Respiratory Therapists Salary by State
The national median pay for respiratory therapists is $82,280 a year. By state, it ranges from $63,270 in Mississippi to $111,950 in District of Columbia.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $63,660
- 25th percentile
- $74,520
- Median
- $82,280
- 75th percentile
- $98,730
- Top 10%
- $118,050
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 139,790 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $111,950 | +36% | $77,240 | $127,400 | 430 |
| 2 | New York | $107,810 | +31% | $81,270 | $131,500 | 7,010 |
| 3 | California | $104,820 | +27% | $77,010 | $145,510 | 18,650 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $102,170 | +24% | $80,330 | $123,930 | 2,220 |
| 5 | Washington | $101,130 | +23% | $76,080 | $127,520 | 1,860 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $100,810 | +23% | $78,000 | $123,370 | 3,350 |
| 7 | Oregon | $100,560 | +22% | $81,490 | $120,060 | 1,340 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $98,710 | +20% | $79,060 | $110,050 | 1,250 |
| 9 | Alaska | $97,950 | +19% | $80,250 | $114,590 | 180 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $95,940 | +17% | $80,490 | $109,000 | 360 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $94,210 | +14% | $80,130 | $102,780 | 510 |
| 12 | Delaware | $91,080 | +11% | $79,210 | $109,890 | 500 |
| 13 | Maryland | $88,960 | +8% | $69,550 | $106,430 | 1,800 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $86,900 | +6% | $73,240 | $122,120 | 260 |
| 15 | Colorado | $86,220 | +5% | $66,560 | $109,070 | 2,110 |
| 16 | Nevada | $85,480 | +4% | $65,150 | $118,710 | 1,270 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $85,230 | +4% | $72,410 | $121,620 | 1,370 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $84,210 | +2% | $70,520 | $100,320 | 1,940 |
| 19 | Illinois | $84,090 | +2% | $64,480 | $100,100 | 4,880 |
| 20 | Vermont | $83,820 | +2% | $50,310 | $99,940 | 210 |
| 21 | Georgia | $83,700 | +2% | $65,050 | $112,320 | 5,150 |
| 22 | Virginia | $82,910 | +1% | $65,540 | $106,470 | 3,340 |
| 23 | Maine | $82,470 | 0% | $61,060 | $98,470 | 520 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $81,590 | −1% | $64,100 | $96,180 | 840 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $81,230 | −1% | $65,770 | $100,490 | 270 |
| 26 | Montana | $81,190 | −1% | $60,800 | $92,890 | 390 |
| 27 | Florida | $81,160 | −1% | $64,240 | $100,310 | 8,820 |
| 28 | Utah | $80,650 | −2% | $61,860 | $101,340 | 1,170 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $80,090 | −3% | $63,990 | $99,520 | 4,630 |
| 30 | Ohio | $79,920 | −3% | $65,580 | $97,030 | 6,640 |
| 31 | Michigan | $79,850 | −3% | $64,770 | $90,210 | 4,520 |
| 32 | Arizona | $79,780 | −3% | $64,780 | $99,180 | 3,500 |
| 33 | Indiana | $79,730 | −3% | $62,730 | $94,980 | 3,170 |
| 34 | Texas | $79,540 | −3% | $61,310 | $99,690 | 12,130 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $79,330 | −4% | $64,300 | $91,840 | 160 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $78,800 | −4% | $64,380 | $95,350 | 2,000 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $78,490 | −5% | $62,440 | $95,520 | 6,530 |
| 38 | Idaho | $78,460 | −5% | $63,540 | $95,290 | 820 |
| 39 | Missouri | $78,390 | −5% | $60,950 | $95,730 | 3,030 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $77,740 | −6% | $63,700 | $90,670 | 1,960 |
| 41 | Kansas | $76,970 | −6% | $60,470 | $94,600 | 1,450 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $75,240 | −9% | $61,520 | $91,200 | 2,520 |
| 43 | Iowa | $74,760 | −9% | $62,860 | $86,510 | 910 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $73,870 | −10% | $59,550 | $93,480 | 1,400 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $72,750 | −12% | $58,330 | $92,540 | 2,530 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $72,140 | −12% | $57,860 | $88,060 | 3,440 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $68,870 | −16% | $61,990 | $91,220 | 840 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $68,670 | −17% | $52,940 | $94,280 | 1,140 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $68,240 | −17% | $48,530 | $88,830 | 430 |
| 50 | Alabama | $66,150 | −20% | $50,250 | $81,030 | 2,350 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $63,270 | −23% | $50,180 | $80,460 | 1,670 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Respiratory Therapists salary questions
Which state pays respiratory therapists the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $111,950 a year (+36% vs. the national median of $82,280). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays respiratory therapists the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $63,270 a year (−23% vs. national).
Where do most respiratory therapists work?
California has the most jobs, about 18,650, with a median of $104,820.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.