How much does a respiratory therapist make? Respiratory Therapist salary and hourly pay
A respiratory therapist in the US earns a median of $82,280 a year, about $39.56 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $63,660 and the top 10% earn over $118,050. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, District of Columbia, has a median of $111,950.
Respiratory Therapist pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour?
The median respiratory therapist earns $39.56 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $30.61 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56.75 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $63,660 | $30.61 |
| Lower 25% | $74,520 | $35.83 |
| Median (typical) | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Upper 25% | $98,730 | $47.47 |
| Top 10% | $118,050 | $56.75 |
Respiratory Therapist salary by state
Median annual pay for respiratory therapists in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $66,150 | $31.80 |
| Alaska | $97,950 | $47.09 |
| Arizona | $79,780 | $38.36 |
| Arkansas | $73,870 | $35.51 |
| California | $104,820 | $50.39 |
| Colorado | $86,220 | $41.45 |
| Connecticut | $85,230 | $40.98 |
| Delaware | $91,080 | $43.79 |
| District of Columbia | $111,950 | $53.82 |
| Florida | $81,160 | $39.02 |
| Georgia | $83,700 | $40.24 |
| Hawaii | $94,210 | $45.29 |
| Idaho | $78,460 | $37.72 |
| Illinois | $84,090 | $40.43 |
| Indiana | $79,730 | $38.33 |
| Iowa | $74,760 | $35.94 |
| Kansas | $76,970 | $37.00 |
| Kentucky | $72,750 | $34.98 |
| Louisiana | $75,240 | $36.17 |
| Maine | $82,470 | $39.65 |
| Maryland | $88,960 | $42.77 |
| Massachusetts | $102,170 | $49.12 |
| Michigan | $79,850 | $38.39 |
| Minnesota | $98,710 | $47.46 |
| Mississippi | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| Missouri | $78,390 | $37.69 |
| Montana | $81,190 | $39.03 |
| Nebraska | $81,590 | $39.23 |
| Nevada | $85,480 | $41.10 |
| New Hampshire | $95,940 | $46.12 |
| New Jersey | $100,810 | $48.47 |
| New Mexico | $68,870 | $33.11 |
| New York | $107,810 | $51.83 |
| North Carolina | $80,090 | $38.50 |
| North Dakota | $81,230 | $39.05 |
| Ohio | $79,920 | $38.42 |
| Oklahoma | $78,800 | $37.88 |
| Oregon | $100,560 | $48.35 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,490 | $37.74 |
| Rhode Island | $86,900 | $41.78 |
| South Carolina | $77,740 | $37.38 |
| South Dakota | $68,240 | $32.81 |
| Tennessee | $72,140 | $34.68 |
| Texas | $79,540 | $38.24 |
| Utah | $80,650 | $38.77 |
| Vermont | $83,820 | $40.30 |
| Virginia | $82,910 | $39.86 |
| Washington | $101,130 | $48.62 |
| West Virginia | $68,670 | $33.01 |
| Wisconsin | $84,210 | $40.49 |
| Wyoming | $79,330 | $38.14 |
Highest-paying states for respiratory therapists
- District of Columbia: $111,950 median
- New York: $107,810 median
- California: $104,820 median
- Massachusetts: $102,170 median
- Washington: $101,130 median
The lowest medians are in Mississippi ($63,270), Alabama ($66,150), South Dakota ($68,240), West Virginia ($68,670), New Mexico ($68,870). The most respiratory therapist jobs are in California (18,650 jobs), Texas (12,130 jobs), Florida (8,820 jobs), New York (7,010 jobs), Ohio (6,640 jobs).
How much does a respiratory therapist make a month?
At the median salary of $82,280, a respiratory therapist earns about $6,857 a month, $3,165 every two weeks or $1,582 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced respiratory therapist pay
New respiratory therapists typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $63,660 a year and the lowest 25% under $74,520. The top 25% earn over $98,730 and the top 10% over $118,050. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Respiratory Therapist salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Respiratory therapist | $82,280 |
| Medical assistant | $45,690 |
| Surgical tech | $64,650 |
| Radiology tech | $80,110 |
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 |
Common questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make?
The US median is $82,280 a year ($39.56 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour?
The median is about $39.56 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $30.61 and the top 10% about $56.75 an hour.
Which state pays respiratory therapists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median at $111,950, followed by New York ($107,810) and California ($104,820).
How much does a respiratory therapist make a month?
At the US median of $82,280 a year, about $6,857 a month or $3,165 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level respiratory therapist make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $63,660 a year and the lowest 25% under $74,520, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of respiratory therapists make?
The top 10% earn over $118,050 a year; the top 25% earn over $98,730.
How much does a respiratory therapist make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $104,820 in California, $79,540 in Texas, $81,160 in Florida, $107,810 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 29-1126, “Respiratory Therapists”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.