Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Certified respiratory therapist salary
Average certified respiratory therapist salary
$55,772
Average Certified Respiratory Therapist Salary
The average salary for a Certified Respiratory Therapist in the United States is $55,772 annually, translating to approximately $27 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on geographic location, experience level, and specific healthcare settings. For example, states such as California and New York tend to offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for healthcare services.
Salary by Experience
Entry-level therapists typically start around $45,000, while those with 5-10 years of experience may earn up to $65,000. Advanced certifications and specializations can further enhance earning potential.
Job Opportunities
Certified Respiratory Therapists can find employment in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation centers. Opportunities for advancement into supervisory or educational roles are also available, enhancing both career satisfaction and salary prospects.
Overall, pursuing a career as a Certified Respiratory Therapist not only offers a competitive salary but also the chance to positively impact patient lives.
Let Zippia find your next certified respiratory therapist job
Let Zippia find your next certified respiratory therapist job
Where can a Certified Respiratory Therapist earn more?
Certified respiratory therapist salary estimates from across the web
Average certified respiratory therapist salary by state
The average certified respiratory therapist salary in California, Alaska, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average certified respiratory therapist salary states are Wyoming, Kentucky, and New Mexico.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for certified respiratory therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $73,213 | $35.20 |
| 2 | Nevada | $66,570 | $32.00 |
| 3 | Indiana | $59,851 | $28.77 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | $58,887 | $28.31 |
| 5 | New York | $68,587 | $32.97 |
| 6 | Oregon | $64,550 | $31.03 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $64,162 | $30.85 |
| 8 | Texas | $59,002 | $28.37 |
| 9 | Washington | $65,951 | $31.71 |
| 10 | Virginia | $57,798 | $27.79 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $58,037 | $27.90 |
| 12 | Louisiana | $56,381 | $27.11 |
| 13 | South Carolina | $59,695 | $28.70 |
| 14 | Maryland | $59,505 | $28.61 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $68,531 | $32.95 |
| 16 | Idaho | $60,819 | $29.24 |
| 17 | Alaska | $70,105 | $33.70 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $54,439 | $26.17 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $52,602 | $25.29 |
| 20 | Utah | $54,184 | $26.05 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $58,197 | $27.98 |
| 22 | Michigan | $54,836 | $26.36 |
| 23 | Missouri | $52,372 | $25.18 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $55,092 | $26.49 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $54,607 | $26.25 |
| 26 | Florida | $57,774 | $27.78 |
| 27 | Kansas | $53,419 | $25.68 |
| 28 | Montana | $54,712 | $26.30 |
| 29 | Alabama | $51,533 | $24.78 |
| 30 | Georgia | $53,948 | $25.94 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $51,525 | $24.77 |
| 32 | Ohio | $52,405 | $25.19 |
| 33 | Arizona | $53,651 | $25.79 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $52,620 | $25.30 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $52,742 | $25.36 |
| 36 | Colorado | $53,822 | $25.88 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $68,597 | $32.98 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $56,406 | $27.12 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $50,144 | $24.11 |
| 40 | Illinois | $49,657 | $23.87 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $46,762 | $22.48 |
| 42 | Vermont | $49,042 | $23.58 |
| 43 | Delaware | $53,675 | $25.81 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | $49,352 | $23.73 |
| 45 | Iowa | $48,976 | $23.55 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $48,554 | $23.34 |
| 47 | Massachusetts | $53,269 | $25.61 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $41,747 | $20.07 |
| 49 | Maine | $41,100 | $19.76 |
| 50 | Rhode Island | $43,967 | $21.14 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $45,777 | $22.01 |
Highest paying cities for certified respiratory therapists
The highest-paying cities for certified respiratory therapists are San Francisco, CA, Kennewick, WA, and North Bergen, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $75,685 | $36.39 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $64,590 | $31.05 |
