Respiratory therapists earn a median annual salary of $82,280, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for May 2025.
That works out to approximately $39.56 per hour for a full-time schedule.
However, respiratory therapist salaries vary considerably.
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $63,660 per year, while the highest-paid 10% earned more than $118,050 per year.
Your actual income can depend on:
- Experience
- Location
- Employer
- Hospital department
- Shift
- Overtime
- Specialty
- Credentials
- Local demand
Respiratory therapists working nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, or specialty hospital roles may earn substantially more than their base salary.
Quick Answer
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| Respiratory Therapist Pay | Amount |
|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $82,280 |
| Approx. median hourly wage | $39.56 |
| Lowest 10% | Less than $63,660 |
| Highest 10% | More than $118,050 |
| Average/mean annual wage | $87,300 |
These are national figures.
A respiratory therapist’s actual paycheck may be higher or lower depending on where they work and whether they receive shift differentials, overtime, bonuses, or other compensation.
What Is the Average Respiratory Therapist Salary?
There are two useful national salary figures.
Median salary: $82,280
The median means that:
- Half of respiratory therapists earn more than $82,280.
- Half earn less than $82,280.
For most people comparing careers, the median is generally the more useful figure because exceptionally high or low salaries have less influence on it.
Mean salary: $87,300
The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program reports a national mean annual wage of approximately $87,300 for respiratory therapists in May 2025.
The mean is the mathematical average.
That is why you may see some websites say respiratory therapists earn approximately $87,000 while others quote around $82,000.
Both figures can be correct—they measure different things.
How Much Do Respiratory Therapists Make Per Hour?
The national median works out to approximately:
$39.56 per hour
assuming the standard BLS full-time annual equivalent of 2,080 hours.
Approximate wage levels based on current BLS salary figures are:
| Earnings Level | Annual Pay | Approx. Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Lower 10% | Below $63,660 | Below ~$30.61 |
| Median | $82,280 | ~$39.56 |
| Upper 10% | Above $118,050 | Above ~$56.75 |
Hourly pay can be significantly higher for:
- Overtime
- Night shifts
- Weekend shifts
- Holiday shifts
- Per-diem work
- Travel positions
These additional payments are not reflected uniformly in national base-wage figures.
How Much Do Respiratory Therapists Make Per Month?
Using the national median annual salary of $82,280:
$82,280 ÷ 12 = approximately $6,857 per month before taxes and deductions.
This is gross income, not take-home pay.
A respiratory therapist’s actual paycheck may be reduced by:
- Federal income tax
- State income tax where applicable
- Social Security
- Medicare
- Health insurance
- Retirement contributions
- Other employee benefits or deductions
Do not confuse gross salary with the amount deposited into a bank account.
How Much Do Respiratory Therapists Make Per Week?
At the national median:
$82,280 ÷ 52 = approximately $1,582 per week before deductions.
For a standard 40-hour workweek, this corresponds roughly to the $39.56 hourly median.
Actual weekly income may change considerably if a respiratory therapist works:
- Three 12-hour shifts
- Overtime
- Extra shifts
- On-call coverage
- Night differential
- Weekend differential
Hospital scheduling does not always follow a conventional Monday-to-Friday 40-hour schedule.
How Much Do Respiratory Therapists Make Every Two Weeks?
At the national median, the approximate gross biweekly earnings would be:
$82,280 ÷ 26 = about $3,165 every two weeks.
Again, this is only a mathematical conversion of the annual median.
It is not a guaranteed paycheck.
Respiratory Therapist Salary Range
BLS data shows that earnings span a relatively wide range.
The national distribution includes:
- Lower 10%: below $63,660
- Median: $82,280
- Upper 10%: above $118,050
This means experienced or highly compensated respiratory therapists can earn well above $100,000.
At the same time, new graduates in lower-paying regions may begin below the national median.
How Much Does an Entry-Level Respiratory Therapist Make?
There is no single national BLS salary specifically labeled “entry-level respiratory therapist.”
A new graduate’s starting salary depends heavily on:
- State
- City
- Hospital
- Shift
- Credential
- Local staffing needs
Entry-level therapists often earn less than the national median because the median includes both newer and experienced workers.
