 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $134,430 | +63% above national |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,220 | +58% above national |
| 6 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $123,220 | +50% above national |
| 7 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $112,430 | +37% above national |
| 8 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $110,490 | +34% above national |
| 9 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $108,600 | +32% above national |
| 10 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $106,910 | +30% above national |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $105,140 | +28% above national |
| 12 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $105,070 | +28% above national |
| 13 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $105,040 | +28% above national |
| 14 | Napa, CA | $104,670 | +27% above national |
| 15 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,640 | +27% above national |
| 16 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $104,580 | +27% above national |
| 17 | Salem, OR | $104,360 | +27% above national |
| 18 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $104,350 | +27% above national |
| 19 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $104,220 | +27% above national |
| 20 | Modesto, CA | $103,870 | +26% above national |
| 21 | Redding, CA | $103,830 | +26% above national |
| 22 | Binghamton, NY | $103,200 | +25% above national |
| 23 | Medford, OR | $102,780 | +25% above national |
| 24 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $102,760 | +25% above national |
| 25 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,250 | +24% above national |
| 26 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $102,050 | +24% above national |
| 27 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $101,990 | +24% above national |
| 28 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $101,860 | +24% above national |
| 29 | Merced, CA | $101,810 | +24% above national |
| 30 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $101,630 | +24% above national |
| 31 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $101,280 | +23% above national |
| 32 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $100,920 | +23% above national |
| 33 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $100,710 | +22% above national |
| 34 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $100,650 | +22% above national |
| 35 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,480 | +22% above national |
| 36 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $100,030 | +22% above national |
| 37 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $99,800 | +21% above national |
| 38 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $99,300 | +21% above national |
| 39 | Rome, GA | $98,720 | +20% above national |
| 40 | Rochester, MN | $98,700 | +20% above national |
| 41 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $98,320 | +19% above national |
| 42 | Worcester, MA | $98,120 | +19% above national |
| 43 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $98,010 | +19% above national |
| 44 | Anchorage, AK | $97,950 | +19% above national |
| 45 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $97,330 | +18% above national |
| 46 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $97,320 | +18% above national |
| 47 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $96,380 | +17% above national |
| 48 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $95,940 | +17% above national |
| 49 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $95,540 | +16% above national |
| 50 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $95,520 | +16% above national |
| 51 | Kingston, NY | $95,170 | +16% above national |
| 52 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $94,240 | +15% above national |
| 53 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,210 | +14% above national |
| 54 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $93,300 | +13% above national |
| 55 | Boulder, CO | $91,880 | +12% above national |
| 56 | Utica-Rome, NY | $91,610 | +11% above national |
| 57 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $90,380 | +10% above national |
| 58 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $90,250 | +10% above national |
| 59 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $89,660 | +9% above national |
| 60 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $89,040 | +8% above national |
| 61 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $88,790 | +8% above national |
| 62 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $88,600 | +8% above national |
| 63 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $88,020 | +7% above national |
| 64 | Colorado Springs, CO | $87,890 | +7% above national |
| 65 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $87,820 | +7% above national |
| 66 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $87,060 | +6% above national |
| 67 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $86,720 | +5% above national |
| 68 | Charlottesville, VA | $86,720 | +5% above national |
| 69 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $86,660 | +5% above national |
| 70 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $86,460 | +5% above national |
| 71 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $86,440 | +5% above national |
| 72 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $86,300 | +5% above national |
| 73 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $86,220 | +5% above national |
| 74 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $86,150 | +5% above national |
| 75 | Springfield, MA | $86,030 | +5% above national |
| 76 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $85,930 | +4% above national |
| 77 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $85,870 | +4% above national |
| 78 | Syracuse, NY | $85,860 | +4% above national |
| 79 | Duluth, MN-WI | $85,700 | +4% above national |
| 80 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $85,250 | +4% above national |
| 81 | New Haven, CT | $85,230 | +4% above national |
| 82 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $85,110 | +3% above national |
