How much does a respiratory therapist make?
The median respiratory therapist in the United States earns $80,450 per year, about $38.68 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all respiratory therapists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 29-1126.
Respiratory therapist salary range
Pay for respiratory therapists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $61,900 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $108,820. The average (mean) wage of $84,260 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $61,900 | $29.76 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $68,410 | $32.89 | |
| Median (50th) | $80,450 | $38.68 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $95,530 | $45.93 | |
| 90th percentile | $108,820 | $52.32 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for respiratory therapists (SOC 29-1126), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Respiratory therapist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Respiratory therapists earn the most in District of Columbia at $104,240 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $61,320. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $104,240 | 360 |
| New York | $103,820 | 6,780 |
| California | $102,120 | 18,310 |
| New Jersey | $98,020 | 3,200 |
| Washington | $97,150 | 1,850 |
| Massachusetts | $96,940 | 2,140 |
| Oregon | $96,130 | 1,410 |
| Hawaii | $94,670 | 310 |
| Alaska | $94,210 | 170 |
| Minnesota | $88,040 | 1,190 |
| Delaware | $87,380 | 410 |
| Maryland | $85,570 | 1,890 |
| New Hampshire | $83,620 | 390 |
| Rhode Island | $83,600 | 250 |
| Connecticut | $83,250 | 1,540 |
| Wisconsin | $82,160 | 1,940 |
| Georgia | $81,890 | 5,030 |
| Illinois | $81,310 | 5,450 |
| Montana | $80,950 | 390 |
| Colorado | $80,690 | 2,070 |
| Florida | $79,710 | 8,840 |
| Virginia | $79,600 | 2,960 |
| Nevada | $79,510 | 1,420 |
| Maine | $79,330 | 450 |
| Arizona | $79,290 | 3,070 |
| Utah | $78,990 | 1,020 |
| Nebraska | $78,880 | 820 |
| Vermont | $78,760 | 230 |
| Ohio | $78,400 | 6,460 |
| Indiana | $77,820 | 3,330 |
| Texas | $77,550 | 11,860 |
| Michigan | $77,460 | 4,150 |
| North Carolina | $77,050 | 4,440 |
| North Dakota | $76,660 | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,160 | 5,850 |
| Oklahoma | $76,080 | 1,700 |
| South Carolina | $75,960 | 1,930 |
| Wyoming | $75,900 | 160 |
| Idaho | $75,510 | 820 |
| Missouri | $73,880 | 3,270 |
| Kansas | $73,580 | 1,260 |
| Louisiana | $70,140 | 2,280 |
| Iowa | $68,790 | 1,050 |
| Arkansas | $67,960 | 1,470 |
| New Mexico | $66,460 | 600 |
| West Virginia | $66,370 | 1,340 |
| Kentucky | $65,670 | 2,860 |
| Tennessee | $65,000 | 3,070 |
| South Dakota | $64,720 | 380 |
| Alabama | $64,010 | 2,250 |
| Mississippi | $61,320 | 1,690 |
State median wages for respiratory therapists (SOC 29-1126), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for respiratory therapists
The BLS projects employment of respiratory therapists to grow 8.5% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 142,000 jobs in 2025 moving toward 154,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 8,600 openings a year for respiratory therapists. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a respiratory therapist
The typical entry-level education for respiratory therapists is an associate's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a respiratory therapist earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $104,240) and the lowest (Mississippi, $61,320) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 136,420 people work as respiratory therapists in the United States. At $80,450 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Respiratory therapist salary FAQ
How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a respiratory therapist is $38.68. The middle half of respiratory therapists earn between $32.89 and $45.93 per hour.
What is the highest respiratory therapist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of respiratory therapists earn more than $108,820 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a respiratory therapist make a year?
The median annual salary for a respiratory therapist is $80,450. The average (mean) wage of $84,260 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a respiratory therapist a well paid job?
At $80,450 a year, a respiratory therapist earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 136,420 people work as respiratory therapists in the United States.
Which state pays respiratory therapists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for respiratory therapists at $104,240 a year. New York ($103,820) and California ($102,120) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a respiratory therapist a good career?
Employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow 8.5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 8,600 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a respiratory therapist?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for respiratory therapists as an associate's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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