However, a new therapist working in a high-paying metropolitan area, on night shifts, or in a hospital with significant staffing demand could potentially earn more than an experienced therapist in a lower-paying market.
This is why salary should not be estimated from years of experience alone.
How Much Do Experienced Respiratory Therapists Make?
Experienced respiratory therapists may earn:
- Higher base wages
- Seniority increases
- Specialty differentials
- Shift premiums
- Overtime
- Leadership pay
Nationally, the highest 10% of respiratory therapists earn more than $118,050 per year.
That does not mean every experienced therapist reaches this level.
Location and employer often influence pay as much as experience.
Can Respiratory Therapists Make $100,000 a Year?
Yes.
Six-figure respiratory therapist salaries are possible.
The national BLS data itself shows that the upper portion of the profession earns above $100,000, with the highest 10% earning more than $118,050.
A therapist may be more likely to reach six figures through a combination of:
- High-paying location
- Experience
- Night shifts
- Weekend shifts
- Overtime
- Specialty responsibilities
- Supervisory roles
- Per-diem work
A $100,000 salary should therefore be viewed as achievable for some respiratory therapists, but not as the typical national starting salary.
Can Respiratory Therapists Make More Than $120,000?
Yes, some can.
BLS reports that the highest-paid 10% earn more than $118,050 nationally, which means some individual respiratory therapists earn substantially above that threshold.
Compensation above $120,000 is more plausible in:
- High-cost labor markets
- Senior clinical positions
- Extensive overtime arrangements
- Leadership positions
- Specialty roles
- Certain travel or temporary assignments
The national median remains much lower at $82,280.
Respiratory Therapist Salary by Workplace
Where you work affects compensation.
According to BLS, median annual wages in May 2025 included:
| Employer | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Hospitals — state, local and private | $82,730 |
| Skilled nursing facilities | $79,270 |
| Offices of physicians | $77,890 |
Hospitals are particularly important because they employ the majority of respiratory therapists.
Approximately 80% of respiratory therapists worked in hospitals in 2025.
That includes departments such as:
- Intensive care
- Emergency care
- Neonatal intensive care
- Pulmonary units
- General inpatient care
Hospital Respiratory Therapist Salary
Respiratory therapists working in state, local, and private hospitals earned a median annual salary of approximately:
$82,730
in May 2025.
This is slightly above the overall profession median of $82,280.
Hospital employment may also provide opportunities for:
- Night differential
- Weekend differential
- Holiday pay
- Overtime
- On-call pay
These can make total annual compensation higher than the published base salary.
Respiratory Therapist Salary in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Respiratory therapists working in skilled nursing facilities had a median annual wage of approximately:
$79,270
according to the May 2025 BLS data.
Respiratory therapists in these facilities may care for patients who need:
- Long-term oxygen
- Tracheostomy care
- Ventilator support
- Airway management
- Chronic respiratory care
Respiratory Therapist Salary in Physician Offices
Respiratory therapists working in physician offices had a median annual wage of approximately:
$77,890
in May 2025.
Office-based positions may sometimes provide more conventional working hours than hospital roles, although schedules vary by employer.
Salary should therefore be weighed alongside:
- Schedule
- Benefits
- Overtime availability
- Work environment
- Career goals
Where Do Most Respiratory Therapists Work?
BLS estimates that respiratory therapists held approximately 142,000 jobs in 2025.
Major employers included:
| Employer | Share of RT Employment |
|---|---|
| Hospitals | 80% |
| Skilled nursing facilities | 4% |
| Physician offices | 3% |
Most respiratory therapists therefore work in hospital environments.
If you want to understand the actual responsibilities behind these salaries, see our guide on what a respiratory therapist does.
Respiratory Therapist Salary by State
Respiratory therapist pay varies significantly between states.
Factors include:
- Cost of living
- Hospital wages
- Union agreements
- Staffing shortages
- State labor markets
- Urban vs. rural location
- Competition between healthcare systems
Historically, states such as California have often appeared among the higher-paying markets for respiratory therapists.
However, state rankings change as new wage data is released.
Rather than relying on an old “top 10 states” list, check the latest BLS state occupational wage estimates for the state where you actually plan to work.
A higher salary does not automatically mean greater purchasing power.