| 83 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $84,840 | +3% above national |
| 84 | Bismarck, ND | $84,570 | +3% above national |
| 85 | Kankakee, IL | $84,490 | +3% above national |
| 86 | Fargo, ND-MN | $84,480 | +3% above national |
| 87 | Dover, DE | $84,410 | +3% above national |
| 88 | Reading, PA | $84,330 | +2% above national |
| 89 | Appleton, WI | $84,300 | +2% above national |
| 90 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $84,130 | +2% above national |
| 91 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $84,080 | +2% above national |
| 92 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $83,880 | +2% above national |
| 93 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $83,820 | +2% above national |
| 94 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $83,510 | +1% above national |
| 95 | Fresno, CA | $83,340 | +1% above national |
| 96 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $83,310 | +1% above national |
| 97 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $83,260 | +1% above national |
| 98 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $83,110 | +1% above national |
| 99 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $82,990 | +1% above national |
| 100 | Rochester, NY | $82,990 | +1% above national |
| 101 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $82,860 | +1% above national |
| 102 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $82,760 | +1% above national |
| 103 | Missoula, MT | $82,580 | same as national |
| 104 | Ogden, UT | $82,380 | same as national |
| 105 | Green Bay, WI | $82,300 | same as national |
| 106 | Toledo, OH | $82,280 | same as national |
| 107 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $82,200 | same as national |
| 108 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $82,200 | same as national |
| 109 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $82,080 | same as national |
| 110 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $82,070 | same as national |
| 111 | Visalia, CA | $82,030 | same as national |
| 112 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $82,020 | same as national |
| 113 | Columbus, OH | $81,860 | 1% below national |
| 114 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $81,860 | 1% below national |
| 115 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $81,770 | 1% below national |
| 116 | Jacksonville, FL | $81,760 | 1% below national |
| 117 | Richmond, VA | $81,750 | 1% below national |
| 118 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $81,730 | 1% below national |
| 119 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $81,720 | 1% below national |
| 120 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $81,630 | 1% below national |
| 121 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $81,620 | 1% below national |
| 122 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $81,600 | 1% below national |
| 123 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $81,600 | 1% below national |
| 124 | Lincoln, NE | $81,590 | 1% below national |
| 125 | Asheville, NC | $81,550 | 1% below national |
| 126 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $81,540 | 1% below national |
| 127 | Madison, WI | $81,530 | 1% below national |
| 128 | Lynchburg, VA | $81,470 | 1% below national |
| 129 | Battle Creek, MI | $81,440 | 1% below national |
| 130 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $81,440 | 1% below national |
| 131 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $81,420 | 1% below national |
| 132 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $81,300 | 1% below national |
| 133 | Grand Junction, CO | $81,290 | 1% below national |
| 134 | Monroe, MI | $81,290 | 1% below national |
| 135 | Omaha, NE-IA | $81,270 | 1% below national |
| 136 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $81,190 | 1% below national |
| 137 | Bangor, ME | $81,020 | 2% below national |
| 138 | Wilmington, NC | $81,020 | 2% below national |
| 139 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $80,990 | 2% below national |
| 140 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $80,990 | 2% below national |
| 141 | Eau Claire, WI | $80,900 | 2% below national |
| 142 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $80,900 | 2% below national |
| 143 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $80,880 | 2% below national |
| 144 | Pueblo, CO | $80,860 | 2% below national |
| 145 | Oklahoma City, OK | $80,810 | 2% below national |
| 146 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $80,790 | 2% below national |
| 147 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $80,790 | 2% below national |
| 148 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $80,730 | 2% below national |
| 149 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $80,680 | 2% below national |
| 150 | Fayetteville, NC | $80,650 | 2% below national |
| 151 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $80,530 | 2% below national |
| 152 | Amarillo, TX | $80,470 | 2% below national |
| 153 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $80,450 | 2% below national |
| 154 | Cleveland, OH | $80,360 | 2% below national |
| 155 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $80,340 | 2% below national |
| 156 | Tulsa, OK | $80,250 | 2% below national |
| 157 | Winston-Salem, NC | $80,250 | 2% below national |
| 158 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $80,140 | 3% below national |
| 159 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $80,090 | 3% below national |
| 160 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $80,080 | 3% below national |
| 161 | Lancaster, PA | $80,060 | 3% below national |
| 162 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $80,040 | 3% below national |
| 163 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $80,000 | 3% below national |
| 164 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $79,960 | 3% below national |
| 165 | Chambersburg, PA | $79,910 | 3% below national |
| 166 | Ann Arbor, MI | $79,850 | 3% below national |
| 167 | Billings, MT | $79,820 | 3% below national |
| 168 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $79,810 | 3% below national |
