Respiratory therapists play a key role in patient care across hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient clinics. As demand for respiratory services continues to rise, questions around respiratory therapist salary, pay rates, and job availability are becoming more common among clinicians and healthcare employers. Pay varies based on location, work setting, credentials, schedule, and job type, which makes it difficult to compare opportunities without a clear context.
In this guide, we explain how respiratory therapists’ pay works, including hourly, weekly, and annual rates, salary ranges by experience, and differences by location and work setting. We also review current job opportunities and hiring trends, with practical insight for therapists exploring their next role and healthcare facilities seeking reliable respiratory therapist staffing support.
Respiratory therapist salary in the United States reflects both clinical demand and work intensity. National data shows a wide spread between entry-level respiratory therapist salaries and experienced respiratory therapist salaries. The average respiratory therapist salary is shaped by hospital demand, shift coverage needs, and the ongoing respiratory therapy staffing shortage. Median figures provide a clearer view than averages, since high-paying contract and travel roles can skew overall numbers.
RT wages are reported using several formats, which can be confusing. Some sources focus on annual pay, while others highlight weekly or hourly rates tied to job postings. Respiratory therapist compensation should be reviewed as total earnings, not base pay alone. Benefits, overtime, and shift differentials often make a meaningful difference.
The median respiratory therapist salary is commonly used as a benchmark because it reflects the midpoint of earnings. Current national data places the median respiratory therapist salary around the low to mid-eighty thousand dollar range annually. The average respiratory therapist salary may appear higher due to contract and travel roles with premium pay.
Key points that shape these figures include:
The RT salary range data helps set realistic expectations across career stages. Entry-level respiratory therapist salaries often fall into the lower quartile, while experienced clinicians and specialists move toward the upper percentiles. The highest-paid respiratory therapist roles are typically tied to acute care settings, leadership responsibilities, or short-term staffing needs.
Typical respiratory therapist salary range by percentile
| Percentile | Annual Pay Range |
|---|---|
| 25th percentile | Lower to mid $60,000s |
| 75th percentile | Around $100,000 |
| 90th percentile | $120,000 and above |
This spread answers how much do top earning respiratory therapists make and shows how salary grows with experience and role type.
Pay rates for respiratory therapists are presented in hourly, weekly, and annual formats. Each reflects a different employment structure. Understanding these formats helps compare offers accurately and explains why posted numbers may look inconsistent across sources.
Hourly and weekly rates are common for contract respiratory therapist jobs and per diem respiratory therapist jobs. An annual salary is more common for direct-hire respiratory therapist jobs with benefits. Respiratory therapist earnings should be compared using the same time frame.
Their hourly pay is influenced by shift timing, acuity level, and facility type. The respiratory therapist’s hourly rate often increases for nights, weekends, and emergency coverage. Overtime pay for respiratory therapist policies varies by employer, but can add substantial income.
Factors that affect a respiratory therapist’s salary per hour include:
Many clinicians ask what the average hourly rate is for a respiratory therapist. National averages often fall between the high thirty-dollar range and mid forty-dollar range, with higher rates in shortage areas.
A respiratory therapist’s weekly pay is common in travel and short-term contracts. Weekly figures bundle hourly pay with expected hours, making them easier to compare across assignments. A respiratory therapist’s salary per week may also include stipends for housing or travel.
When comparing respiratory therapist weekly pay vs hourly pay, weekly figures often appear higher because they assume full schedules and include differentials. This format is common in travel respiratory therapist pay structures.
A respiratory therapist’s annual salary reflects base pay for permanent roles. Converting hourly or weekly pay to annual figures helps compare offers. To calculate a respiratory therapist’s hourly wage from their yearly salary, divide the annual pay by the total expected work hours.
Annual salary works best for long-term planning, while hourly and weekly rates are more useful for short-term flexibility.
Location plays a major role in a respiratory therapist’s salary. Demand, cost of living, and facility density all influence pay. Respiratory therapist salary by state and respiratory therapist salary by city often vary even within the same region.
Areas with teaching hospitals, trauma centers, and large aging populations often report higher rates. Clinicians searching for respiratory therapist salaries often see wide differences between urban and rural markets.
The highest-paying states for respiratory therapists tend to be those with staffing shortages and higher living costs. States with large healthcare systems and limited workforce supply often pay more to attract clinicians.
When comparing which states pay respiratory therapists the most, coastal states and regions with large metro areas often rank higher.
