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The average salary for a staff therapist in the United States is $52,147 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific job roles within the field. For instance, states like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries due to the demand for skilled therapists and the cost of living in these regions.
When examining salary estimates across different states, variations are notable. For example, the highest-paying states for staff therapists typically include California, New York, and Massachusetts. In these states, experienced staff therapists can earn significantly more than their counterparts in other regions.
In addition to competitive salaries, staff therapists have diverse job opportunities in various settings, including hospitals, private practices, and outpatient clinics. With the right qualifications and certifications, there is potential for advancement into specialized roles or management positions, further enhancing earning potential.
Overall, understanding the salary trends and job opportunities available can help aspiring staff therapists make informed career decisions.
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The highest-paying states for staff therapists are Alaska, California, and New York. The lowest average staff therapist salary states are Alabama, Maine, and Wyoming.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $68,772 | $33.06 |
| 2 | Washington | $62,844 | $30.21 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $61,813 | $29.72 |
| 4 | New York | $67,001 | $32.21 |
| 5 | Nevada | $59,772 | $28.74 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $54,526 | $26.21 |
| 7 | Indiana | $54,192 | $26.05 |
| 8 | Oregon | $60,738 | $29.20 |
| 9 | Idaho | $56,280 | $27.06 |
| 10 | Alaska | $70,298 | $33.80 |
| 11 | Michigan | $51,575 | $24.80 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $54,610 | $26.25 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $62,188 | $29.90 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $56,921 | $27.37 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $48,958 | $23.54 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $51,244 | $24.64 |
| 17 | Vermont | $53,121 | $25.54 |
| 18 | Montana | $50,736 | $24.39 |
| 19 | Texas | $49,067 | $23.59 |
| 20 | Maryland | $54,288 | $26.10 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $55,529 | $26.70 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $52,347 | $25.17 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $66,163 | $31.81 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $47,314 | $22.75 |
| 25 | Kansas | $47,695 | $22.93 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $48,204 | $23.18 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $51,278 | $24.65 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $50,433 | $24.25 |
| 29 | Virginia | $51,239 | $24.63 |
| 30 | Colorado | $50,451 | $24.26 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $45,626 | $21.94 |
| 32 | Missouri | $46,814 | $22.51 |
| 33 | Utah | $49,284 | $23.69 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $49,027 | $23.57 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $47,014 | $22.60 |
| 36 | Georgia | $46,607 | $22.41 |
| 37 | Delaware | $49,541 | $23.82 |
| 38 | Maine | $44,648 | $21.47 |
| 39 | Ohio | $45,573 | $21.91 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $47,040 | $22.62 |
| 41 | Illinois | $45,563 | $21.91 |
| 42 | Alabama | $44,734 | $21.51 |
| 43 | Iowa | $44,874 | $21.57 |
| 44 | Arizona | $47,619 | $22.89 |
| 45 | Florida | $47,656 | $22.91 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $45,038 | $21.65 |
| 47 | Rhode Island | $45,281 | $21.77 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $44,598 | $21.44 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $41,418 | $19.91 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $36,512 | $17.55 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $41,010 | $19.72 |
The highest-paying cities for staff therapists are Santa Barbara, CA, New York, NY, and Eugene, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Barbara, CA | $69,370 | $33.35 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $67,226 | $32.32 |
| 3 | Eugene, OR | $60,519 | $29.10 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,753 | $26.32 |
| 5 | West Lafayette, IN | $54,305 | $26.11 |
| 6 | Seguin, TX | $49,952 | $24.02 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $47,532 | $22.85 |
| 8 | Saint Louis, MO | $47,027 | $22.61 |
| 9 | Canton, GA | $46,708 | $22.46 |
| 10 | Hoffman Estates, IL | $45,691 | $21.97 |
| 11 | Iowa City, IA | $44,889 | $21.58 |
A staff therapist's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $52,147 | $4,346 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
The highest paying types of staff 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 |
| Respiratory Supervisor | $60,604 | $5,050 | $29.14 | 21,370 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $55,617 | $4,635 | $26.74 | 33,980 |
| Recreation Therapist | $55,992 | $4,666 | $26.92 | 54,263 |
Top companies hiring staff therapists now:
Staff therapist salaries at Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average staff therapist salary at companies like WakeMed and Carnegie Mellon University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University | $75,383 | $36.24 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| 3 | WakeMed | $66,303 | $31.88 |
| 4 | Carnegie Mellon University | $60,084 | $28.89 |
| 5 | Syracuse University | $58,482 | $28.12 |
| 6 | Haven Behavioral Healthcare | $56,293 | $27.06 |
| 7 | the Montrose Center | $55,788 | $26.82 |
| 8 | Aspire Health | $55,097 | $26.49 |
| 9 | FirstHealth of the Carolinas | $55,084 | $26.48 |
| 10 | GradyHealth | $53,571 | $25.76 |
| 11 | Goshen Valley | $53,419 | $25.68 |
| 12 | comhar | $53,279 | $25.61 |
| 13 | Juvenile Protective Association | $52,119 | $25.06 |
| 14 | WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | $50,968 | $24.50 |
| 15 | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | $50,160 | $24.12 |
| 16 | University of Pennsylvania | $50,148 | $24.11 |
| 17 | Community Counseling Centers of Chicago | $49,433 | $23.77 |
| 18 | DePaul University | $35,778 | $17.20 |
The average staff therapist salary has risen by $6,277 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average staff therapist earned $45,870 annually, but today, they earn $52,147 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for staff therapists over the last decade.
Compare staff therapist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare staff therapist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,100 | $25.07 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $50,900 | $24.48 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $50,000 | $24.06 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $49,600 | $23.83 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $48,700 | $23.42 | +1.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington University In St. Louis | Staff Therapist-Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine | Laclede, MO | 06/27/2025 | $56,200 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Psychiatric Therapist-#Staff | Baltimore, MD | 06/17/2025 | $51,361 |
| La Familia | Staff Therapist II-Licensed | Oakland, CA | 06/16/2025 | $74,547 |
| Drexel University | Staff Therapist | Philadelphia, PA | 06/12/2025 | $54,596 |
| Human Resources | Staff Therapist | Philadelphia, PA | 05/25/2025 | $54,596 |
| Drexel University | Staff Therapist | Philadelphia, PA | 05/22/2025 | $54,596 |
| Stanford University | Staff Therapist | Stanford, CA | 05/22/2025 | $92,723 |
| Adult & Child Health | Clinically Licensed Staff Therapist (Cmhc) | Martinsville, IN | 04/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Valparaiso University | Staff Therapist | Valparaiso, IN | 04/05/2025 | $46,000 |
| La Familia | Staff Therapist-Mobile Mental Health | Turlock, CA | 03/28/2025 | $62,498 |
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