A respiratory therapist salary calculator converts respiratory therapy pay between hourly, weekly, biweekly, monthly and annual amounts, then ranks it against official wage data. In May 2025 the median wage for respiratory therapists was $39.56 an hour, or $82,280 a year. The top 10 percent earned more than $118,050.
Annual gross pay
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How to Use the Respiratory Therapist Salary Calculator
- Choose your pay type: hourly rate or annual salary. The tool uses one BLS wage table, respiratory therapists (29-1126).
- Enter your base pay, your hours per week and your weeks per year. Add other annual pay or a second offer if you have them.
- Read your annual gross pay, the pay-period amounts and where your hourly pay sits in the BLS wage table.
What each result tells you:
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| Annual gross pay | Base pay for the year plus any other annual pay you entered, before tax. |
| Monthly, biweekly, weekly | Annual gross pay divided by 12, 26 and 52. |
| Hourly | Base pay per paid hour. This is the number compared with BLS. |
| BLS percentile band | The two published BLS percentiles your hourly pay falls between. |
| Approximate percentile | A straight-line estimate between those two percentiles. BLS does not publish it. |
| Gap to BLS median | Your hourly pay minus the BLS median hourly wage, in dollars and percent. |
| Full-time equivalent | Your hourly pay times 2,080 hours, the work year BLS uses for annual wages. |
| Second offer rows | The second offer as annual and hourly pay, its percentile and the yearly difference. |
The first preset is an example, not a typical wage. It shows a hospital respiratory therapist paid $38.40 an hour for 36 hours a week. That works out to $71,884.80 a year, about the 42nd percentile.
What Is a Respiratory Therapist Salary?
A respiratory therapist salary is the gross pay a respiratory therapist earns in a year, before tax and deductions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports it under occupation code 29-1126.
BLS describes the work this way. Respiratory therapists assess, treat and care for patients with breathing disorders. They run diagnostic tests, set up and monitor ventilators, and teach patients to use equipment. Patients range from premature infants to older adults.
| Fact | BLS figure |
|---|---|
| Median pay, May 2025 | $82,280 a year, $39.56 an hour |
| Mean pay, May 2025 | $87,300 a year, $41.97 an hour |
| Wage and salary jobs in the wage survey | 139,790 |
| All jobs, 2025 (Occupational Outlook Handbook) | 142,000 |
| Typical entry education | Associate degree in respiratory therapy |
| Licence | Required in every state except Alaska |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | 9% growth, about 8,600 openings a year |
The Handbook names two certification levels: Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). BLS counts both in one wage table. No official CRT or RRT wage exists, so this page has no credential selector.
The tool is for respiratory therapists checking an offer, a raise or a schedule change. It is not a pay quote from any employer.
How Does the Respiratory Therapist Salary Calculator Work?
The calculator converts your pay between time periods, then places your hourly pay in the BLS wage distribution for respiratory therapists.
Annual pay = hourly rate x hours per week x weeks per yearApproximate percentile = P1 + (your hourly - W1) / (W2 - W1) x (P2 - P1)- Convert. An hourly rate is multiplied by hours and weeks. A salary is divided by them to get pay per hour.
- Add other pay. Overtime, differentials and bonuses you typed are added to the annual total only.
- Find the band. Your base hourly pay is checked against the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile wages.
- Interpolate. W1 and W2 are the two BLS wages around your pay. P1 and P2 are their percentiles.
- Measure the gap. Your hourly pay minus the median, then divided by the median.
The table below holds the BLS figures the tool uses. They are fixed for the May 2025 release.
| Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126) | Hourly wage | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30.61 | $63,660 |
| 25th percentile | $35.83 | $74,520 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $39.56 | $82,280 |
| 75th percentile | $47.47 | $98,730 |
| 90th percentile | $56.75 | $118,050 |
| Mean (average) | $41.97 | $87,300 |
| Employment | 139,790 jobs | |
Source: BLS OEWS, national estimates, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
BLS annual wages equal the hourly wage times 2,080 hours. That is 40 hours for 52 weeks. The comparison uses hourly pay so that part-time and long-shift schedules are judged fairly.
