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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Respiratory Therapist actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $72,161 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $51,460 to $131,440. The $50,513 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
A career as a Respiratory Therapist sits at the intersection of Healthcare and Healthcare. Most professionals enter with Associate's or bachelor's, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is hospital. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$79,980 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Respiratory Therapist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $131,440 — $79,980 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($51,460). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Respiratory Therapists in 2026: $51,956 at entry (P10), $72,161 at midpoint, and $102,469 at the senior end (P90). Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The $50,513 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $8,206 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $122,760, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $51,873. The $70,887 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Respiratory Therapist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $131,440 — $79,980 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($51,460). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Respiratory Therapist is $51,956, while senior-level (P90) earners average $102,469. That $50,513 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Respiratory Therapists average $51,956 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $51,956 | $72,161 | $102,469 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £27,000 | £37,499 | £53,249 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$41,808 | CA$58,066 | CA$82,454 |
| Australia | 13 | A$48,334 | A$67,130 | A$95,325 |
| Sweden | 24 | 285,331 kr | 396,293 kr | 562,736 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $62,708 | $87,095 | $123,675 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $60,599 | $84,165 | $119,514 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $60,264 | $83,700 | $118,854 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $55,800 | $77,500 | $110,050 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $55,130 | $76,570 | $108,729 |
| Washington | 8 | $54,070 | $75,098 | $106,638 |
| New York | 5 | $50,889 | $70,680 | $100,365 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $50,890 | $70,680 | $100,366 |
| Florida | 22 | $50,504 | $70,145 | $99,605 |
| Colorado | 11 | $49,632 | $68,933 | $97,885 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $49,550 | $68,820 | $97,724 |
| Nevada | 5 | $49,461 | $68,696 | $97,548 |
| Arizona | 12 | $49,216 | $68,355 | $97,064 |
| Oregon | 5 | $49,104 | $68,200 | $96,844 |
| Idaho | 3 | $48,955 | $67,993 | $96,551 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $48,568 | $67,456 | $95,788 |
| Utah | 4 | $48,434 | $67,270 | $95,523 |
| Virginia | 7 | $47,637 | $66,163 | $93,951 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $47,021 | $65,307 | $92,735 |
| Alaska | 1 | $46,872 | $65,100 | $92,442 |
| Illinois | 5 | $46,336 | $64,356 | $91,385 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $45,186 | $62,758 | $89,116 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $44,640 | $62,000 | $88,040 |
| Montana | 1 | $44,640 | $62,000 | $88,040 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $44,491 | $61,793 | $87,746 |
| Texas | 40 | $44,272 | $61,489 | $87,314 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $44,194 | $61,380 | $87,160 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $43,971 | $61,070 | $86,720 |
| Georgia | 6 | $43,822 | $60,863 | $86,426 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $43,747 | $60,760 | $86,279 |
| Kansas | 4 | $43,524 | $60,450 | $85,839 |
| Michigan | 6 | $43,375 | $60,243 | $85,546 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $42,855 | $59,520 | $84,519 |
| Maryland | 1 | $42,854 | $59,520 | $84,518 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $42,408 | $58,900 | $83,638 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $42,408 | $58,900 | $83,638 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $41,292 | $57,350 | $81,437 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $41,069 | $57,040 | $80,997 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $40,511 | $56,265 | $79,896 |
| Missouri | 4 | $40,511 | $56,265 | $79,897 |
| Alabama | 5 | $40,355 | $56,048 | $79,588 |
| Indiana | 3 | $39,730 | $55,180 | $78,356 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $39,730 | $55,180 | $78,356 |
| Iowa | 2 | $39,283 | $54,560 | $77,475 |
| Ohio | 6 | $39,209 | $54,457 | $77,329 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $37,498 | $52,080 | $73,954 |
The state salary map for Respiratory Therapists: California at $87,095, Massachusetts at $84,165, Hawaii at $83,700 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($52,080), Ohio ($54,457), Iowa ($54,560) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $35,015.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($131,440 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $62,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $131,440 | 212 | $62,000 | $79,315 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $122,760 | 198 | $62,000 | $74,537 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $114,080 | 184 | $62,000 | $69,759 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $112,220 | 181 | $62,000 | $68,735 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $110,360 | 178 | $62,000 | $67,711 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $109,740 | 177 | $62,000 | $67,369 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $109,740 | 177 | $62,000 | $67,369 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $107,260 | 173 | $62,000 | $66,004 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $107,260 | 173 | $62,000 | $66,004 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $104,780 | 169 | $62,000 | $64,639 |
The $50,513 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Respiratory Therapist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Healthcare sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Respiratory Therapists is $72,161 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $51,956, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $102,469.
The highest-paying city for Respiratory Therapists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $131,440. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($131,440), Santa Clara ($122,760), Irvine ($114,080). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Respiratory Therapist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $51,460. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Respiratory Therapists (10th percentile) average $51,956 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $94,637. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Respiratory Therapists average $102,469 nationally — $50,513 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Respiratory Therapists can earn up to $186,645.
The top-paying states for Respiratory Therapists are California ($87,095 median), Massachusetts ($84,165 median), Hawaii ($83,700 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Respiratory Therapist involves Associate's or bachelor's. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hospital.
With a national median of $72,161 and representation across 288 metro areas, Respiratory Therapist offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $50,513 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.