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Respiratory care practitioner salary
Average respiratory care practitioner salary
$55,702
Understanding Respiratory Care Practitioner Salaries
The average salary for a Respiratory Care Practitioner in the United States is around $55,702 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and specific roles within healthcare settings. For example, practitioners in California and New York often report higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living factors.
Many employers offer competitive compensation packages, which may include benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and continuing education opportunities. As you gain experience, you can expect salary increases. For instance, entry-level positions may start around $40,000, while seasoned professionals can earn over $70,000 annually.
Additionally, specialized roles, such as those in critical care or pulmonary rehabilitation, typically command higher salaries. This comprehensive look at salaries helps aspiring respiratory care practitioners make informed career choices and understand potential earning trajectories in this essential healthcare profession.
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Where can a Respiratory Care Practitioner earn more?
Respiratory care practitioner salary estimates from across the web
Average respiratory care practitioner salary by state
The highest-paying states for respiratory care practitioners are California, Alaska, and Hawaii. The lowest average respiratory care practitioner salary states are Wyoming, Kentucky, and New Mexico.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for respiratory care practitioners
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $67,025 | $32.22 |
| 2 | California | $76,642 | $36.85 |
| 3 | Oregon | $65,839 | $31.65 |
| 4 | South Carolina | $58,557 | $28.15 |
| 5 | Michigan | $55,327 | $26.60 |
| 6 | Louisiana | $55,015 | $26.45 |
| 7 | Washington | $66,971 | $32.20 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $58,696 | $28.22 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $69,460 | $33.39 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $55,673 | $26.77 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $52,897 | $25.43 |
| 12 | Idaho | $61,668 | $29.65 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $54,041 | $25.98 |
| 14 | Oklahoma | $54,275 | $26.09 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $64,358 | $30.94 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $53,242 | $25.60 |
| 17 | Illinois | $56,692 | $27.26 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $52,602 | $25.29 |
| 19 | Montana | $55,052 | $26.47 |
| 20 | Virginia | $58,208 | $27.98 |
| 21 | Alaska | $70,710 | $34.00 |
| 22 | Maryland | $60,373 | $29.03 |
| 23 | Georgia | $53,161 | $25.56 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $50,833 | $24.44 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $54,201 | $26.06 |
| 26 | New York | $60,326 | $29.00 |
| 27 | Ohio | $50,130 | $24.10 |
| 28 | Kansas | $53,403 | $25.67 |
| 29 | Utah | $54,853 | $26.37 |
| 30 | Arizona | $52,554 | $25.27 |
| 31 | Missouri | $52,223 | $25.11 |
| 32 | Delaware | $54,233 | $26.07 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $68,510 | $32.94 |
| 34 | Vermont | $48,936 | $23.53 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $49,111 | $23.61 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $56,393 | $27.11 |
| 37 | Colorado | $55,904 | $26.88 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $48,856 | $23.49 |
| 39 | Texas | $53,153 | $25.55 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $51,815 | $24.91 |
| 41 | Alabama | $50,767 | $24.41 |
| 42 | Iowa | $49,413 | $23.76 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $50,565 | $24.31 |
| 44 | Florida | $52,069 | $25.03 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $45,538 | $21.89 |
| 46 | Maine | $41,001 | $19.71 |
| 47 | Massachusetts | $52,963 | $25.46 |
| 48 | Indiana | $49,299 | $23.70 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $46,810 | $22.50 |
| 50 | Rhode Island | $43,892 | $21.10 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $41,583 | $19.99 |
Highest paying cities for respiratory care practitioners
The highest-paying cities for respiratory care practitioners are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $79,600 | $38.27 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $67,310 | $32.36 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $66,869 | $32.15 |
| 4 | Toms River, NJ | $66,653 | $32.04 |
| 5 | Medford, OR | $66,155 | $31.81 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $60,106 | $28.90 |
| 7 | Buffalo, NY | $58,709 | $28.23 |
| 8 | Arlington Heights, IL | $56,791 | $27.30 |
| 9 | La Crosse, WI | $55,619 | $26.74 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | $54,703 | $26.30 |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $54,575 | $26.24 |
| 12 | Shawnee, OK | $54,162 | $26.04 |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $52,826 | $25.40 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $52,245 | $25.12 |
| 15 | Medford, MA | $52,175 | $25.08 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,966 | $24.98 |
| 17 | Fremont, NE | $50,632 | $24.34 |
| 18 | Cincinnati, OH | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| 19 | Manchester, NH | $48,989 | $23.55 |
| 20 | Portland, ME | $41,726 | $20.06 |
Respiratory care practitioner salary details
A respiratory care practitioner's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $99,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a respiratory care practitioner's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| Average | $55,702 | $4,642 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying respiratory care practitioner jobs
The highest paying types of respiratory care practitioners are respiratory director, clinical coordinator of respiratory therapy, and respiratory supervisor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 respiratory care practitioners now:
Which companies pay respiratory care practitioners the most?
