Best states for a respiratory therapist

Q: What is the best state for respiratory therapists?

The best state to be a respiratory therapist is California based on respiratory therapist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for respiratory therapists?

The highest paying state for respiratory therapists is Maine based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for respiratory therapists?

The worst state for respiratory therapists is Rhode Island, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
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Respiratory therapist opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for respiratory therapists, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for respiratory therapists.We wanted to look at the best states for respiratory therapists -- where there are plenty of respiratory therapist jobs to go around and respiratory therapists get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.

We figured that the best places for respiratory therapist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a respiratory therapist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for respiratory therapists in 2025

1. California
Total respiratory therapist jobs: 4,171
Average annual salary: $76,450
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000
Location Quotient:
1.19
Respiratory therapist jobs in California
2. Nevada
Total respiratory therapist jobs: 251
Average annual salary: $67,530
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000
Location Quotient:
1
Respiratory therapist jobs in Nevada
3. Washington
Total respiratory therapist jobs: 1,057
Average annual salary: $66,040
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000
Location Quotient:
1.2
Respiratory therapist jobs in Washington
4. New York
Total respiratory therapist jobs: 1,528
Average annual salary: $69,597
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Respiratory therapist jobs in New York
5. New Jersey
Total respiratory therapist jobs: 1,125
Average annual salary: $62,836
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000
Location Quotient:
1.18
Respiratory therapist jobs in New Jersey
6. Indiana
Total respiratory therapist jobs: 1,095
Average annual salary: $53,749
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000
Location Quotient:
1.39
Respiratory therapist jobs in Indiana
7. Oregon
Total respiratory therapist jobs: 507
Average annual salary: $63,168
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Respiratory therapist jobs in Oregon
8. Oklahoma
Total respiratory therapist jobs: 456
Average annual salary: $54,494
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000
Location Quotient:
1.23
Respiratory therapist jobs in Oklahoma
9. Tennessee
Total respiratory therapist jobs: 815
Average annual salary: $54,431
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Respiratory therapist jobs in Tennessee
10. Idaho
Total respiratory therapist jobs: 199
Average annual salary: $60,735
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Respiratory therapist jobs in Idaho

Respiratory therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a respiratory therapist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a respiratory therapist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$76,450	$46,000	39,536,653	4,171
2	Nevada	$67,530	$40,000	2,998,039	251
3	Washington	$66,040	$47,000	7,405,743	1,057
4	New York	$69,597	$36,000	19,849,399	1,528
5	New Jersey	$62,836	$32,000	9,005,644	1,125
6	Indiana	$53,749	$31,000	6,666,818	1,095
7	Oregon	$63,168	$42,000	4,142,776	507
8	Oklahoma	$54,494	$31,000	3,930,864	456
9	Tennessee	$54,431	$30,000	6,715,984	815
10	Idaho	$60,735	$40,000	1,716,943	199
11	Texas	$54,638	$30,000	28,304,596	3,220
12	South Carolina	$60,096	$33,000	5,024,369	133
13	Maryland	$61,159	$33,000	6,052,177	823
14	North Dakota	$52,466	$34,000	755,393	189
15	District of Columbia	$67,589	$36,000	693,972	119
16	North Carolina	$54,347	$30,000	10,273,419	1,258
17	Kansas	$53,246	$31,000	2,913,123	474
18	Georgia	$54,302	$30,000	10,429,379	1,465
19	Louisiana	$56,865	$31,000	4,684,333	188
20	Illinois	$55,689	$32,000	12,802,023	1,654
21	Wisconsin	$54,653	$32,000	5,795,483	720
22	Montana	$54,648	$37,000	1,050,493	184
23	Minnesota	$57,802	$35,000	5,576,606	586
24	Alaska	$69,991	$63,000	739,795	46
25	Michigan	$54,026	$30,000	9,962,311	910
26	Virginia	$56,991	$31,000	8,470,020	1,145
27	Ohio	$51,552	$29,000	11,658,609	1,374
28	Colorado	$55,749	$34,000	5,607,154	796
29	Missouri	$51,921	$30,000	6,113,532	917
30	Nebraska	$50,007	$30,000	1,920,076	382
31	Utah	$54,331	$34,000	3,101,833	277
32	Pennsylvania	$50,377	$26,000	12,805,537	1,536
33	Florida	$54,422	$29,000	20,984,400	1,237
34	Alabama	$51,746	$28,000	4,874,747	533
35	West Virginia	$52,006	$29,000	1,815,857	72
36	Delaware	$52,691	$28,000	961,939	159
37	South Dakota	$52,720	$33,000	869,666	31
38	Mississippi	$51,753	$28,000	2,984,100	160
39	Iowa	$48,798	$29,000	3,145,711	511
40	Hawaii	$68,702	$61,000	1,427,538	21
41	Connecticut	$55,309	$28,000	3,588,184	159
42	Arizona	$52,822	$31,000	7,016,270	231
43	Vermont	$47,914	$24,000	623,657	75
44	Massachusetts	$51,960	$26,000	6,859,819	193
45	New Hampshire	$48,050	$24,000	1,342,795	122
46	Kentucky	$46,570	$26,000	4,454,189	477
47	Maine	$40,166	$19,000	1,335,907	195
48	Wyoming	$48,604	$31,000	579,315	30
49	Arkansas	$41,765	$24,000	3,004,279	327
50	New Mexico	$46,001	$26,000	2,088,070	139
51	Rhode Island	$43,015	$21,000	1,059,639	61

