The respiratory therapist salary USA professionals earn in 2026 sits at a median of $80,450 per year ($38.68 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Entry-level RTs start around $61,900, while the top 10% clear $108,820. But the most important number here isn’t the salary — it’s the demand: respiratory therapy is one of the fastest-growing healthcare careers in the country, and that shortage is pushing pay upward fast.
Respiratory therapist salary USA: the real BLS numbers
Half of all respiratory therapists in the United States earn more than $80,450 and half earn less. The lowest 10% make under $61,900, while the best-paid 10% pass $108,820 — and in high-cost states the figures run far higher. Because this is a median, not an average, it isn’t distorted by a handful of top earners; it’s the honest midpoint of the profession.
The demand story is what sets this career apart. The BLS projects 12% job growth through 2034 — much faster than average — driven by an ageing population with COPD and sleep apnoea, the post-COVID expansion of ICU capacity, and chronic shortages in rural and home-care settings. In short, the respiratory therapist salary USA market rewards a skill the healthcare system increasingly can’t do without.
What respiratory therapists actually do
Worth understanding before the numbers, because the job explains the pay. Respiratory therapists manage patients who can’t breathe adequately on their own — running and adjusting mechanical ventilators, administering oxygen and aerosolised medication, performing arterial blood gas draws and interpreting the results, and responding to codes and rapid-response calls anywhere in the hospital.
RTs work across the whole age range, from premature infants in the NICU to elderly patients in respiratory failure, and they make time-critical clinical decisions at the bedside. That combination of technical skill and life-or-death judgement is why the role sits well above the US median wage despite requiring only a two-year degree.
Pay by state: where respiratory therapists earn the most
Location creates a swing of more than $55,000 between the highest and lowest states. California leads at around $116,000 — with San Francisco and San Jose metros topping $125,000 — followed by Hawaii, New York and the Pacific Northwest. Southern and rural states sit closer to $58,000–$72,000.
| State | Median annual salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| California | ~$116,000 |
| Hawaii | ~$95,000 |
| New York | ~$95,000 |
| Washington | ~$93,000 |
| Massachusetts | ~$92,000 |
| New Jersey | ~$90,000 |
| Oregon | ~$90,000 |
| Nevada | ~$85,000 |
| Texas | ~$72,000 |
| Florida | ~$68,000 |
| Kentucky (lowest tier) | ~$58,000 |
| United States (national median) | $80,450 |
California and the national median are firm BLS figures. Values marked with ~ are estimates derived from BLS state ranges and may vary by metro area and facility.
Why post-pandemic demand is driving pay up
Here’s what makes this career different from other imaging or therapy roles. COVID-19 put respiratory therapists at the centre of critical care almost overnight, and the demand never fully receded. Hospitals expanded ICU and ventilator capacity, an ageing population means more chronic lung disease every year, and there simply aren’t enough credentialed RTs to fill the gap. That supply-demand squeeze is the single biggest reason the respiratory therapist salary USA figure has been climbing — and why travel and overtime pay are so strong in this field right now.
Travel respiratory therapists and overtime pay
As with other in-demand healthcare roles, the fastest route past the BLS median is travel work. Travel respiratory therapists taking 13-week contracts at short-staffed hospitals can earn $100,000–$130,000 a year once housing stipends and crisis rates are included. Staff RTs also benefit from time-and-a-half overtime, which is common given the round-the-clock nature of critical care. For anyone willing to be flexible, the income ceiling is well above the headline figure.
Where RTs work — and how it changes the pay
Around 80% of respiratory therapists work in hospitals, and that’s where the pay is highest thanks to shift differentials, overtime and on-call. Within hospitals, the highest-paid specialisms are adult ICU, neonatal/pediatric ICU (NICU/PICU) and transport teams, where the acuity is greatest and the credential pool smallest.
Outside hospitals, home care and durable medical equipment roles offer daytime hours and no nights, at a lower base. Sleep labs pay moderately and often suit therapists wanting predictable schedules. Skilled nursing facilities pay less but are typically less physically intense. As a rule, the closer to critical care you work, the more you earn — and the harder the schedule.
Credentials: RRT and the specialty certifications
Two credentials define the career ladder. Every RT starts with the CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) after passing the NBRC exam, but nearly every hospital now requires the RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) — the advanced credential that unlocks ICU work and higher pay bands.
Beyond RRT, specialty certifications lift earnings further: NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist) for NICU and PICU roles, ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist) for ICU, and SDS for sleep medicine. Adding ECMO training — managing heart-lung bypass for the sickest patients — is among the most valuable skills an RT can hold, and commands a premium wherever it’s offered. A bachelor’s degree opens the door to supervisory, education and management roles above the clinical scale.
How respiratory therapy compares to other healthcare careers
A respiratory therapist out-earns a surgical technologist and sits close to a radiologic technologist, all reachable through a two-year associate degree. It pays less than a radiation therapist or an MRI technologist, but has considerably stronger job growth than either — 12% against 2% and 7% respectively. For the full picture of where it ranks, see our guide to the highest paying healthcare jobs in the USA.
The honest trade-offs
Two things deserve saying plainly. The schedule is demanding: most hospital RTs work 12-hour shifts including nights, weekends and holidays, and critical care doesn’t pause. The upside is that many work three 12-hour shifts a week, leaving four days off — a trade plenty of RTs consider worth it.
The other is emotional weight. Respiratory therapists are present at codes, at end-of-life decisions, and at the moment ventilator support is withdrawn. It’s meaningful work, but not work you can do at arm’s length. Anyone considering the path should weigh that as seriously as the salary.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a respiratory therapist?
Most RTs complete a CoARC-accredited associate degree in about two years, then pass the NBRC credentialing exam to become licensed. A bachelor’s degree can open the door to higher-paying supervisory and specialist roles.
Is respiratory therapy a good career in 2026?
Yes — a median near $80,000, 12% projected growth, a short two-year training path, and strong job security driven by an ageing population. The trade-offs are shift work, including nights and weekends, and the emotional weight of critical care.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in hospitals?
Yes, slightly. Hospitals — where most RTs work — pay the highest average wages and offer shift differentials and overtime, compared with outpatient or home-care settings that tend to offer steadier daytime hours.
What’s the highest-paid respiratory therapy specialty?
Adult and neonatal critical care carry the strongest premiums, particularly for therapists holding ACCS or NPS certification, with ECMO-trained RTs among the best paid of all.
Want the wider picture? See our guide to the average salary in the USA, or compare with the highest paying healthcare jobs in the USA. For official figures, the BLS publishes detailed wage data at bls.gov.