Respiratory therapists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $63,660 | $30.61 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Mean (average) | $87,300 | $41.97 |
| 90th percentile | $118,050 | $56.75 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Respiratory therapists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $66,150 | $50,250 | $81,030 | 2,350 | 1.24 |
| Alaska | $97,950 | $80,250 | $114,590 | 180 | 0.62 |
| Arizona | $79,780 | $64,780 | $99,180 | 3,500 | 1.2 |
| Arkansas | $73,870 | $59,550 | $93,480 | 1,400 | 1.19 |
| California | $104,820 | $77,010 | $145,510 | 18,650 | 1.14 |
| Colorado | $86,220 | $66,560 | $109,070 | 2,110 | 0.82 |
| Connecticut | $85,230 | $72,410 | $121,620 | 1,370 | 0.9 |
| Delaware | $91,080 | $79,210 | $109,890 | 500 | 1.15 |
| District of Columbia | $111,950 | $77,240 | $127,400 | 430 | 0.69 |
| Florida | $81,160 | $64,240 | $100,310 | 8,820 | 0.99 |
| Georgia | $83,700 | $65,050 | $112,320 | 5,150 | 1.17 |
| Hawaii | $94,210 | $80,130 | $102,780 | 510 | 0.91 |
| Idaho | $78,460 | $63,540 | $95,290 | 820 | 1.06 |
| Illinois | $84,090 | $64,480 | $100,100 | 4,880 | 0.89 |
| Indiana | $79,730 | $62,730 | $94,980 | 3,170 | 1.1 |
| Iowa | $74,760 | $62,860 | $86,510 | 910 | 0.65 |
| Kansas | $76,970 | $60,470 | $94,600 | 1,450 | 1.13 |
| Kentucky | $72,750 | $58,330 | $92,540 | 2,530 | 1.41 |
| Louisiana | $75,240 | $61,520 | $91,200 | 2,520 | 1.45 |
| Maine | $82,470 | $61,060 | $98,470 | 520 | 0.9 |
| Maryland | $88,960 | $69,550 | $106,430 | 1,800 | 0.72 |
| Massachusetts | $102,170 | $80,330 | $123,930 | 2,220 | 0.68 |
| Michigan | $79,850 | $64,770 | $90,210 | 4,520 | 1.14 |
| Minnesota | $98,710 | $79,060 | $110,050 | 1,250 | 0.47 |
| Mississippi | $63,270 | $50,180 | $80,460 | 1,670 | 1.6 |
| Missouri | $78,390 | $60,950 | $95,730 | 3,030 | 1.15 |
| Montana | $81,190 | $60,800 | $92,890 | 390 | 0.85 |
| Nebraska | $81,590 | $64,100 | $96,180 | 840 | 0.91 |
| Nevada | $85,480 | $65,150 | $118,710 | 1,270 | 0.91 |
| New Hampshire | $95,940 | $80,490 | $109,000 | 360 | 0.59 |
| New Jersey | $100,810 | $78,000 | $123,370 | 3,350 | 0.87 |
| New Mexico | $68,870 | $61,990 | $91,220 | 840 | 1.08 |
| New York | $107,810 | $81,270 | $131,500 | 7,010 | 0.81 |
| North Carolina | $80,090 | $63,990 | $99,520 | 4,630 | 1.04 |
| North Dakota | $81,230 | $65,770 | $100,490 | 270 | 0.71 |
| Ohio | $79,920 | $65,580 | $97,030 | 6,640 | 1.33 |
| Oklahoma | $78,800 | $64,380 | $95,350 | 2,000 | 1.3 |
| Oregon | $100,560 | $81,490 | $120,060 | 1,340 | 0.76 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,490 | $62,440 | $95,520 | 6,530 | 1.2 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,000 | $25,880 | $96,570 | 800 | 0.95 |
| Rhode Island | $86,900 | $73,240 | $122,120 | 260 | 0.57 |
| South Carolina | $77,740 | $63,700 | $90,670 | 1,960 | 0.94 |
| South Dakota | $68,240 | $48,530 | $88,830 | 430 | 1.04 |
| Tennessee | $72,140 | $57,860 | $88,060 | 3,440 | 1.17 |
| Texas | $79,540 | $61,310 | $99,690 | 12,130 | 0.96 |
| Utah | $80,650 | $61,860 | $101,340 | 1,170 | 0.75 |
| Vermont | $83,820 | $50,310 | $99,940 | 210 | 0.79 |
| Virginia | $82,910 | $65,540 | $106,470 | 3,340 | 0.9 |
| Washington | $101,130 | $76,080 | $127,520 | 1,860 | 0.58 |
| West Virginia | $68,670 | $52,940 | $94,280 | 1,140 | 1.8 |
| Wisconsin | $84,210 | $70,520 | $100,320 | 1,940 | 0.74 |
| Wyoming | $79,330 | $64,300 | $91,840 | 160 | 0.64 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for respiratory therapists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 8,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for respiratory therapists
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist CIP 51.0908
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- 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.
- Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
- Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
- Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
- 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.
Technology skills
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Database software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- HMS
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Instructing.
Common job titles: CRRT (Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist), CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist), Diagnostics RRT (Diagnostics Registered Respiratory Therapist), Infant RT (Infant Respiratory Therapist), Licensed CRT (Licensed Certified Respiratory Therapist), Licensed RT (Licensed Respiratory Therapist), Registered Respiratory Care Practitioner (Registered RCP), Registered Respiratory Practitioner, Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do respiratory therapists make?
The national median annual wage for respiratory therapists was $82,280 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $63,660 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $118,050. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do respiratory therapists need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is respiratory therapists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of respiratory therapists to change +8.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 8,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay respiratory therapists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($111,950), New York ($107,810), California ($104,820). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.