Independent salary research. Not affiliated with BLS, NBRC, AARC, or any employer. Figures are estimates based on BLS OES May 2024 data.
SpO2 / SOC 29-1126BLS OES May 2024v.04.26

National Median Annual Wage

Respiratory Therapists earn $80,450/yr

Clinical setting, credentials, and shift choices push that from $61,900 (10th percentile) to $108,820 (90th percentile). California metro areas clear $125,000. Find out where you stand.

Hourly Median

$38.68

10th Percentile

$61,900

90th Percentile

$108,820

2024-2034 Growth

+13%

Calculate Your Earning Power

RT Salary Calculator

Select your state, clinical setting, credentials, and shift to estimate your earning potential based on BLS May 2024 state figures.

Estimated Annual Salary

$79,287

Range: $69,773 to $90,387

$0$140k

Hourly Rate

$38.12/hr

Shift Differential Value

+$0/yr

Credential Premium

+$5,187/yr

vs National Median ($80,450)

$-1,163

Estimates based on BLS OES May 2024 state medians (SOC 29-1126). Actual pay varies by employer, facility, and local market.

Top 10 Highest-Paying States for RTs

Mean annual wage by state, BLS OES May 2024. These figures are before shift differentials and overtime.

California metro areas (SF Bay $125,420, San Jose $124,820) significantly exceed the state average shown below.

#1
California
$100,200+25% vs national
#2
Hawaii
$90,500+12% vs national
#3
Alaska
$89,200+11% vs national
#4
New York
$88,900+11% vs national
#5
Washington
$86,500+8% vs national
#6
New Jersey
$85,700+7% vs national
#7
Massachusetts
$84,200+5% vs national
#8
Connecticut
$84,600+5% vs national
#9
Nevada
$79,800+-1% vs national
#10
Illinois
$76,800+-5% vs national
See full 50-state rankings and metro data

Salary by Clinical Setting

Where you work matters as much as where you live. NICU and critical care RTs earn the most; home health offers better work-life balance at lower base pay.

NICU / Critical Care

$85,000/yr avg

Highest-acuity RT setting. Ventilator management for premature neonates, ECMO support, advanced airway. NPS credential strongly preferred. Pays the highest premium.

Full salary guide for this setting

ICU / Critical Care (Adult)

$82,000/yr avg

Intensive mechanical ventilation, rapid response team, arterial blood gas analysis. ACCS credential adds $3,500-$5,500/yr. High demand and shift differential opportunities.

Full salary guide for this setting

Hospital (General)

$78,000/yr avg

The most common RT employer. Bronchodilator therapy, PFTs, ventilator weaning, floor coverage. Steady hours with shift rotation. Strong baseline with overtime available.

Full salary guide for this setting

Sleep Lab

$74,000/yr avg

Polysomnography setup and titration studies. Primarily night shifts with automatic night differential. Lower physical demands than acute care. SDS credential adds value.

Full salary guide for this setting

Home Health

$68,000/yr avg

Managing home ventilators, tracheostomy care, CPAP/BiPAP setup. More autonomy than hospital work. Mileage reimbursement ($0.67/mile IRS 2026). Lower base, better lifestyle.

Full salary guide for this setting

Shift Differentials

Off-hours shifts pay a premium. Differentials stack, so a night shift on a holiday weekend pays the highest combined rate. This is the fastest way to raise your take-home without changing employers.

ShiftHourly BonusAnnual Value
Evening (3pm-11pm)$2-4/hr$4,160-$8,320
Night (11pm-7am)$3-5/hr$6,240-$10,400
Weekend$2-4/hr$2,080-$4,160
Holiday$5-10/hr or 1.5-2xVaries
Crisis / Bonus$10-25/hrSituational

Example: An RT earning $38.68/hr base who works three 12-hour night shifts per week earns an extra $7,488 to $12,480 per year from night differential alone. With weekend stacking on two of those shifts, total differential premium exceeds $10,000.

Use the shift-stacking calculator

Travel RT vs Staff: The Full Picture

Travel contracts can add $15,000 to $60,000+ per year over staff pay, but the trade-offs are real. Here is an honest comparison.

Staff RT

Annual Pay

$70,000-$88,000

  • + Full benefits (health, dental, vision)
  • + Employer-matched 403b/401k retirement
  • + PTO and sick leave
  • + Tuition reimbursement at many hospitals
  • - Lower gross hourly rate
  • - Less schedule flexibility

Travel RT

Weekly Pay (13-week contracts)

$1,800-$2,800/week

  • + Tax-free housing and meal stipends
  • + Higher gross pay ($93k-$145k/yr)
  • + Crisis pay can push higher still
  • - No employer benefits (must buy own insurance)
  • - Individual state licences required (RT is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact)
  • - Gaps between contracts reduce annual income
Full travel RT salary guide with agency comparisons

Credential ROI

Every NBRC specialty credential costs the same to sit for but returns different premiums depending on your setting. The RRT is the single biggest lever; every specialty credential pays for itself within the first year.

