What is the average respiratory therapist salary?

The average respiratory therapist salary in the US is $70,540 per year. Entry-level RTs earn around $52,000-$58,000, while experienced RTs in critical care or specialized roles can earn over $90,000.

Which respiratory therapy specialty pays the most?

Travel respiratory therapists earn the most at $85,000-$120,000+ including stipends. Hospital-based RTs in critical care and neonatal/pediatric ICU also command higher salaries of $75,000-$90,000.

How Much Do Respiratory Therapists Make in 2026? (RT Salary Guide)

For role-by-role compensation benchmarking and career income strategy, see the Profession Salary Guides hub.

For conversion formulas, overtime scenarios, and annual-pay planning, see the Hourly to Annual hub.

Respiratory therapists in the US earn $70,540 on average — with critical care and travel positions commanding significantly higher pay.

Average Respiratory Therapist Salary in 2026

Metric	Amount
Average RT salary	$70,540
Median RT salary	$66,250
Entry level (0-2 years)	$54,000
Mid-career (5-10 years)	$68,000-$78,000
Experienced (10+ years)	$78,000-$95,000
Top 10% earn	$95,000+
Hourly rate (average)	$33.91

Respiratory Therapist Salary by Experience

Experience Level	Average Salary
New Grad (0-1 year)	$54,000
Early Career (1-3 years)	$60,000
Mid-Career (4-7 years)	$68,000
Experienced (8-12 years)	$78,000
Senior/Expert (12+ years)	$85,000+
RT Manager/Director	$90,000-$120,000

RT Salary by Work Setting

Setting	Average Salary	Notes
Travel RT	$85,000-$120,000	+ housing stipend
Hospital ICU/Critical Care	$72,000-$90,000	Highest hospital pay
Neonatal/Pediatric ICU	$70,000-$85,000	Specialized
General Hospital	$65,000-$78,000	Base hospital
Home Health/DME	$55,000-$70,000	Less acute
Sleep Lab	$58,000-$72,000	Regular hours
Pulmonary Rehab	$60,000-$75,000	Outpatient
Long-term Acute Care	$68,000-$82,000	Complex patients

Why Critical Care Pays More

ICU and critical care respiratory therapists earn premiums because:

High-acuity patient management
Ventilator expertise required
Night/weekend shift differentials
Life-or-death decisions
Advanced certifications expected

RT Salary by State (Highest Paying)

State	Average Salary	Cost of Living
California	$92,000	Very High
Nevada	$82,000	High
Hawaii	$80,000	Very High
Alaska	$78,000	High
Washington	$76,000	High
Oregon	$74,000	High
New York	$73,000	Very High
Connecticut	$73,000	High
New Jersey	$72,000	High
Massachusetts	$72,000	High

Lowest Paying States

State	Average Salary
Alabama	$52,000
Mississippi	$53,000
Arkansas	$54,000
West Virginia	$55,000
Oklahoma	$55,000

RT Salary by Certification/Specialty

Certification	Average Salary	Premium
RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist)	$70,540	Base
RRT + ACCS (Adult Critical Care)	$78,000	+10-15%
RRT + NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric)	$75,000	+8-12%
RRT + SDS (Sleep Disorders)	$68,000	+5%
RRT-NPS + ACCS (Dual specialty)	$82,000	+15-20%
CPFT (Pulmonary Function)	$65,000	—

RT Salary by Metro Area

Metro Area	Average Salary
San Francisco	$105,000
San Jose	$100,000
Los Angeles	$88,000
Sacramento	$85,000
Seattle	$80,000
New York City	$78,000
Las Vegas	$76,000
Boston	$75,000
Denver	$72,000
Phoenix	$68,000

Shift Differentials for RTs

Shift	Typical Differential
Night shift (7pm-7am)	+$3-6/hour
Weekend	+$2-4/hour
Holiday	+$5-10/hour or time-and-a-half
On-call	+$2-5/hour standby

Night shift RTs can earn $5,000-$12,000 more annually through differentials.

RT Salary After Taxes

Gross Salary	Federal Tax	FICA	State Tax (avg)	Take-Home
$55,000	$5,000	$4,208	$2,200	$43,592
$70,540	$8,400	$5,396	$2,822	$53,922
$85,000	$11,900	$6,503	$3,400	$63,197
$100,000	$15,000	$7,650	$4,000	$73,350

How to Increase RT Salary

Become a travel RT — Earn $85K-$120K+ with housing
Get ACCS certification — Critical care specialists earn 10-15% more
Work night shift — $5K-$12K annual premium
Move to high-paying states — California pays $92K average
Pursue leadership — RT managers earn $90K-$120K
Specialize in NICU/PICU — Pediatric specialists earn more
Get dual certifications — ACCS + NPS for maximum pay

Job Outlook for Respiratory Therapists

Metric	Data
Projected growth (2022-2032)	14% (much faster than average)
Annual job openings	8,100
Demand drivers	Aging population, chronic respiratory disease, COVID long-term effects
Hot areas	ICU, Home care, Sleep medicine

RT vs Other Healthcare Salaries

Role	Average Salary	Education
Respiratory Therapist	$70,540	Associate/Bachelor’s
Registered Nurse	$81,220	Associate/Bachelor’s
Radiology Tech	$65,140	Associate
Surgical Tech	$54,620	Associate/Certificate
Physical Therapist Assistant	$61,180	Associate

Is Respiratory Therapy a Good Career?

Pros:

Strong salary ($70K average)
Excellent job growth (14%)
Associate degree entry point
Critical role in patient care
Travel RT option for high earners
Multiple specialization paths

Cons:

Shift work (nights, weekends, holidays)
High-stress situations
Physical demands (long hours on feet)
Exposure to illness
Emotionally challenging (ICU patients)

RT Education & Licensing Costs

Expense	Cost
RT Associate Degree	$20,000-$50,000
RT Bachelor’s Degree	$40,000-$100,000
TMC/RRT Exam	$200-$300
State License	$50-$200/year
ACCS Certification	$300
CEU Requirements	$200-$500/year

Bottom Line

Respiratory therapists earn $70,540/year on average, with travel RTs and critical care specialists earning $85,000-$120,000+. The profession offers excellent job growth (14%), relatively affordable education (associate degree), and multiple pathways to increase earnings through certifications, shift differentials, and travel positions.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024.” bls.gov/oes

Written by WealthVieu

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