For example, a $110,000 salary in a high-cost metropolitan area may not provide the same disposable income as a lower salary in an area with much cheaper:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Taxes
- Childcare
- Insurance
Respiratory Therapist Salary by City
Pay can vary even within the same state.
Large metropolitan areas may offer higher salaries because of:
- Higher living costs
- Larger hospitals
- Academic medical centers
- Greater competition for skilled staff
- Labor contracts
- Specialty hospitals
However, rural hospitals may sometimes offer incentives when they have difficulty recruiting respiratory therapists.
When comparing job offers, evaluate the specific employer and city rather than relying only on a state average.
Does Experience Increase Respiratory Therapist Salary?
Usually, but not in a perfectly predictable way.
Many employers use structured pay scales.
A therapist may move through wage levels based on:
- Years of experience
- Performance
- Seniority
- Credentials
- Additional responsibilities
An experienced respiratory therapist may also qualify for positions such as:
- Lead respiratory therapist
- Clinical specialist
- Supervisor
- Manager
- Educator
These positions can change compensation substantially.
Does the RRT Credential Increase Salary?
The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential can improve employability and may be required or preferred for certain positions.
However, there is no universal national salary increase attached automatically to having an RRT credential.
Individual employers determine:
- Hiring requirements
- Credential differentials
- Promotion criteria
- Salary scales
Therefore, it would be misleading to say that earning an RRT automatically increases salary by a specific dollar amount.
The credential can still be valuable because it may provide access to a wider range of positions.
Does a Bachelor’s Degree Increase Respiratory Therapist Pay?
Not automatically.
Respiratory therapists typically need at least an associate degree to enter the profession, although some employers prefer candidates with bachelor’s degrees.
A bachelor’s degree may become more valuable when pursuing:
- Management
- Education
- Leadership
- Administration
- Advanced professional roles
However, two respiratory therapists performing the same bedside job for the same employer may not necessarily receive different pay solely because one has a bachelor’s degree.
Prospective students should therefore compare the additional cost of education with their long-term career goals.
Our guide on how to become a respiratory therapist explains the associate and bachelor’s pathways in more detail.
Do Respiratory Therapists Make More With Specialty Credentials?
They can, depending on the employer and role.
Respiratory therapists may develop expertise in areas such as:
- Adult critical care
- Neonatal and pediatric respiratory care
- Pulmonary function testing
- Sleep medicine
Additional credentials can strengthen qualifications for specialty positions.
However, salary premiums are employer-specific.
A specialty credential should not be assumed to produce a guaranteed national percentage increase in salary.
Do ICU Respiratory Therapists Make More?
Not always.
Respiratory therapists working in intensive care may have significant responsibilities involving:
- Mechanical ventilation
- Airway management
- Critical-care monitoring
- Emergency response
- Intubation assistance
Some hospitals provide specialty, critical-care, or shift differentials.
Others place ICU and general respiratory therapists on the same underlying pay scale.
Therefore, ICU experience can improve professional opportunities without guaranteeing a specific salary premium.
Do NICU Respiratory Therapists Make More?
Neonatal intensive care requires specialized skills.
NICU respiratory therapists may manage:
- Neonatal ventilation
- CPAP
- Oxygen therapy
- Airway support
- Premature infant respiratory conditions
Some employers may compensate specialized experience differently, but there is no universal national NICU salary premium.
Does Night Shift Pay More?
Often.
Healthcare employers commonly use shift differentials to attract employees to less desirable working hours.
Additional pay may be offered for:
- Nights
- Evenings
- Weekends
- Holidays
For example, a therapist may receive a base hourly wage plus an additional amount for night shift.
The amount varies by employer and sometimes by union contract.
This can materially increase annual compensation for hospital respiratory therapists.
Do Respiratory Therapists Get Overtime?
Many hourly respiratory therapists are eligible for overtime.
Overtime can increase annual earnings substantially.
A therapist earning approximately $40 per hour could have a substantially higher overtime rate depending on:
- Employment classification
- Federal and state law
- Hospital policy
- Union agreement
Do not assume every salaried or hourly position follows the same overtime structure.
Do Respiratory Therapists Get Paid More on Holidays?
Some employers provide:
- Holiday differentials
- Premium holiday rates
- Additional paid time off
Hospitals operate around the clock, so respiratory therapists may be scheduled on:
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- New Year’s Day
- Other holidays
Compensation policies vary by employer.