Respiratory Therapist Salary Example: Night Shift with Extras
A respiratory therapist earns a base rate of $43.10 an hour. He works three 12-hour night shifts, so 36 hours a week for 52 weeks. His pay stubs show $4,850 of night differential and on-call pay for the year. Another hospital offers a base rate of $45.60.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Base annual pay | 43.10 x 36 x 52 | $80,683.20 |
| Annual gross pay | 80,683.20 + 4,850.00 | $85,533.20 |
| Monthly | 85,533.20 / 12 | $7,127.77 |
| Biweekly | 85,533.20 / 26 | $3,289.74 |
| BLS band | 43.10 is between 39.56 and 47.47 | 50th to 75th percentile |
| Approximate percentile | 50 + (43.10 - 39.56) / (47.47 - 39.56) x 25 | About the 61st |
| Gap to median | 43.10 - 39.56 | +$3.54 an hour (+8.9%) |
| Full-time equivalent | 43.10 x 2,080 | $89,648.00 |
| Second offer | 45.60 x 36 x 52 | $85,363.20, +$4,680.00 a year |
His base rate is above the national median of $39.56. The second offer adds $4,680.00 a year and lands at about the 69th percentile. The $4,850 of differential and on-call pay raises his annual total but not his percentile, because BLS wages exclude it.
Factors That Change Respiratory Therapist Pay
Industry
Industry changes the average wage. Outpatient care centers average $121,980, which is $34,680 above the national mean.
| Industry | Annual mean wage | Versus national mean |
|---|---|---|
| Outpatient Care Centers | $121,980 | +$34,680 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $121,570 | +$34,270 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $102,660 | +$15,360 |
| Junior Colleges | $95,130 | +$7,830 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals | $93,980 | +$6,680 |
The industries with the highest annual mean wage for respiratory therapists. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
These are small employers of respiratory therapists. Hospitals hold most of the jobs, as the comparison section shows.
State
New York has the highest annual mean wage at $110,200. California follows at $109,440.
| State | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|
| New York | $110,200 |
| California | $109,440 |
| District of Columbia | $108,020 |
| Massachusetts | $100,580 |
| New Jersey | $99,760 |
The states with the highest annual mean wage for respiratory therapists. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
Credential
Some employers require the RRT credential at hire or within a set time, according to the Handbook. BLS publishes no wage by credential. Ask the employer how its pay scale treats CRT and RRT.
Hours per Week
A 36-hour schedule pays 10% less a year than a 40-hour schedule at the same hourly rate. The tool compares hourly pay for that reason. The salary to hourly calculator gives a quick conversion without the BLS comparison.
Shift and On-Call Pay
Hospitals never close, so respiratory therapists often work nights, weekends and holidays. Differentials and overtime raise annual pay, and BLS leaves them out. The overtime pay calculator works out overtime from your own hours.
Respiratory Therapist Pay by Employer: Hospital vs Nursing Facility vs Physician Office
Hospitals pay respiratory therapists a higher median than nursing care facilities or physician offices. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook gives these figures for May 2025.
| Employer group | Share of jobs | Median annual wage | Versus all respiratory therapists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 80% | $82,730 | +$450 |
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | 4% | $79,270 | -$3,010 |
| Offices of physicians | 3% | $77,890 | -$4,390 |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Respiratory Therapists. Read on 2026-10-02.
The hospital median is $4,840 above the physician office median. The wage survey counts jobs by detailed industry.
| Industry | Jobs | Share of 139,790 jobs |
|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 103,830 | 74.3% |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 8,160 | 5.8% |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 5,480 | 3.9% |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 3,880 | 2.8% |
| Offices of Physicians | 3,710 | 2.7% |
The industries with the most jobs for respiratory therapists. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
General and specialty hospitals together hold 111,990 of the 139,790 jobs, or 80.1%.
When to Use the Respiratory Therapist Salary Calculator
Checking a Job Offer
Enter the offered base rate and the unit schedule. The band shows whether the offer is in the lower or upper half of national pay for respiratory therapists.
Comparing 36 and 40 Hours
Change the hours per week and watch the annual figure. At the median of $39.56, 36 hours pays $74,056.32 a year and 40 hours pays $82,284.80.
Weighing a Day Job Against Nights
Enter the same base rate twice with different other annual pay. The percentile stays the same. The annual total shows what the differential is worth.
Budgeting After Tax
The result is gross pay. Read the gross vs net income guide before you plan a household budget from it. The general salary calculator converts pay for any job.
Common Mistakes with Respiratory Therapist Pay Comparisons
1. Comparing a 36-Hour Year with the BLS Annual Wage
BLS annual wages assume 2,080 hours. Three 12-hour shifts a week total 1,872 hours a year. Compare hourly rates, or read the full-time equivalent row.
2. Adding On-Call Pay to the Base Rate
On-call pay and differentials are premium pay. BLS excludes them. Enter the base rate alone, then put the premium pay in the other annual pay field.