RT salary by city highlights local demand. The highest paying cities for respiratory therapists are often those with multiple hospitals competing for staff. In New York, respiratory therapist salaries often exceed national averages due to the cost of living and patient volume.
Comparing respiratory therapist salaries in New York vs nearby states can reveal where travel or contract roles offer higher short-term earnings.
Work setting strongly affects respiratory therapist pay. Hospitals and acute care facilities typically offer higher rates due to complexity and schedule demands. Other settings provide stability but may pay less. Understanding where respiratory therapists make more helps align pay expectations with lifestyle preferences.
The salary of a respiratory therapist in hospitals is often higher than in outpatient roles. ICU respiratory therapist salary and NICU respiratory therapist salary reflect high-acuity care and advanced skills. Emergency department respiratory therapist pay may include on-call or surge coverage premiums.
Respiratory therapist salary in nursing home or skilled nursing facility roles is often lower than hospital pay, but may offer predictable schedules. Respiratory therapist salary in outpatient clinic or physician office settings emphasizes routine care with fewer overnight shifts.
Credentials directly affect respiratory therapist compensation. CRT vs RRT salary differences are consistent across most regions. Facilities often prefer RRT credentials for advanced roles.
A registered respiratory therapist’s salary is typically higher than a certified respiratory therapist’s salary. Registered respiratory therapist pay reflects additional testing and training. Many ask if RRT pays more than CRT. In most cases, the answer is yes, especially in hospital and leadership roles.
Respiratory therapist specialty pay increases in neonatal, critical care, and leadership roles. The advanced practice respiratory therapist’s salary varies widely and is less standardized, but specialty certifications that increase salary are often linked to higher demand units.
The respiratory therapist job outlook remains strong. Respiratory therapist demand is driven by aging populations, chronic lung disease, and hospital capacity needs. The respiratory therapist shortage continues to affect both urban and rural facilities. This demand explains how job outlook impacts respiratory therapist pay and why contract roles are expanding.
Openings are common across hospitals, long-term care, and outpatient centers. Respiratory therapist job searches often return contract and temporary roles due to staffing gaps. Facilities often rely on respiratory therapist staffing agencies to fill urgent needs and maintain patient care standards.
Job type influences both pay and stability. Contract respiratory therapist jobs often pay more but offer less long-term security. Direct hire roles provide benefits and predictable income.
Temporary respiratory therapist jobs and travel respiratory therapist pay often exceed staff rates. PRN respiratory therapist pay and per diem respiratory therapist jobs offer flexibility for experienced clinicians. When reviewing contract respiratory therapist pay vs staff pay, contract roles often lead to short-term earnings.
Temp-to-perm respiratory therapist jobs’ benefits include testing a role before committing. Direct hire respiratory therapist jobs focus on retention and career growth.
Benefits for respiratory therapists affect overall earnings. The total compensation for a respiratory therapist includes more than hourly or salary pay.
Respiratory therapist benefits may include:
When reviewing how to compare respiratory therapist job offers, total compensation matters more than base pay alone. Facilities and clinicians often benefit from working with experienced respiratory therapist staffing partners who align roles with goals and coverage needs.
Respiratory therapist salary varies based on location, credentials, work setting, and job type. Understanding pay formats and market demand helps clinicians and facilities plan effectively. Open job opportunities remain strong across the country.
Flagstar Rehab supports respiratory therapists and healthcare facilities through focused respiratory therapist staffing solutions. Whether filling coverage needs or exploring new roles, our team helps match experience with opportunity. Contact us to connect with a staffing partner that understands respiratory care.
Most respiratory therapists earn between the mid $60,000s and low-$100,000s annually, depending on role and location. Median pay sits around the low to mid $80,000s. Contract and travel roles can exceed this range.
Yes. Respiratory therapist demand remains strong due to ongoing shortages and patient care needs. Many facilities use contract respiratory therapist staffing to maintain coverage.
Respiratory therapy pay is often similar to nursing pay in acute care settings, especially in hospitals and intensive care units. Differences usually come from specialty focus, shift coverage, and contract availability rather than base role. RTs concentrate on respiratory and ventilatory care, while nurses manage a wider range of patient needs.
Respiratory therapists tend to earn the highest pay in large metro areas with high patient volume and staffing shortages. High-acuity hospitals, intensive care units, and short-term contract or travel roles often offer higher rates. Cities such as New York City frequently report above-average respiratory therapist pay.