| 169 | Columbia, SC | $79,780 | 3% below national |
| 170 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $79,760 | 3% below national |
| 171 | York-Hanover, PA | $79,540 | 3% below national |
| 172 | Twin Falls, ID | $79,520 | 3% below national |
| 173 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $79,510 | 3% below national |
| 174 | Mobile, AL | $79,490 | 3% below national |
| 175 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $79,450 | 3% below national |
| 176 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $79,410 | 3% below national |
| 177 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $79,230 | 4% below national |
| 178 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $79,210 | 4% below national |
| 179 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $79,200 | 4% below national |
| 180 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $79,170 | 4% below national |
| 181 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $79,150 | 4% below national |
| 182 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $79,140 | 4% below national |
| 183 | Evansville, IN | $78,990 | 4% below national |
| 184 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $78,980 | 4% below national |
| 185 | Tallahassee, FL | $78,950 | 4% below national |
| 186 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $78,950 | 4% below national |
| 187 | Akron, OH | $78,940 | 4% below national |
| 188 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $78,890 | 4% below national |
| 189 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $78,880 | 4% below national |
| 190 | Roanoke, VA | $78,820 | 4% below national |
| 191 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $78,750 | 4% below national |
| 192 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $78,750 | 4% below national |
| 193 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $78,740 | 4% below national |
| 194 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $78,700 | 4% below national |
| 195 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $78,700 | 4% below national |
| 196 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $78,660 | 4% below national |
| 197 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $78,650 | 4% below national |
| 198 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $78,600 | 4% below national |
| 199 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $78,560 | 5% below national |
| 200 | Florence, SC | $78,550 | 5% below national |
| 201 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $78,530 | 5% below national |
| 202 | Longview, TX | $78,520 | 5% below national |
| 203 | Boise City, ID | $78,460 | 5% below national |
| 204 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $78,450 | 5% below national |
| 205 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $78,410 | 5% below national |
| 206 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $78,390 | 5% below national |
| 207 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $78,380 | 5% below national |
| 208 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $78,350 | 5% below national |
| 209 | Springfield, IL | $78,340 | 5% below national |
| 210 | Tucson, AZ | $78,320 | 5% below national |
| 211 | Williamsport, PA | $78,300 | 5% below national |
| 212 | Savannah, GA | $78,200 | 5% below national |
| 213 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $78,140 | 5% below national |
| 214 | Corpus Christi, TX | $78,130 | 5% below national |
| 215 | Bloomington, IN | $78,100 | 5% below national |
| 216 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $78,080 | 5% below national |
| 217 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $78,070 | 5% below national |
| 218 | Springfield, OH | $78,020 | 5% below national |
| 219 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $77,900 | 5% below national |
| 220 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $77,860 | 5% below national |
| 221 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $77,830 | 5% below national |
| 222 | Flint, MI | $77,760 | 5% below national |
| 223 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $77,720 | 6% below national |
| 224 | Peoria, IL | $77,660 | 6% below national |
| 225 | Rockford, IL | $77,640 | 6% below national |
| 226 | Kenosha, WI | $77,570 | 6% below national |
| 227 | Lima, OH | $77,570 | 6% below national |
| 228 | Jefferson City, MO | $77,500 | 6% below national |
| 229 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $77,480 | 6% below national |
| 230 | Fort Wayne, IN | $77,390 | 6% below national |
| 231 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $77,390 | 6% below national |
| 232 | Midland, TX | $77,370 | 6% below national |
| 233 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $77,250 | 6% below national |
| 234 | Enid, OK | $77,230 | 6% below national |
| 235 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $77,230 | 6% below national |
| 236 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $77,200 | 6% below national |
| 237 | Topeka, KS | $77,190 | 6% below national |
| 238 | Columbus, GA-AL | $77,150 | 6% below national |
| 239 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $77,000 | 6% below national |
| 240 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $76,950 | 6% below national |
| 241 | Montgomery, AL | $76,920 | 7% below national |
| 242 | Tyler, TX | $76,800 | 7% below national |
| 243 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $76,730 | 7% below national |
| 244 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $76,730 | 7% below national |
| 245 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $76,700 | 7% below national |
| 246 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $76,680 | 7% below national |
| 247 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $76,680 | 7% below national |
| 248 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $76,660 | 7% below national |
| 249 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $76,590 | 7% below national |
| 250 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $76,580 | 7% below national |
| 251 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $76,560 | 7% below national |
| 252 | Warner Robins, GA | $76,560 | 7% below national |
