Respiratory Therapists Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 15,480 Respiratory Therapists professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
15,480
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
15.48
workers
Location Quotient
6.08
vs national avg
Average Salary
$103K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 6.08 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Respiratory Therapists professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
15,480
National: 129,760
11.9% of national
Jobs per 1,000
15.48
National: 2.54
+509.4%
Average Salary
$103K
National: $77K
+33.0%

Top States by Respiratory Therapists Employment

#1
15,480
15,480
employed
#2
11,580
11,580
employed
#3
8,950
8,950
employed
#4
6,540
6,540
employed
#5
5,920
5,920
employed
#6
5,460
5,460
employed
#7
5,130
5,130
employed
#8
4,540
4,540
employed
#9
4,420
4,420
employed
#10
4,070
4,070
employed

What Does a Respiratory Therapists Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Respiratory Therapists in California is $103,060. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Find Your Next Opportunity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Respiratory Therapists jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 15,480 Respiratory Therapists professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Respiratory Therapists in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Respiratory Therapists jobs (LQ: 6.08). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Respiratory Therapists in California?

The average (mean) salary for Respiratory Therapists in California is $103060/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Respiratory Therapists professionals?

The top state for Respiratory Therapists employment is California with 15,480 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Respiratory Therapists (SOC 291126) in California.

Explore More in California

Related Analysis
Respiratory Therapists Salary After-Tax Take-Home Pay Cost of Living Adjusted Entry-Level vs Senior Salary Hourly Wage Employment Outlook
Rankings
Highest Paying Jobs Jobs Over $100K Average Salary All Jobs in California Career Progression Hourly Wages Employment Outlook