Respiratory care practitioner salaries at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital and Emanate Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average respiratory care practitioner salary at companies like Washington Hospital Healthcare System and Cottage Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital | $85,976 | $41.33 |
| 2 | Emanate Health | $82,334 | $39.58 |
| 3 | Washington Hospital Healthcare System | $76,685 | $36.87 |
| 4 | Cottage Health | $74,351 | $35.75 |
| 5 | Highland General Hospital | $74,020 | $35.59 |
| 6 | Sutter Health | $73,791 | $35.48 |
| 7 | Dignity Health | $73,152 | $35.17 |
| 8 | Tenet Healthcare | $71,623 | $34.43 |
| 9 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $71,571 | $34.41 |
| 10 | Interim HealthCare | $70,598 | $33.94 |
| 11 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $69,000 | $33.17 |
| 12 | Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center | $68,982 | $33.16 |
| 13 | Enloe Medical Center | $68,859 | $33.11 |
| 14 | Medical City Arlington | $68,388 | $32.88 |
| 15 | Tri-City Medical Center | $68,303 | $32.84 |
| 16 | St. Mary's Health Inc. | $68,187 | $32.78 |
| 17 | Seattle Cancer Care Alliance | $68,015 | $32.70 |
| 18 | Children's Hospital Los Angeles | $67,180 | $32.30 |
| 19 | Carson Tahoe Health | $66,877 | $32.15 |
| 20 | CovenantHealth | $66,436 | $31.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Respiratory care practitioner salary trends
The average respiratory care practitioner salary has risen by $6,705 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average respiratory care practitioner earned $48,997 annually, but today, they earn $55,702 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for respiratory care practitioners over the last decade.
Compare respiratory care practitioner salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average respiratory care practitioner salary over time
Compare respiratory care practitioner salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Respiratory care practitioner salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,700 | $26.78 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $54,400 | $26.15 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $53,500 | $25.70 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $53,000 | $25.46 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $52,000 | $25.01 | +1.5% |
Recently added respiratory care practitioner salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutterhealth | Respiratory Care Practitioner | San Francisco, CA | 06/30/2025 | $115,745 |
| Virtua | Respiratory Care Practitioner Pert Time Marlton | Marlton, NJ | 06/30/2025 | $73,233 |
| Kindred Healthcare | Respiratory Care Practitioner Per Diem Nights | Santa Ana, CA | 06/29/2025 | $59,605 |
| Memorialcare | Pediatric Respiratory Care Practitioner II-Respiratory Therapy | Long Beach, CA | 06/29/2025 | $87,383 |
| Shirley Ryan Abilitylab | Respiratory Care Practitioner | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $52,488 |
| Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley | Respiratory Care Practitioner-Per Diem-Varied | Pleasanton, CA | 06/29/2025 | $99,571 |
| Providence | Respiratory Care Practitioner | Spokane, WA | 06/29/2025 | $70,958 |
| Overlake Ob Gyn, Pc | Respiratory Care Practitioner (PER Diem) | Bellevue, WA | 06/29/2025 | $77,929 |
| Covenant Health | Respiratory Care Practitioner (Pipeline) | Hobbs, NM | 06/27/2025 | $60,523 |
| Kadlec | Respiratory Care Practitioner-Respiratory Therapy | Richland, WA | 06/27/2025 | $73,045 |
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