Highest paying states for respiratory therapists

Rank	State	Avg. Respiratory Therapist Salary
1	California	$76,450
2	Nevada	$67,530
3	Washington	$66,040
4	New York	$69,597
5	New Jersey	$62,836
6	Indiana	$53,749
7	Oregon	$63,168
8	Oklahoma	$54,494
9	Tennessee	$54,431
10	Idaho	$60,735
11	Texas	$54,638
12	South Carolina	$60,096
13	Maryland	$61,159
14	North Dakota	$52,466
15	District of Columbia	$67,589
16	North Carolina	$54,347
17	Kansas	$53,246
18	Georgia	$54,302
19	Louisiana	$56,865
20	Illinois	$55,689
21	Wisconsin	$54,653
22	Montana	$54,648
23	Minnesota	$57,802
24	Alaska	$69,991
25	Michigan	$54,026
26	Virginia	$56,991
27	Ohio	$51,552
28	Colorado	$55,749
29	Missouri	$51,921
30	Nebraska	$50,007
31	Utah	$54,331
32	Pennsylvania	$50,377
33	Florida	$54,422
34	Alabama	$51,746
35	West Virginia	$52,006
36	Delaware	$52,691
37	South Dakota	$52,720
38	Mississippi	$51,753
39	Iowa	$48,798
40	Hawaii	$68,702
41	Connecticut	$55,309
42	Arizona	$52,822
43	Vermont	$47,914
44	Massachusetts	$51,960
45	New Hampshire	$48,050
46	Kentucky	$46,570
47	Maine	$40,166
48	Wyoming	$48,604
49	Arkansas	$41,765
50	New Mexico	$46,001
51	Rhode Island	$43,015

Respiratory therapist best states FAQs

What is the best state for respiratory therapists?

What is the highest paying state for respiratory therapists?

What is the worst state for respiratory therapists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

Search for respiratory therapist jobs

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Respiratory Therapist
Best states for Respiratory Therapists

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs

Total respiratory therapist jobs:	4,171
Average annual salary:	$76,450
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$46,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$126,000
Location Quotient:	1.19

Best states for a respiratory therapist

10 best states for respiratory therapists in 2025

1. California

2. Nevada

3. Washington

4. New York

5. New Jersey

6. Indiana

7. Oregon

8. Oklahoma

9. Tennessee

10. Idaho