| 3 | North Bergen, NJ | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| 4 | Syracuse, NY | $62,746 | $30.17 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $61,218 | $29.43 |
| 6 | Richmond, IN | $60,120 | $28.90 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $59,398 | $28.56 |
| 8 | Tulsa, OK | $59,057 | $28.39 |
| 9 | Pensacola, FL | $58,569 | $28.16 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | $57,680 | $27.73 |
| 11 | Marrero, LA | $56,395 | $27.11 |
| 12 | Springfield, MA | $55,504 | $26.68 |
| 13 | Greeley, CO | $53,866 | $25.90 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $53,711 | $25.82 |
| 15 | Overland Park, KS | $53,476 | $25.71 |
| 16 | Zanesville, OH | $52,879 | $25.42 |
| 17 | Independence, MO | $52,372 | $25.18 |
| 18 | Fargo, ND | $52,112 | $25.05 |
| 19 | Decatur, AL | $51,615 | $24.81 |
| 20 | Bolingbrook, IL | $49,694 | $23.89 |
Certified respiratory therapist salary details
A certified respiratory therapist's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $93,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a certified respiratory therapist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $93,000 | $7,750 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| Average | $55,772 | $4,648 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying certified respiratory therapist jobs
The highest paying types of certified respiratory therapists are respiratory director, clinical coordinator of respiratory therapy, and respiratory supervisor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory Care Practitioner | $55,702 | $4,642 | $26.78 | 99,895 |
| Staff Therapist | $52,147 | $4,346 | $25.07 | 101,575 |
| Respiratory Supervisor | $60,604 | $5,050 | $29.14 | 21,370 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $55,617 | $4,635 | $26.74 | 33,980 |
Top companies hiring certified respiratory therapists now:
Which companies pay certified respiratory therapists the most?
Certified respiratory therapist salaries at Heartland Home Health Inc. and Favorite Healthcare Staffing are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average certified respiratory therapist salary at companies like Concentra and Tenet Healthcare are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heartland Home Health Inc. | $89,480 | $43.02 |
| 2 | Favorite Healthcare Staffing | $81,050 | $38.97 |
| 3 | Concentra | $73,161 | $35.17 |
| 4 | Tenet Healthcare | $71,200 | $34.23 |
| 5 | East Alabama Health | $70,476 | $33.88 |
| 6 | Baptist Health Care | $69,688 | $33.50 |
| 7 | HCA Healthcare | $68,344 | $32.86 |
| 8 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $68,328 | $32.85 |
| 9 | Denton Regional Medical Center (subsidiary Hospital Of Hca) | $68,030 | $32.71 |
| 10 | Concierge Home Care | $67,598 | $32.50 |
| 11 | Clarion Hospital | $67,386 | $32.40 |
| 12 | American Mobile Healthcare | $67,224 | $32.32 |
| 13 | Cass Regional Medical Center | $67,117 | $32.27 |
| 14 | Systems | $67,047 | $32.23 |
| 15 | Touro College | $66,685 | $32.06 |
| 16 | Opelousas General Health System | $66,360 | $31.90 |
| 17 | Hospital for Special Care | $66,231 | $31.84 |
| 18 | LCMC Health | $65,929 | $31.70 |
| 19 | Overland Park Regional Medical Center | $65,918 | $31.69 |
| 20 | Children's Hospital of Michigan | $65,703 | $31.59 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Certified respiratory therapist salary trends
The average certified respiratory therapist salary has risen by $6,713 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average certified respiratory therapist earned $49,059 annually, but today, they earn $55,772 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for certified respiratory therapists over the last decade.
Compare certified respiratory therapist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average certified respiratory therapist salary over time
Compare certified respiratory therapist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Certified respiratory therapist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,800 | $26.81 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $54,500 | $26.18 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $53,500 | $25.73 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $53,000 | $25.49 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $52,100 | $25.05 | +1.5% |
Recently added certified respiratory therapist salaries
Certified respiratory therapist salary FAQs
Search for certified respiratory therapist jobs