Respiratory Therapist Salary by State (2024)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 50 states compared · Updated: 2026-03-31
Respiratory Therapist Salary in All 50 States
Compare Respiratory Therapist pay across the country. Click any state for the full salary breakdown including percentiles, employment numbers, and related jobs.
| State | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Entry Level | Top Earners | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $103,820 | $105,740 | $78,100 | $127,530 | 6,780 |
| California | $102,120 | $106,790 | $78,150 | $138,000 | 18,310 |
| New Jersey | $98,020 | $97,110 | $77,360 | $117,750 | 3,200 |
| Washington | $97,150 | $96,050 | $76,320 | $121,280 | 1,850 |
| Massachusetts | $96,940 | $95,120 | $74,200 | $118,950 | 2,140 |
| Oregon | $96,130 | $94,160 | $80,290 | $110,390 | 1,410 |
| Hawaii | $94,670 | $94,220 | $85,700 | $101,000 | 310 |
| Alaska | $94,210 | $93,670 | $76,900 | $104,610 | 170 |
| Minnesota | $88,040 | $90,030 | $71,740 | $100,600 | 1,190 |
| Delaware | $87,380 | $89,890 | $70,770 | $106,040 | 410 |
| Maryland | $85,570 | $88,600 | $71,160 | $104,070 | 1,890 |
| New Hampshire | $83,620 | $84,750 | $69,740 | $98,790 | 390 |
| Rhode Island | $83,600 | $84,490 | $66,690 | $104,010 | 250 |
| Connecticut | $83,250 | $88,770 | $70,480 | $101,900 | 1,540 |
| Wisconsin | $82,160 | $82,530 | $67,270 | $96,400 | 1,940 |
| Georgia | $81,890 | $85,890 | $63,510 | $108,380 | 5,030 |
| Illinois | $81,310 | $81,810 | $63,430 | $97,310 | 5,450 |
| Montana | $80,950 | $78,540 | $61,380 | $94,130 | 390 |
| Colorado | $80,690 | $82,270 | $63,770 | $102,210 | 2,070 |
| Florida | $79,710 | $81,310 | $62,940 | $98,890 | 8,840 |
| Virginia | $79,600 | $82,480 | $60,830 | $102,680 | 2,960 |
| Nevada | $79,510 | $85,160 | $64,370 | $115,330 | 1,420 |
| Maine | $79,330 | $77,720 | $62,480 | $91,710 | 450 |
| Arizona | $79,290 | $76,990 | $62,480 | $88,650 | 3,070 |
| Utah | $78,990 | $81,840 | $65,270 | $96,820 | 1,020 |
| Nebraska | $78,880 | $75,000 | $61,660 | $85,870 | 820 |
| Vermont | $78,760 | $75,950 | $47,080 | $96,470 | 230 |
| Ohio | $78,400 | $78,380 | $63,730 | $94,490 | 6,460 |
| Indiana | $77,820 | $75,510 | $62,250 | $89,320 | 3,330 |
| Texas | $77,550 | $78,150 | $61,130 | $94,640 | 11,860 |
| Michigan | $77,460 | $75,230 | $63,750 | $87,430 | 4,150 |
| North Carolina | $77,050 | $76,710 | $61,370 | $90,910 | 4,440 |
| North Dakota | $76,660 | $81,610 | $61,040 | $96,660 | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,160 | $76,170 | $61,440 | $97,490 | 5,850 |
| Oklahoma | $76,080 | $75,230 | $61,460 | $89,460 | 1,700 |
| South Carolina | $75,960 | $73,720 | $62,190 | $82,470 | 1,930 |
| Wyoming | $75,900 | $73,390 | $62,100 | $85,840 | 160 |
| Idaho | $75,510 | $73,890 | $61,070 | $89,280 | 820 |
| Missouri | $73,880 | $74,120 | $57,590 | $93,140 | 3,270 |
| Kansas | $73,580 | $73,300 | $56,690 | $90,620 | 1,260 |
| Louisiana | $70,140 | $73,100 | $59,760 | $84,540 | 2,280 |
| Iowa | $68,790 | $71,460 | $56,260 | $83,480 | 1,050 |
| Arkansas | $67,960 | $67,790 | $52,470 | $82,850 | 1,470 |
| New Mexico | $66,460 | $70,780 | $59,280 | $85,530 | 600 |
| West Virginia | $66,370 | $68,440 | $51,200 | $84,670 | 1,340 |
| Kentucky | $65,670 | $67,650 | $52,060 | $81,110 | 2,860 |
| Tennessee | $65,000 | $68,820 | $51,840 | $80,940 | 3,070 |
| South Dakota | $64,720 | $64,000 | $46,680 | $79,820 | 380 |
| Alabama | $64,010 | $65,500 | $48,490 | $82,920 | 2,250 |
| Mississippi | $61,320 | $70,410 | $49,920 | $90,240 | 1,690 |
Data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024. Sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Entry Level = 10th percentile, Top Earners = 90th percentile.
Respiratory Therapist Salary FAQs
Which state pays Respiratory Therapists the most?
New York pays the highest median salary for Respiratory Therapists at $103,820 per year, according to 2024 BLS data. The top 5 highest paying states are: New York ($103,820), California ($102,120), New Jersey ($98,020), Washington ($97,150), Massachusetts ($96,940).
What is the average Respiratory Therapist salary nationally?
The average median Respiratory Therapist salary across all 50 states is $79,760 per year. The salary ranges from $61,320 in Mississippi to $103,820 in New York — a difference of $42,500.
Which state pays Respiratory Therapists the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median Respiratory Therapist salary at $61,320 per year. However, cost of living in Mississippi may be lower, so purchasing power could be comparable.