How Much Do Respiratory Therapists Make?
![Respiratory Therapist Salary Guide 2024](https://media.nurse.org/cache/42/6f/426f2a4bb838ce68f7f69e780e61a013.png)
How Much Does a Respiratory Therapist Make?
The national average respiratory therapist salary is $61,830 per year or $29.73 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $47,380, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $95,540.
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The University of Scranton offers multiple online degrees in the growing healthcare industry. The comprehensive coursework is based on real-world scenarios and is equally rigorous and rewarding. The return on investment will be as big as the change you can make in a variety of healthcare leadership roles!
Enrollment: Nationwide
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MHA - Master of Health Administration
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MHA - Health Informatics Specialization
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MHA - Global Health Specialization
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MBA - Health Care Management Specialization
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Dual MBA-MHA
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Certificate - Healthcare Administration
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MS - Health Informatics
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MS - Health Informatics: Data Analytics Specialization
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Certificate - Health Informatics
![SNHU](https://res.cloudinary.com/full-beaker-inc/image/upload/w_120,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_2/v1619481222/click-table/a0695db0-a6ea-11eb-9702-335d7edf78ee.png.png)
A private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 3,000 on campus students, over 130,000 online learners and an alumni network of over 100,000. SNHU offers BSN, MSN, and Accelerated MSN Programs developed by doctoral-prepared nursing faculty.
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding WA
![Liberty University](https://res.cloudinary.com/full-beaker-inc/image/upload/w_120,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_2/v1671476153/click-table/c2553cf0-7fce-11ed-915a-b32770926573.gif.gif)
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Enrollment: Nationwide
![Ultimate Medical Academy](https://res.cloudinary.com/full-beaker-inc/image/upload/w_120,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_2/v1622653430/click-table/7fa94c60-c3c4-11eb-ae01-bd8c38b25771.png.png)
Ultimate Medical Academy is a nonprofit allied health school committed to helping students succeed in healthcare careers for the past 26 years. That’s why we offer students a connected support system from the start of their education to beyond graduation.
Enrollment: Nationwide except UT
Respiratory Therapist Salary by State
State |
Annual Salary |
Hourly Wage |
Washington |
$110,544 |
$53.15 |
New York |
$104,049 |
$50.02 |
Idaho |
$100,001 |
$48.08 |
California |
$98,321 |
$47.27 |
New Hampshire |
$96,175 |
$46.24 |
Vermont |
$95,030 |
$45.69 |
Massachusetts |
$94,008 |
$45.20 |
Hawaii |
$93,839 |
$45.12 |
Maine |
$93,089 |
$44.75 |
Tennessee |
$92,371 |
$44.41 |
Nevada |
$92,260 |
$44.36 |
Arizona |
$91,027 |
$43.76 |
Wyoming |
$91,009 |
$43.75 |
Texas |
$89,626 |
$43.09 |
Connecticut |
$89,592 |
$43.07 |
Alaska |
$88,912 |
$42.75 |
Rhode Island |
$88,790 |
$42.69 |
New Jersey |
$88,682 |
$42.64 |
Oregon |
$88,294 |
$42.45 |
Indiana |
$88,214 |
$42.41 |
Minnesota |
$88,113 |
$42.36 |
Montana |
$88,027 |
$42.32 |
West Virginia |
$87,041 |
$41.85 |
Maryland |
$86,971 |
$41.81 |
North Dakota |
$86,510 |
$41.59 |
Pennsylvania |
$85,279 |
$41.00 |
Virginia |
$84,464 |
$40.61 |
Wisconsin |
$83,689 |
$40.24 |
Ohio |
$83,219 |
$40.01 |
South Dakota |
$82,489 |
$39.66 |
Iowa |
$82,012 |
$39.43 |
Nebraska |
$81,878 |
$39.36 |
Colorado |
$81,783 |
$39.32 |
Kentucky |
$81,432 |
$39.15 |
Delaware |
$81,001 |
$38.94 |
South Carolina |
$80,403 |
$38.66 |
Utah |
$80,296 |
$38.60 |
Alabama |
$79,661 |
$38.30 |
New Mexico |
$79,497 |
$38.22 |
Kansas |
$77,984 |
$37.49 |
Oklahoma |
$77,808 |
$37.41 |
Arkansas |
$77,464 |
$37.24 |
Florida |
$77,128 |
$37.08 |
Mississippi |
$76,924 |
$36.98 |