| 253 | Albany, GA | $76,540 | 7% below national |
| 254 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $76,540 | 7% below national |
| 255 | Lubbock, TX | $76,530 | 7% below national |
| 256 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $76,440 | 7% below national |
| 257 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $76,220 | 7% below national |
| 258 | Lafayette, LA | $76,210 | 7% below national |
| 259 | San Angelo, TX | $76,200 | 7% below national |
| 260 | Gainesville, FL | $76,170 | 7% below national |
| 261 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $76,120 | 7% below national |
| 262 | Victoria, TX | $76,110 | 7% below national |
| 263 | Paducah, KY-IL | $76,100 | 8% below national |
| 264 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $76,070 | 8% below national |
| 265 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $76,070 | 8% below national |
| 266 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $76,050 | 8% below national |
| 267 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $76,030 | 8% below national |
| 268 | Hammond, LA | $75,990 | 8% below national |
| 269 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $75,960 | 8% below national |
| 270 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $75,820 | 8% below national |
| 271 | Monroe, LA | $75,770 | 8% below national |
| 272 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $75,690 | 8% below national |
| 273 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $75,650 | 8% below national |
| 274 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $75,650 | 8% below national |
| 275 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $75,520 | 8% below national |
| 276 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $75,510 | 8% below national |
| 277 | Bloomington, IL | $75,490 | 8% below national |
| 278 | El Paso, TX | $75,490 | 8% below national |
| 279 | Pittsburgh, PA | $75,470 | 8% below national |
| 280 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $75,460 | 8% below national |
| 281 | Waco, TX | $75,370 | 8% below national |
| 282 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $75,300 | 8% below national |
| 283 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $75,280 | 9% below national |
| 284 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $75,240 | 9% below national |
| 285 | Iowa City, IA | $75,110 | 9% below national |
| 286 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $75,000 | 9% below national |
| 287 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $74,660 | 9% below national |
| 288 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $74,650 | 9% below national |
| 289 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $74,370 | 10% below national |
| 290 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $74,350 | 10% below national |
| 291 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $74,300 | 10% below national |
| 292 | Baton Rouge, LA | $74,220 | 10% below national |
| 293 | Dubuque, IA | $74,190 | 10% below national |
| 294 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $74,190 | 10% below national |
| 295 | Elizabethtown, KY | $74,040 | 10% below national |
| 296 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $74,010 | 10% below national |
| 297 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $73,940 | 10% below national |
| 298 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $73,860 | 10% below national |
| 299 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $73,840 | 10% below national |
| 300 | Rocky Mount, NC | $73,830 | 10% below national |
| 301 | State College, PA | $73,690 | 10% below national |
| 302 | Lake Charles, LA | $73,680 | 10% below national |
| 303 | Yuma, AZ | $73,580 | 11% below national |
| 304 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $73,530 | 11% below national |
| 305 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $73,490 | 11% below national |
| 306 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $73,470 | 11% below national |
| 307 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $73,470 | 11% below national |
| 308 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $73,420 | 11% below national |
| 309 | Pocatello, ID | $73,270 | 11% below national |
| 310 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $73,160 | 11% below national |
| 311 | Mansfield, OH | $72,860 | 11% below national |
| 312 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $72,740 | 12% below national |
| 313 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $72,560 | 12% below national |
| 314 | Springfield, MO | $72,490 | 12% below national |
| 315 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $72,450 | 12% below national |
| 316 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $72,030 | 12% below national |
| 317 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $71,910 | 13% below national |
| 318 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $71,540 | 13% below national |
| 319 | Wichita, KS | $71,330 | 13% below national |
| 320 | Abilene, TX | $71,260 | 13% below national |
| 321 | Johnstown, PA | $71,210 | 13% below national |
| 322 | Alexandria, LA | $71,140 | 14% below national |
| 323 | Casper, WY | $70,980 | 14% below national |
| 324 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $70,790 | 14% below national |
| 325 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $69,720 | 15% below national |
| 326 | Columbia, MO | $69,400 | 16% below national |
| 327 | Sandusky, OH | $69,360 | 16% below national |
| 328 | Greenville, NC | $69,310 | 16% below national |
| 329 | Albuquerque, NM | $68,870 | 16% below national |
| 330 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $68,800 | 16% below national |
| 331 | Charleston, WV | $68,670 | 17% below national |
| 332 | Bowling Green, KY | $68,490 | 17% below national |
| 333 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $68,330 | 17% below national |
| 334 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $67,980 | 17% below national |
| 335 | Spartanburg, SC | $67,700 | 18% below national |
| 336 | Beckley, WV | $67,600 | 18% below national |
| 337 | Farmington, NM | $67,600 | 18% below national |
| 338 | Valdosta, GA | $67,600 | 18% below national |