What About Travel Respiratory Therapist Salary?
Travel respiratory therapy assignments may advertise high weekly compensation.
However, travel-pay advertisements can include several components:
- Taxable wages
- Housing stipends
- Meal allowances
- Travel reimbursement
- Completion bonuses
A headline weekly amount should therefore not automatically be compared with a permanent employee’s base wage.
Travel assignments may also involve:
- Temporary contracts
- Licensing in multiple states
- Housing expenses
- Less predictable employment
- Different benefit arrangements
Compare total compensation carefully.
Full-Time vs. Per-Diem Respiratory Therapist Pay
Per-diem respiratory therapists may receive a higher hourly rate than permanent full-time employees.
This can happen because per-diem workers may receive fewer benefits.
Full-time employees may receive valuable compensation through:
- Health insurance
- Retirement matching
- Paid vacation
- Sick leave
- Tuition assistance
- Disability insurance
- Life insurance
A $5-per-hour difference does not necessarily mean the per-diem job provides better total compensation.
Respiratory Therapist Salary vs. Benefits
Salary is only part of compensation.
A strong hospital benefits package can be worth thousands of dollars annually.
When comparing positions, consider:
- Base wage
- Health insurance
- Retirement contributions
- Paid time off
- Continuing education
- Tuition reimbursement
- Credential reimbursement
- Shift differential
- Overtime
- Bonuses
Comparing only annual salary can lead to a poor financial decision.
Respiratory Therapist Salary vs. Registered Nurse Salary
Respiratory therapists and registered nurses often work together, but they are different professions.
Respiratory therapists specialize more heavily in:
- Airway care
- Mechanical ventilation
- Oxygen therapy
- Cardiopulmonary assessment
Nurses provide broader patient care across many clinical areas.
Salary differences depend on:
- Location
- Specialty
- Experience
- Education
- Shift
- Employer
The occupations should not be chosen solely based on national salary figures because their responsibilities and career pathways differ significantly.
Respiratory Therapist Salary vs. Physical Therapist Salary
Physical therapists generally have a different education requirement and compensation structure.
Respiratory therapy usually offers a faster educational pathway because an associate degree is the typical entry-level education.
That makes educational cost and years spent in school important when comparing healthcare careers—not just eventual salary.
Is Respiratory Therapy a Good-Paying Career?
Relative to its typical educational requirement, respiratory therapy can provide strong earnings.
The national median of $82,280 is well above the $50,980 median annual wage for all U.S. occupations in May 2025.
Respiratory therapy also typically requires an associate degree rather than the graduate education required for some other therapy professions.
However, compensation should be considered alongside:
- Education cost
- Shift work
- Physical demands
- Exposure to infectious illness
- Stress
- Night and holiday work
Is Respiratory Therapy in Demand?
Yes.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects respiratory therapist employment to increase 9% from 2025 to 2035.
That is faster than the projected rate for all occupations.
BLS estimates approximately 8,600 respiratory therapist openings per year on average during the decade.
Some openings will result from job growth, while others will occur as workers:
- Retire
- Change careers
- Leave the labor force
Why Is Demand for Respiratory Therapists Growing?
Demand is influenced by several factors.
An aging population can increase the number of people needing treatment for respiratory and cardiopulmonary conditions.
Respiratory therapists commonly care for patients with:
- COPD
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
- Respiratory failure
- Sleep-related breathing problems
- Other lung conditions
They also play important roles in:
- Emergency departments
- ICUs
- Neonatal intensive care
- Mechanical ventilation
How Can Respiratory Therapists Increase Their Earnings?
Potential strategies include:
Gain experience
Experienced therapists may qualify for higher salary bands and senior positions.
Earn advanced credentials
Credentials can strengthen eligibility for specialty and advanced positions.
Consider specialty areas
Experience in:
- Critical care
- Neonatal care
- Pulmonary function testing
- Sleep medicine
can expand career opportunities.
Take night or weekend shifts
Shift differentials can increase hourly compensation.
Work overtime selectively
Overtime may substantially increase annual earnings where available.
Consider leadership
Supervisory and management positions may have higher compensation.
Compare locations
Salary varies substantially by labor market.