Michigan |
$76,520 |
$36.79 |
Illinois |
$76,263 |
$36.66 |
Missouri |
$75,107 |
$36.11 |
Georgia |
$74,688 |
$35.91 |
Louisiana |
$70,431 |
$33.86 |
North Carolina |
$66,813 |
$32.12 |
Via ZipRecruiter
Respiratory Therapist Salary by Years of Experience
According to Payscale.com as of March 2023, respiratory therapists earn the following salaries by years of experience:
- Less than 1 years of experience earn an average hourly salary of $25.07
- 1-4 years of experience earn an average hourly salary of $26.73
- 5-9 years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $29.30
- 10-19 years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $31.39
- 20+ years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $33.19
Respiratory Therapist Salary by Work Setting
According to the BLS, as of May 2021, the median annual wages for respiratory therapists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
- Hospitals; state, local, and private: $61,940
- Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities): $60.570
- Offices of physicians: $60,570
How to Make More Money as a Respiratory Therapist
If you’re interested in increasing your earnings potential as a respiratory therapist, you have several good options.
Negotiation
This might be uncomfortable for some respiratory therapists but is one of the most effective methods of getting an increase in pay. Respiratory therapists with experience and increased levels of training will find an easier time negotiating for a higher salary.
The key to an effective negotiation is to do your research. Ensure you know what other facilities in your area are paying for people with your qualifications.
Overtime
Respiratory therapists who work overtime are entitled to increased pay for their additional work hours. Generally, this is considered time and a half pay. In most cases, this means working over 40 hours a week.
The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires that all "non-exempt" employees receive overtime pay equal to one-and-one-half times their regular rate of pay for every hour over 40 hours worked during a work week.
Per diem or Contract Employment
Per diem and contract employees earn a higher wage than staff members. They are paid a premium for working less desirable shifts and having shifts canceled at any given time.
Per diem employees are not offered guaranteed hours so remember that a paycheck most likely will not be consistent.
Shift Differential
Respiratory therapists may have an opportunity to earn more income without increasing the number of hours they work. A shift differential means making increased per-hour pay for working nights, weekends, or holidays.
Hazard Pay
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, hazard pay means “additional pay for performing a hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship.” It may also include work duty that causes “extreme physical discomfort and distress.”
Popular Online Healthcare Programs
![The University of Scranton](https://res.cloudinary.com/full-beaker-inc/image/upload/w_120,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_2/v1671478447/click-table/195d1b80-7fd4-11ed-915a-b32770926573.gif.gif)
The University of Scranton offers multiple online degrees in the growing healthcare industry. The comprehensive coursework is based on real-world scenarios and is equally rigorous and rewarding. The return on investment will be as big as the change you can make in a variety of healthcare leadership roles!
Enrollment: Nationwide
-
MHA - Master of Health Administration
-
MHA - Health Informatics Specialization
-
MHA - Global Health Specialization
-
MBA - Health Care Management Specialization
-
Dual MBA-MHA
-
Certificate - Healthcare Administration
-
MS - Health Informatics
-
MS - Health Informatics: Data Analytics Specialization
-
Certificate - Health Informatics
![SNHU](https://res.cloudinary.com/full-beaker-inc/image/upload/w_120,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_2/v1619481222/click-table/a0695db0-a6ea-11eb-9702-335d7edf78ee.png.png)
A private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 3,000 on campus students, over 130,000 online learners and an alumni network of over 100,000. SNHU offers BSN, MSN, and Accelerated MSN Programs developed by doctoral-prepared nursing faculty.