| 339 | Jackson, MS | $67,500 | 18% below national |
| 340 | Birmingham, AL | $67,480 | 18% below national |
| 341 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $67,060 | 18% below national |
| 342 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $66,990 | 19% below national |
| 343 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $66,930 | 19% below national |
| 344 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $66,910 | 19% below national |
| 345 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $66,880 | 19% below national |
| 346 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $66,870 | 19% below national |
| 347 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $66,830 | 19% below national |
| 348 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $66,740 | 19% below national |
| 349 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $66,660 | 19% below national |
| 350 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $66,470 | 19% below national |
| 351 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $66,460 | 19% below national |
| 352 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $66,040 | 20% below national |
| 353 | Joplin, MO-KS | $65,630 | 20% below national |
| 354 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $65,390 | 21% below national |
| 355 | Jackson, TN | $65,310 | 21% below national |
| 356 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $65,260 | 21% below national |
| 357 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $65,240 | 21% below national |
| 358 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $65,070 | 21% below national |
| 359 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $65,010 | 21% below national |
| 360 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $64,950 | 21% below national |
| 361 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $64,910 | 21% below national |
| 362 | Knoxville, TN | $64,800 | 21% below national |
| 363 | Huntsville, AL | $64,330 | 22% below national |
| 364 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $64,200 | 22% below national |
| 365 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $64,140 | 22% below national |
| 366 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $64,120 | 22% below national |
| 367 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $63,860 | 22% below national |
| 368 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $63,800 | 22% below national |
| 369 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $63,690 | 23% below national |
| 370 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $63,690 | 23% below national |
| 371 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $63,630 | 23% below national |
| 372 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $63,250 | 23% below national |
| 373 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $63,010 | 23% below national |
| 374 | Las Cruces, NM | $62,960 | 23% below national |
| 375 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $62,940 | 24% below national |
| 376 | Gadsden, AL | $62,800 | 24% below national |
| 377 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $62,740 | 24% below national |
| 378 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $62,570 | 24% below national |
| 379 | Erie, PA | $62,480 | 24% below national |
| 380 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $62,290 | 24% below national |
| 381 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $62,260 | 24% below national |
| 382 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $62,160 | 24% below national |
| 383 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $61,690 | 25% below national |
| 384 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $61,320 | 25% below national |
| 385 | Dothan, AL | $61,290 | 26% below national |
| 386 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $60,810 | 26% below national |
| 387 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $60,610 | 26% below national |
| 388 | Hattiesburg, MS | $60,170 | 27% below national |
| 389 | Altoona, PA | $59,980 | 27% below national |
| 390 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $57,300 | 30% below national |
| 391 | Jacksonville, NC | $54,790 | 33% below national |
| 392 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $53,770 | 35% below national |
| 393 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $38,410 | 53% below national |
| 394 | Mayaguez, PR | $26,910 | 67% below national |
| 395 | Ponce, PR | $25,780 | 69% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 29 (healthcare practitioners) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Respiratory Therapists make? ▼
The median annual salary for Respiratory Therapists is $82,280 ($39.56/hour). The salary range spans from $63,660 at the 10th percentile to $118,050 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Respiratory Therapists the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Respiratory Therapists at $111,950/year, which is +36% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Respiratory Therapists? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Respiratory Therapists is Associate's degree.
How dangerous is being a Respiratory Therapists? ▼
Respiratory Therapists has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.7 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 1.5 per 100 workers.
Is Respiratory Therapists a good career? ▼
Employment for Respiratory Therapists is projected to grow 12.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 8,800 openings are projected each year.
How does Respiratory Therapists pay vary by state? ▼
Respiratory Therapists salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $111,950/year, while West Virginia pays the least at $68,670/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Respiratory Therapists? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Respiratory Therapists is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $149,680/year. BLS reports wage data for 395 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Respiratory Therapists pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $98,730/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $111,950/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.