However, always compare cost of living as well.
Compare total compensation
A lower base salary with excellent benefits can sometimes be financially stronger than a higher hourly wage without benefits.
How Long Does It Take to Reach a Higher Respiratory Therapist Salary?
There is no fixed national timeline.
Salary progression depends on an employer’s pay system.
Some hospitals provide:
- Annual raises
- Step-based increases
- Merit increases
- Credential adjustments
- Promotions
The advantage of respiratory therapy is that the standard path into the profession does not necessarily require many years of postgraduate education.
If you are considering the profession, see our complete guide on how to become a respiratory therapist.
Respiratory Therapist Salary at a Glance
| Question | Current Answer |
|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $82,280 |
| Mean annual wage | $87,300 |
| Approx. median hourly pay | $39.56 |
| Approx. monthly median | $6,857 gross |
| Approx. weekly median | $1,582 gross |
| Lowest 10% | Below $63,660 |
| Highest 10% | Above $118,050 |
| Hospital median | $82,730 |
| Skilled nursing median | $79,270 |
| Physician office median | $77,890 |
| Job growth, 2025–2035 | 9% |
| Average annual openings | About 8,600 |
The Bottom Line
Respiratory therapists earn a national median annual salary of $82,280, or approximately $39.56 per hour, based on the latest May 2025 BLS data.
The national mean salary is higher at approximately $87,300 per year.
Pay ranges considerably:
- Lowest 10%: below $63,660
- Median: $82,280
- Highest 10%: above $118,050
Hospital respiratory therapists earn a median of approximately $82,730.
Actual compensation can increase through:
- Experience
- Shift differentials
- Overtime
- Specialty work
- Leadership
- High-paying geographic markets
The career outlook is also favorable.
BLS projects respiratory therapist employment to grow 9% from 2025 to 2035, with approximately 8,600 openings each year on average.
For a healthcare career that typically requires an associate degree to enter, respiratory therapy can offer relatively strong earnings without the extended graduate-level education required for several other clinical professions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do respiratory therapists make a year?
The median annual salary for respiratory therapists was $82,280 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national mean annual wage was approximately $87,300.
How much do respiratory therapists make per hour?
The national median annual salary corresponds to approximately $39.56 per hour for a standard full-time schedule.
How much do respiratory therapists make per month?
At the national median salary of $82,280, gross monthly earnings are approximately $6,857 before taxes, insurance, retirement contributions, and other deductions.
Can respiratory therapists make $100,000 a year?
Yes. Some respiratory therapists earn more than $100,000. BLS reports that the highest 10% earn more than $118,050 annually.
Can respiratory therapists make more than $120,000?
Yes, individual respiratory therapists can earn above $120,000, particularly in higher-paying labor markets or through senior roles, overtime, specialty work, or shift premiums. However, this is well above the national median.
How much do hospital respiratory therapists make?
Respiratory therapists working in state, local, and private hospitals earned a median annual wage of approximately $82,730 in May 2025.
Do respiratory therapists make more on night shift?
Many hospitals offer shift differentials for nights, weekends, or holidays. The amount varies by employer, so night-shift respiratory therapists may earn more than colleagues working the same position during standard daytime hours.
Do respiratory therapists get overtime?
Many respiratory therapists may be eligible for overtime depending on their employment classification, work schedule, employer policy, and applicable law. Overtime can substantially increase total annual earnings.
Does an RRT make more than a CRT?
An RRT credential may improve access to certain positions, but there is no universal national salary increase guaranteed simply for holding the RRT credential. Compensation policies vary by employer.
Does a bachelor’s degree increase respiratory therapist salary?
Not automatically. A bachelor’s degree may improve opportunities for management, leadership, education, or advanced roles, but employers do not universally pay bedside respiratory therapists more solely because they hold a bachelor’s degree.
What is the highest salary for a respiratory therapist?
There is no fixed maximum salary. BLS reports that the highest-paid 10% of respiratory therapists earn more than $118,050 annually, meaning some individual salaries exceed that amount.
Is respiratory therapy a good-paying career?
Respiratory therapy has a national median salary of $82,280, compared with $50,980 for all U.S. occupations in May 2025. It also typically requires an associate degree for entry, although salary, education costs, work schedules, and career goals should all be considered.