3. Looking for a CRT or RRT Wage Table
BLS has one code for respiratory therapists. Any credential pay gap quoted elsewhere does not come from this data.
4. Treating the National Median as a Local Rate
The mean wage in New York is $110,200. The national mean is $87,300. A national figure does not price a local market.
5. Reading the Percentile as Exact
BLS publishes five percentiles. The number between them is a straight-line estimate and can be off by several points.
Accuracy and Limitations
The conversion is exact arithmetic. The percentile is an estimate, because BLS publishes only five points of the wage distribution.
What it calculates accurately
- Annual, monthly, biweekly, weekly and hourly gross pay from your own figures.
- The BLS percentile band your hourly pay falls in.
- The dollar and percent gap to the BLS national median.
- The yearly difference between two offers on the same schedule.
What it does not account for
- Federal, state and local tax, or any payroll deduction.
- Your state, metro area, employer, experience or specialty.
- Benefits such as health insurance, retirement match and paid leave.
- Wages after May 2025. BLS updates the survey once a year.
- Credential level (CRT or RRT) and unit type. BLS publishes no wage by these.
BLS wages are straight-time gross pay. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. Keep those in the other annual pay field so the comparison stays like for like.
How We Calculate Respiratory Therapist Pay and Percentiles
Frequently Asked Questions About Respiratory Therapist Salaries
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour?
Respiratory therapists had a median hourly wage of $39.56 in May 2025, according to BLS. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30.61 an hour and the highest 10 percent earned more than $56.75.
What is the average respiratory therapist salary?
The mean annual wage for respiratory therapists was $87,300 in May 2025. The median was $82,280. The mean is higher because a small share of high wages pulls it up.
How much does a respiratory therapist make working three 12-hour shifts?
At the national median rate of $39.56, three 12-hour shifts a week for 52 weeks pay $74,056.32 a year before tax. The same rate over 2,080 hours pays $82,284.80.
Do RRTs earn more than CRTs?
BLS does not publish separate wages for the two credentials, so this tool cannot show a gap. The Handbook says some employers require RRT certification at hire or within a set time on the job.
Which state pays respiratory therapists the most?
New York pays the most, with an annual mean wage of $110,200 in May 2025. California follows at $109,440 and the District of Columbia at $108,020.
Where do most respiratory therapists work?
Hospitals employ 80% of respiratory therapists, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Nursing care facilities employ 4% and physician offices employ 3%.
Do BLS respiratory therapist wages include overtime and night differentials?
No. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay. The survey excludes overtime pay, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses, so a therapist with heavy night or overtime work earns more than the base rate suggests.
What education does a respiratory therapist need?
Respiratory therapists typically need an associate degree in respiratory therapy, according to BLS. Some employers prefer a bachelor degree. Every state except Alaska requires a licence.
Is respiratory therapy a growing occupation?
Yes. BLS projects 9% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3% for all occupations. It projects about 8,600 openings a year.
Why does the calculator not show take-home pay?
Take-home pay depends on your filing status, state and deductions, and this tool does not estimate tax. It shows gross pay only, so every figure can be checked against your offer letter or pay stub.
Is my pay information saved?
No. The calculation runs in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server. The Save button stores a result only on your own device.
Sources
- BLS OEWS Profiles, May 2025 national estimates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Select 29-1126 Respiratory Therapists. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Respiratory Therapists (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Duties, education, licensing, employers, pay by industry and 2025 to 2035 outlook. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS technical notes for the May 2025 OEWS estimates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Defines the wage: straight-time gross pay, 2,080-hour year. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS May 2025 OEWS occupation index (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Lists every occupation code in the May 2025 release. Read 2026-10-02.)
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Explore all career calculatorsThis respiratory therapist salary calculator gives an estimate for planning. It uses BLS survey data, not a pay offer, and it is not financial, tax or career advice. BLS figures are national estimates for May 2025, read on 2026-10-02. All amounts are gross pay before tax. Confirm pay with the employer before you decide. Spotted an error? Let us know.
Author
Shakeel Muzaffar is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of MultiCalculators.com, bringing over 15 years of experience in digital publishing, product strategy, and online tool development. He leads the platform's editorial vision, ensuring every calculator meets strict standards for accuracy, usability, and real-world value. Shakeel personally oversees content quality, formula verification workflows, and the platform's commitment to publishing tools that are genuinely useful for students, professionals, and everyday users worldwide.
