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SOC 29-1126 · May 2024

Respiratory Therapist Salary

Average Respiratory Therapist pay climbed from $63,950 in 2019 to $84,260 in 2024 — a +31.8% change in 5 years.

Median annual

$80,450

Half of all Respiratory Therapists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024 release.

Wage trend

2019$63,9506 pts$84,2602024

+31.8% since 2019 · +4.9% YoY

Hourly

$40.51

Outlook

+13%

US workers

136,420

BLS series

Annual median wage for Respiratory Therapists in All Industries in the United States

Salary range

From entry to top decile

The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Respiratory Therapists is $61,900 – $108,820.

Percentile distribution

USD · annual

10th

$61,900

25th

$68,410

Median

$80,450

75th

$95,530

90th

$108,820

By experience level

What each tenure band earns

By experience level

Estimated from BLS percentile distribution. Actual progression varies by employer and region.

Respiratory Therapist levelTenureEstimated salaryBLS reference
Entry levelFirst 0–2 years$61,90010th percentile
Early career2–5 years$68,41025th percentile
Mid-career5–10 years$80,450Median
Experienced10+ years$95,53075th percentile
Senior / leadershipTop 10%$108,82090th percentile

Geography

Respiratory Therapist pay by state

State-level OEWS data lands in Phase 2. The grid below shows national geography ready for that ingest — hover any state for context.

National median

$80,450

AK
ME
VT
NH
WA
MT
ND
MN
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
OR
ID
WY
SD
IA
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
UT
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
AZ
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
DC
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL

Tile-grid layout · 50 states + D.C. · area-uniform, not geographic. State pay differentials populate after Phase 2 OEWS state ingest.

What affects this salary

Pay drivers for Respiratory Therapists

Respiratory therapists assess and treat patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders, from premature infants to elderly patients with COPD. The field grew sharply during and after the pandemic. Entry requires an associate's degree and state licensure.

The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $61,900 – $108,820. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.

Geography matters. Metropolitan areas in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington tend to pay above the national median. Rural and lower-cost states often pay below — though cost-of-living adjustment narrows the real difference.

Credentials compound. Additional certifications, specializations, or advanced degrees consistently push earnings into the 75th and 90th percentile bands. Employer type (hospital vs. private practice, public vs. private sector) also drives meaningful pay variation.

Frequently asked

Questions readers ask

Frequently asked

What is the average Respiratory Therapist salary in the US?
The median annual Respiratory Therapist salary in the United States is $80,450, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 release. This midpoint figure means half of the 136,420 Respiratory Therapists employed nationwide earn above $80,450 and half earn below. The mean annual wage is $84,260 — slightly above the median, reflecting upward pull from high-paying metropolitan and specialty positions. Entry-level earners (10th percentile) typically start around $61,900, while experienced professionals at the 75th percentile reach $95,530. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 29-1126.
How much does a Respiratory Therapist make per hour?
Respiratory Therapists earn a mean hourly wage of $40.51, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 survey. This figure represents the average across all Respiratory Therapists in all industries and geographic areas in the United States. Hourly rates vary considerably based on employer type, geographic location, shift differentials, and years of experience. Hourly equivalents for salaried roles are calculated against a standard 2,080-hour work year (40 hours per week × 52 weeks); actual compensated hours may differ. For reference, the annual mean salary for Respiratory Therapists is $84,260. Part-time workers, per-diem positions, and contract roles may fall above or below this figure depending on the agreed pay structure and premium differentials. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 29-1126.
What does a Respiratory Therapist earn at the entry level?
Entry-level Respiratory Therapists — those in the bottom 10% of the wage distribution — typically earn around $61,900 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 data. Workers in the 25th percentile (early-career, typically 1–4 years of experience) earn approximately $68,410 annually. These figures represent all industries and geographic regions nationwide; entry wages in high-cost states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts often run 10–25% above these benchmarks, while rural areas and lower-cost states may pay below them. As credentials, certifications, and clinical or technical experience accumulate, pay scales toward the median of $80,450 and beyond. Entry wage estimates are derived from BLS percentile bands and are labeled as estimates; they are not directly published as entry wages by the BLS. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 29-1126.
What is the highest salary a Respiratory Therapist can earn?
The top 10% of Respiratory Therapists earn $108,820 or more annually, and the 75th percentile sits at $95,530, according to BLS OEWS May 2024. The highest-paid positions tend to cluster in major metropolitan areas — particularly in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington — and in settings that demand advanced credentials, specialized certifications, or leadership responsibilities. Employer type also drives meaningful pay variation: private-sector roles, large hospital systems, and government positions each carry different pay structures. For Respiratory Therapists, moving from the median ($80,450) to the 90th percentile often involves a combination of advanced degrees or board certifications, supervisory responsibilities, and tenure at a high-volume or high-acuity facility. The mean salary of $84,260 sits below the 90th percentile, indicating most very-high earners are outliers. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 29-1126.
Is the mean Respiratory Therapist salary higher than the median?
Yes, the mean Respiratory Therapist salary ($84,260) is $3,810 above the median ($80,450). When the mean exceeds the median, it signals that a subset of high earners pulls the average upward — a common pattern in occupations with significant pay variation across specialties, employer types, or geographies. The median is generally the more useful benchmark for an individual worker: it represents what a typical Respiratory Therapist earns, unaffected by the very highest outlier salaries. Both figures come from the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey, SOC 29-1126.
Is Respiratory Therapist a growing career?
BLS projects 13% change in Respiratory Therapist employment over the next decade — faster than average compared to the 4% average growth rate across all US occupations. This above-average outlook reflects strong demand driven by demographic trends, technological change, or expanding industry activity. Job seekers entering the Respiratory Therapist field can expect a relatively active hiring market over the coming decade. Source: BLS Employment Projections program.
How many Respiratory Therapists work in the US?
Approximately 136,420 people work as Respiratory Therapists in the United States, making it a specialized occupation in the US labor market. This employment count is based on the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release, SOC 29-1126. The OEWS program covers non-farm wage and salary workers and excludes the self-employed. Total US employment across all occupations surveyed in the same release was approximately 158 million workers. The Respiratory Therapist field represents roughly 0.09% of total surveyed US employment.

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Source & methodology

Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-1126. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.

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