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.
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. The table below breaks down median pay across key states.
| 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.
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. For the full picture of where it ranks, see our guide to the highest paying healthcare jobs in the USA.
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.
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.