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding WA
![Liberty University](https://res.cloudinary.com/full-beaker-inc/image/upload/w_120,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_2/v1671476153/click-table/c2553cf0-7fce-11ed-915a-b32770926573.gif.gif)
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Enrollment: Nationwide
![Ultimate Medical Academy](https://res.cloudinary.com/full-beaker-inc/image/upload/w_120,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_2/v1622653430/click-table/7fa94c60-c3c4-11eb-ae01-bd8c38b25771.png.png)
Ultimate Medical Academy is a nonprofit allied health school committed to helping students succeed in healthcare careers for the past 26 years. That’s why we offer students a connected support system from the start of their education to beyond graduation.
Enrollment: Nationwide except UT
Is Becoming a Respiratory Therapist Worth it?
Respiratory therapists are one of the top healthcare professionals. U.S. News & World Report ranks RTs as the #15 best healthcare job and #36 in the 100 best jobs.
Daniel Garett, executive director of the American Association for Respiratory Care, says “Respiratory therapists are the go-to lung experts, and the only medical professionals to receive college and clinical education in the art and science of mechanical ventilation and advanced respiratory therapies.”
RTs are in demand. The BLS reports a 14% growth from 2021 to 2031. RTs work in a variety of healthcare locations, especially in nursing homes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are 16 million adults in the U.S. living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As of 2020, all baby boomers will be at least 55 and more susceptible to COPD, pneumonia, as well as other medical conditions that affect breathing.
>> Related: Top Respiratory Therapist Programs
Salaries of Related Nursing Careers vs Respiratory Therapists
Registered Nurse
Registered Nurses (RN) average annual salary is $77,600 as of May 2021, according to the BLS. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $59,450, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $120,250.
Cardiovascular Technician
According to the BLS, the median annual wage for cardiovascular technologists and technicians was $60,570 in May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,910, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $98,070.
MRI Technician
According to the BLS, the median annual wage for MRI technologists was $77,360 in May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $59,110, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $100,870.
FAQs Respiratory Therapist
Popular Online Healthcare Programs
![The University of Scranton](https://res.cloudinary.com/full-beaker-inc/image/upload/w_120,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_2/v1671478447/click-table/195d1b80-7fd4-11ed-915a-b32770926573.gif.gif)
The University of Scranton offers multiple online degrees in the growing healthcare industry. The comprehensive coursework is based on real-world scenarios and is equally rigorous and rewarding. The return on investment will be as big as the change you can make in a variety of healthcare leadership roles!
Enrollment: Nationwide
-
MHA - Master of Health Administration
-
MHA - Health Informatics Specialization
-
MHA - Global Health Specialization
-
MBA - Health Care Management Specialization
-
Dual MBA-MHA
-
Certificate - Healthcare Administration
-
MS - Health Informatics
-
MS - Health Informatics: Data Analytics Specialization
-
Certificate - Health Informatics
![SNHU](https://res.cloudinary.com/full-beaker-inc/image/upload/w_120,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_2/v1619481222/click-table/a0695db0-a6ea-11eb-9702-335d7edf78ee.png.png)
A private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 3,000 on campus students, over 130,000 online learners and an alumni network of over 100,000. SNHU offers BSN, MSN, and Accelerated MSN Programs developed by doctoral-prepared nursing faculty.
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding WA
![Liberty University](https://res.cloudinary.com/full-beaker-inc/image/upload/w_120,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_2/v1671476153/click-table/c2553cf0-7fce-11ed-915a-b32770926573.gif.gif)
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Enrollment: Nationwide
![Ultimate Medical Academy](https://res.cloudinary.com/full-beaker-inc/image/upload/w_120,q_auto,f_auto,dpr_2/v1622653430/click-table/7fa94c60-c3c4-11eb-ae01-bd8c38b25771.png.png)
Ultimate Medical Academy is a nonprofit allied health school committed to helping students succeed in healthcare careers for the past 26 years. That’s why we offer students a connected support system from the start of their education to beyond graduation.
Enrollment: Nationwide except UT