Respiratory therapists in the U.S. typically make around the low-to-mid 30s per hour, which works out to roughly the mid‑$60k to upper‑$70k range per year, with higher earners passing $90k and even $100k in some states and roles.

Quick Scoop: Typical Pay Range

  • National average hourly pay is around 30–33 dollars per hour for staff respiratory therapists.
  • That’s roughly 62,000–75,000 dollars per year for someone working full time (about 2,080 hours a year).
  • Median annual salary estimates cluster around the mid‑$70,000s , with a broad range from roughly low $50k for newer or lower‑paid positions to $100k+ for the top earners.

In plain terms: most working RTs land somewhere in the solid middle‑class bracket, with real potential to climb higher if you stack experience, certifications, and pick a high‑pay market.

By Experience Level

Pay climbs as you gain years on the job and skills.

  • Entry‑level (under 1 year): around 27–28 dollars per hour on average.
  • Early career (1–4 years): around 30 dollars per hour.
  • More experienced therapists, especially in busy hospitals or specialized units, often move into the mid‑30s+ per hour and can cross into the $80k–$100k territory when you add differentials and overtime.

A simple example:
If an early‑career RT makes 29.9429.9429.94 per hour and works standard full time, that’s about 29.94×2,080≈62,30029.94\times 2{,}080\approx 62{,}30029.94×2,080≈62,300 dollars per year.

Pay by State and Setting

Location and workplace matter a lot.

  • High‑pay states include places like California, New York, New Jersey, Washington, and Oregon , where averages can reach or exceed the high‑$80k to $100k range in some markets.
  • Lower‑pay states include parts of the Deep South and some rural areas , where averages can sit around the low‑$60k mark.
  • Hospital jobs (especially large urban medical centers, ICUs, and academic hospitals) tend to pay more than smaller clinics or long‑term care settings.

Here’s a compact snapshot of how ranges can look:

[5][3] [9][1] [1] [7][1]
Category Typical Pay
National average hourly About $30–33/hour
Median annual salary Around mid‑$70,000s
Lower‑paid states Roughly $60k–$65k/year
Higher‑paid states Can reach $90k–$100k+/year

Travel Respiratory Therapists

If you like moving around, travel contracts can boost your income.

  • Travel respiratory therapists often average around the low‑to‑mid $40s per hour , which can mean close to $90k per year before overtime and stipends.
  • Many travel contracts bundle in perks like housing stipends, travel reimbursement, and health benefits , which effectively raise your total compensation even more.

Story‑style snapshot: imagine an RT with a couple of years of experience who switches from a staff job at ~31 dollars an hour to a travel gig at ~43 dollars an hour, plus housing. Their base yearly pay jumps by tens of thousands of dollars, and the stipends can make it feel like an even bigger raise.

What Actually Moves Your Pay Up

Multiple levers affect how much a respiratory therapist makes:

  1. Geography – Big metro areas and high‑cost‑of‑living states pay more, but expenses are higher too.
  1. Experience & certifications – Years on the job plus credentials (like neonatal/pediatric, critical care, or sleep specialty) can push you into higher brackets.
  1. Shift type – Nights, weekends, and holidays usually come with differentials that can noticeably increase your take‑home pay.
  1. Employer type – Large hospitals, trauma centers, and academic medical centers tend to beat smaller facilities or outpatient clinics.
  1. Workload & overtime – Extra shifts and per‑diem work can push a mid‑range salary into the high end over a year.

If you’re planning your own path, the sweet spot many RTs chase is: strong metro market + high‑acuity hospital + night/weekend differentials + a few extra shifts here and there.

TL;DR:
If you’re wondering “how much does a respiratory therapist make” right now, think around $30–33 an hour or roughly mid‑$60k to mid‑$70k a year for many staff roles, with clear room to climb toward $90k+ in higher‑pay states, specialized units, or travel assignments.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.