Respiratory therapists manage airways, ventilators, and breathing treatments for patients from premature infants to ICU adults. Here’s what RTs actually earn across the country.
Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)
Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for respiratory therapists, across all industries:
Percentile
Annual Wage
Hourly Equivalent
10th (entry level)
$63,660
$30.61
25th
$74,520
$35.83
50th (median)
$82,280
$39.56
75th
$98,730
$47.47
90th
$118,050
$56.75
Average (mean)
$87,300
$41.97
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Respiratory Therapists (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.
RT Salary by Setting
Setting
Notes
Travel/Agency RT
13-week contracts, housing included
NICU (Neonatal ICU)
Specialized, high demand
ICU/Critical Care
Ventilator management, highest acuity
Hospital (General)
Floor therapy, ER support
Pulmonary Function Lab
PFTs, diagnostic testing
Sleep Lab/Polysomnography
Night shifts, separate credential option
Rehabilitation Center
Long-term vent weaning
Home Health/DME
Patient education, equipment setup
Physician Office
Outpatient, lower acuity
RT Salary by State
Rank
State
Avg Salary
Starting Salary
Median Salary
1
New York
$110,200
$81,270
$107,810
2
California
$109,440
$77,010
$104,820
3
District of Columbia
$108,020
$77,240
$111,950
4
Massachusetts
$100,580
$80,330
$102,170
5
New Jersey
$99,760
$78,000
$100,810
6
Washington
$99,740
$76,080
$101,130
7
Oregon
$98,160
$81,490
$100,560
8
Minnesota
$96,890
$79,060
$98,710
9
Alaska
$96,290
$80,250
$97,950
10
New Hampshire
$93,700
$80,490
$95,940
11
Rhode Island
$93,410
$73,240
$86,900
12
Hawaii
$93,380
$80,130
$94,210
13
Connecticut
$92,510
$72,410
$85,230
14
Delaware
$92,190
$79,210
$91,080
15
Maryland
$90,600
$69,550
$88,960
16
Nevada
$90,530
$65,150
$85,480
17
Georgia
$88,340
$65,050
$83,700
18
Colorado
$88,300
$66,560
$86,220
19
Virginia
$87,310
$65,540
$82,910
20
Wisconsin
$86,230
$70,520
$84,210
21
Illinois
$84,920
$64,480
$84,090
22
North Dakota
$84,710
$65,770
$81,230
23
Vermont
$84,640
$50,310
$83,820
24
Florida
$82,400
$64,240
$81,160
25
North Carolina
$81,360
$63,990
$80,090
26
Ohio
$81,240
$65,580
$79,920
27
Texas
$81,010
$61,310
$79,540
28
Arizona
$80,980
$64,780
$79,780
29
Nebraska
$80,710
$64,100
$81,590
30
Utah
$80,500
$61,860
$80,650
31
Maine
$80,400
$61,060
$82,470
32
Michigan
$78,550
$64,770
$79,850
33
Idaho
$78,370
$63,540
$78,460
34
Indiana
$78,190
$62,730
$79,730
35
Pennsylvania
$78,180
$62,440
$78,490
36
Montana
$77,850
$60,800
$81,190
37
Oklahoma
$77,710
$64,380
$78,800
38
Wyoming
$76,980
$64,300
$79,330
39
Missouri
$76,490
$60,950
$78,390
40
South Carolina
$76,490
$63,700
$77,740
41
Kansas
$74,860
$60,470
$76,970
42
Louisiana
$74,690
$61,520
$75,240
43
Iowa
$74,260
$62,860
$74,760
44
New Mexico
$73,720
$61,990
$68,870
45
Arkansas
$72,740
$59,550
$73,870
46
Kentucky
$72,470
$58,330
$72,750
47
Tennessee
$72,300
$57,860
$72,140
48
West Virginia
$71,970
$52,940
$68,670
49
South Dakota
$68,910
$48,530
$68,240
50
Alabama
$68,480
$50,250
$66,150
51
Mississippi
$68,120
$50,180
$63,270
—
National
$87,300
$63,660
$82,280
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Respiratory Therapists (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate.
RT Salary by Experience
Experience Level
Median Salary
Hourly Rate
New Graduate (0-1 year)
$58,000
$28
Early Career (1-3 years)
$65,000
$31
Mid-Career (3-7 years)
$75,000
$36
Experienced (7-15 years)
$82,000
$39
Senior (15+ years)
$88,000
$42
RT Career Path
Role
Salary Range
Requirements
Staff RT (General)
$58,000-$78,000
RRT credential
ICU/Critical Care RT
$72,000-$92,000
RRT + experience
NICU RT
$75,000-$95,000
RRT + neonatal specialty
Lead/Charge RT
$78,000-$95,000
5+ years experience
RT Supervisor
$80,000-$100,000
7+ years + leadership
RT Manager/Director
$90,000-$130,000
Bachelor’s/Master’s + 10+ years
RT Educator
$75,000-$95,000
Master’s preferred
Pulmonary Function Specialist
$72,000-$88,000
CPFT/RPFT credential
RT vs. Similar Healthcare Careers
Career
Median Salary
Education
Job Growth
Registered Nurse
$86,000
ADN/BSN (2-4 yr)
+6%
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
$84,000
Associate (2 yr)
+15%
Respiratory Therapist
$77,000
Associate (2 yr)
+13%
Radiologic Technologist
$73,000
Associate (2 yr)
+6%
Surgical Technologist
$60,000
Associate (2 yr)
+6%
Medical Assistant
$42,000
Certificate (1 yr)
+15%
How to Maximize RT Salary
Strategy
Potential Increase
Travel RT assignments
+$15,000-$40,000+
Specialize in NICU
+$5,000-$15,000
Work ICU/Critical Care
+$3,000-$12,000
Night/weekend shift differentials
+$3,000-$8,000
Get ACCS (Adult Critical Care) credential
+$2,000-$5,000
Get NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric) credential
+$2,000-$5,000
Move to a high-paying state
+$10,000-$25,000
Earn a bachelor’s degree
Opens management track
Take manager/director role
+$15,000-$40,000
RT Income vs. Education Cost
Metric
Value
Associate degree cost
$12,000-$30,000
Bachelor’s degree cost
$40,000-$80,000
Average student debt
$18,000-$35,000
Starting salary
$58,000-$65,000
Debt-to-income ratio
0.3-0.6x
Time to pay off
2-4 years
Very manageable education cost relative to earning potential.
WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.
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