Contents
Respiratory Therapist Salary
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $19.70 | $22.85 | $26.86 | $31.90 | $36.26 |
| Annual Wage | $41,000 | $47,500 | $55,900 | $66,400 | $75,400 |
How much does a respiratory therapist make? A respiratory therapist treats patients with breathing issues due to various medical conditions. Respiratory therapists see patients of all different ages and utilize a variety of techniques to treat them including chest physiotherapy, medications, and ventilators. They also diagnose issues in patients by testing lung capacity, performing other diagnostic tests, and examining patients. Becoming a respiratory therapist requires at least an associate’s degree in the subject, but a bachelor’s degree from a college or university is often preferred.
Salary
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for respiratory therapists was $55,870 in 2012. Those respiratory therapists earning in lowest 10 percent made $40,980 or less. The top 10 percent in the field earned $75,430 or more.
Factors Impacting Salary
Those respiratory therapists employed in colleges and universities often earn the highest salaries in the business. Those working in physicians’ office can expect to earn a lower salary. Additionally, the longer one has been working in the field, the more money he or she can expect to make. Earning professional certifications in various areas of respiratory therapy can also increase earnings.
Geographical Location and Salary
In some states, respiratory therapists have higher earnings than in other locations in the United States. In California, Nevada, and Connecticut, therapists earn the most money. The states where respiratory therapists earn the least amount of money are: North Dakota, West Virginia, Kentucky, Iowa, and Alabama.
Work Environment and Schedule
The majority of respiratory therapists work in hospitals. Therefore, the schedule of a therapist in a hospital might consist of evening, night, weekend and holiday shifts. Other respiratory therapists who work in nursing homes often work a varied schedule as well, and those respiratory therapists who visit patients in their homes to give them treatment usually have a schedule based on the needs of their patients.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for respiratory therapists is good. From 2012-2022, the field is expected to expand by 19 percent. This increase is a faster rate of growth than most careers will experience. The reason for the increase in employment is due to the growth ofthe older population in the United States. As people get older, many will develop lung problems from respiratory conditions, and this will create a need for more respiratory therapists. Therapists who will be willing to relocate to less populated areas will have increased opportunities in the field.
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Employment | % of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean salary |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 1,820 | 0.27 | $33.59 | $69,860 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 700 | 0.02 | $31.99 | $66,530 |
| Employment Services | 2,350 | 0.07 | $31.18 | $64,850 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 60 | <.005 | $31.16 | $64,820 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | 250 | 0.04 | $29.51 | $61,380 |
Salary By State
| State | 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Jobs (2010) | Jobs (2020) | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $34,400 | $40,100 | $45,100 | $52,100 | $58,900 | 1,630 | 2,050 | +25% |
| Alaska | $54,700 | $62,900 | $68,300 | $73,800 | $77,400 | 170 | 220 | +33% |
| Arizona | $40,900 | $45,400 | $52,300 | $58,600 | $66,600 | 2,540 | 3,380 | +33% |
| Arkansas | $34,600 | $40,600 | $46,800 | $55,100 | $60,900 | 990 | 1,090 | +11% |
