Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical entry preparation: Associate's Degree and 1 to 3 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
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.
Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
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.
Top skills:MonitoringCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessService Orientation
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience level
Entry level$66,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$77,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$85,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$102,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$122,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+12.1%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
8,800
projected openings per year
Growing faster than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Respiratory Therapist salary by industry
Hospitals
112,130 workers
$91,000
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
103,830 workers
$91,000
Hospitals, Privately Owned
96,400 workers
$91,000
Ambulatory Health Care Services
11,310 workers
$94,500
Hospitals, Local Government Owned
10,930 workers
$86,000
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals
8,160 workers
$89,500
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
6,050 workers
$86,000
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)
5,480 workers
$86,000
Hospitals, State Government Owned
4,800 workers
$97,500
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
3,880 workers
$94,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
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.
Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Respiratory Therapist make?
The average base salary for a Respiratory Therapist in the United States is $90,500 per year, or about $43.51 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $77,000 and $102,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical roles?
The Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family averages $162,000 across 91 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Respiratory Therapist pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