| California | $53,600 | $62,800 | $72,400 | $85,300 | $95,100 | 14,200 | 17,900 | +26% |
| Colorado | $43,700 | $50,000 | $56,100 | $63,500 | $72,300 | 1,640 | 2,310 | +41% |
| Connecticut | $51,600 | $58,800 | $67,500 | $75,300 | $87,800 | 1,360 | 1,680 | +23% |
| Delaware | $48,400 | $54,500 | $63,700 | $71,400 | $76,200 | 400 | 510 | +29% |
| District of Columbia | $44,200 | $46,800 | $56,400 | $67,900 | $74,300 | 330 | 390 | +17% |
| Florida | $41,000 | $46,000 | $52,900 | $59,300 | $68,900 | 7,070 | 8,730 | +24% |
| Georgia | $39,800 | $44,300 | $51,300 | $58,300 | $66,500 | 3,440 | 4,560 | +33% |
| Hawaii | $52,100 | $62,600 | $67,800 | $73,000 | $76,300 | 320 | 400 | +27% |
| Idaho | $41,200 | $46,400 | $53,500 | $60,200 | $69,600 | 420 | 630 | +50% |
| Illinois | $40,100 | $46,300 | $53,500 | $60,000 | $69,300 | 4,110 | 4,760 | +16% |
| Iowa | $38,800 | $42,200 | $47,500 | $55,300 | $60,300 | 920 | 1,140 | +25% |
| Kansas | $39,200 | $43,400 | $50,100 | $56,900 | $61,700 | 1,310 | 1,640 | +26% |
| Kentucky | $33,900 | $39,300 | $44,500 | $51,400 | $58,600 | 2,320 | 2,950 | +27% |
| Louisiana | $39,200 | $44,000 | $51,200 | $58,300 | $66,500 | 2,010 | 2,510 | +25% |
| Maine | $42,300 | $47,800 | $53,900 | $59,600 | $68,000 | 500 | 710 | +41% |
| Maryland | $48,100 | $54,200 | $62,800 | $70,400 | $75,000 | 1,950 | 2,590 | +33% |
| Massachusetts | $50,300 | $56,600 | $66,100 | $74,400 | $86,500 | 2,170 | 2,840 | +31% |
| Michigan | $41,000 | $46,700 | $52,900 | $58,400 | $63,800 | 3,610 | 4,420 | +23% |
| Minnesota | $48,600 | $54,100 | $62,500 | $70,200 | $74,800 | 1,560 | 1,940 | +25% |
| Mississippi | $35,600 | $41,200 | $47,500 | $55,500 | $60,800 | 1,550 | 1,820 | +17% |
| Missouri | $37,600 | $42,700 | $49,500 | $56,800 | $62,100 | 2,970 | 3,570 | +20% |
| Montana | $40,400 | $44,700 | $51,100 | $57,300 | $62,800 | 370 | 540 | +47% |
| Nebraska | $40,400 | $44,100 | $50,500 | $57,800 | $65,000 | 970 | 1,110 | +14% |
| Nevada | $50,900 | $59,800 | $69,500 | $80,500 | $91,100 | 780 | 970 | +25% |
| New Hampshire | $46,900 | $53,100 | $61,900 | $70,400 | $75,500 | 530 | 660 | +23% |
| New Jersey | $53,900 | $62,000 | $68,100 | $74,100 | $83,100 | 2,570 | 2,890 | +12% |
| New Mexico | $39,200 | $45,700 | $53,500 | $59,700 | $68,700 | 390 | 500 | +29% |
| New York | $47,800 | $56,700 | $66,000 | $73,200 | $81,500 | 5,930 | 6,830 | +15% |
| North Carolina | $40,900 | $45,100 | $51,900 | $58,400 | $65,700 | 3,270 | 3,950 | +21% |
| North Dakota | $39,600 | $42,200 | $46,500 | $53,300 | $59,200 | 210 | 280 | +32% |
| Ohio | $40,900 | $46,000 | $52,500 | $58,200 | $63,900 | 5,800 | 7,150 | +23% |
| Oklahoma | $38,600 | $42,400 | $48,300 | $57,000 | $64,600 | 1,220 | 1,670 | +37% |
| Oregon | $49,000 | $53,500 | $61,000 | $69,100 | $74,000 | 1,100 | 1,370 | 0% |
| Pennsylvania | $41,700 | $48,700 | $56,100 | $64,700 | $72,100 | 5,020 | 6,030 | +20% |
| Rhode Island | $43,300 | $50,300 | $62,700 | $70,200 | $74,600 | 430 | 520 | +20% |
| South Carolina | $39,400 | $44,600 | $52,500 | $60,000 | $70,500 | 1,790 | 2,260 | +26% |
| South Dakota | $35,700 | $41,600 | $48,800 | $56,600 | $61,700 | – | – | – |
| Tennessee | $36,000 | $41,000 | $47,000 | $54,900 | $59,900 | 2,850 | 3,490 | +23% |
| Texas | $41,400 | $47,800 | $54,100 | $60,200 | $69,800 | 10,300 | 14,050 | +36% |
| Utah | $41,500 | $46,800 | $55,500 | $65,300 | $73,100 | 840 | 1,140 | +35% |
| Vermont | $42,900 | $49,300 | $57,000 | $66,800 | $73,900 | 190 | 220 | +21% |
| Virginia | $40,400 | $46,600 | $56,200 | $66,200 | $73,100 | 2,340 | 2,860 | +22% |
| Washington | $50,000 | $55,000 | $63,600 | $71,900 | $77,900 | 1,790 | 2,210 | +24% |
| West Virginia | $34,100 | $39,400 | $45,600 | $54,200 | $60,700 | 880 | 1,120 | +28% |
| Wisconsin | $42,600 | $48,500 | $55,900 | $64,600 | $72,300 | 1,870 | 2,420 | +29% |
| Wyoming | $41,600 | $48,400 | $54,000 | $59,600 | $67,900 | 280 | 370 | +30% |