CredentialCostAnnual Premium
RRT$190 TMC + $200 CSE+$5,000-$8,000/yr
ACCS$300 exam fee+$3,500-$5,500/yr
NPS$300 exam fee+$3,000-$5,000/yr
RPFT$300 exam fee+$2,500-$4,000/yr
SDS$300 exam fee+$2,000-$3,500/yr
Full credential ROI analysis with NBRC exam guide

Career Path: New Grad to Director

Respiratory therapy has a clear advancement ladder. Each step requires experience, credentials, and often additional education. Directors in large hospital systems earn $105,000-$140,000.

Step 1

New Grad RT

0-2 years

$56,000-$60,000

$27-29/hr

Entry-level position after completing your associate or bachelor's degree and passing the NBRC exams. Working under supervision to build clinical skills across multiple patient populations.

Step 2

Experienced RT

2-5 years

$65,000-$78,000

$31-38/hr

Competent in all standard RT procedures. Beginning to specialise in critical care, neonatal, or pulmonary function. Pursuing ACCS or NPS credentials.

Step 3

Lead / Senior RT

5-8 years

$75,000-$90,000

$36-43/hr

Shift lead or charge therapist role. Mentoring new graduates, assisting with protocol development, acting as clinical resource for the department.

Step 4

RT Supervisor

8-12 years

$85,000-$100,000

$41-48/hr

Managing daily departmental operations, staff scheduling, and quality assurance. Bridging clinical staff and management. Bachelor's degree typically required.

Step 5

RT Manager

10-15 years

$95,000-$115,000

Salaried

Overseeing budget, staffing, equipment procurement, and regulatory compliance. Bachelor's or master's degree typically required.

Step 6

RT Director

15+ years

$105,000-$140,000

Salaried

Senior leadership overseeing all respiratory services across a hospital system. Strategic planning, policy development, and executive-level decision making. Master's degree strongly preferred.

See year-by-year salary curve

Job Outlook: 13% Growth Through 2034

Respiratory therapy is growing much faster than the average occupation. About 10,000 openings per year nationally (BLS OOH May 2024). Here is what is driving demand.

Ageing Population

Adults over 65 are the fastest-growing demographic. COPD, pneumonia, and other respiratory conditions are far more prevalent in older adults, driving demand for RTs in hospitals, long-term care, and home health.

Sleep Apnea Awareness

An estimated 30 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea (AASM), with the majority still undiagnosed. As screening increases, sleep labs and home sleep testing programmes need more respiratory therapists.

Post-Pandemic Respiratory Capacity

COVID-19 expanded hospital RT departments and these staffing levels have largely been maintained as respiratory illness volumes remain elevated. NICU and home health are the fastest-growing sub-settings.

Expanding Scope of Practice

Many states are expanding the RT scope to include arterial line insertion, protocol-directed ventilator management, and chronic disease education. This creates higher-paying specialist roles for experienced therapists.

13%

Projected Growth

135,200

RTs Employed

10,000+

Openings/Year

Full 2024-2034 outlook analysis

How to Become a Respiratory Therapist

1

Complete a CoARC-Accredited Degree

Associate degree (2 years, $18-32k total) is the entry path. Bachelor's degree (4 years, $40-80k) is preferred for management roles and increases long-term earning potential by roughly $100,000 over 10 years. Both require didactic coursework and 800-1,200 clinical hours.

2

Pass the NBRC Exams

The Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) exam costs $190. A low cut score earns the CRT; a high cut score makes you eligible for the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE, $200). Passing both earns the RRT. Most hospitals now require RRT at hire. Plan for 3-6 months of exam prep.

3

Obtain State Licensure

Nearly all states require a state licence or registration to practise. Fees range from $50 to $200. Some states require continuing education credits for renewal. Processing time is typically 2-6 weeks from submitting a complete application.

4

Specialise After 1-2 Years

Pursue specialty credentials after building a general clinical foundation. ACCS for ICU/critical care, NPS for NICU, RPFT for pulmonary function labs, SDS for sleep labs. Each adds $2,500 to $5,500/yr and opens new career tracks.

5

Maintain CE Credits

NBRC credentials require renewal every 5 years via continuing education or re-examination. Many states also require CE for licence renewal. Employer tuition reimbursement and AARC CE programmes make staying current affordable.

Full pathway guide|Associate vs bachelor's ROI

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the starting salary for a respiratory therapist?
A new graduate respiratory therapist typically earns between $56,000 and $60,000 per year ($27-29/hr), depending on the state and setting. Metropolitan hospital positions pay on the higher end. Holding the RRT credential at hire can add $3,000 to $5,000 over a CRT-only starting salary. By year three with an RRT, expect $60,000 to $70,000.
How much more do RRTs make than CRTs?
Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs) earn approximately $5,400 more per year than Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRTs) on average (PayScale: $77,271 vs $71,855). Most hospitals now require or strongly prefer the RRT credential, and many states are phasing out the CRT as the entry-level standard. The TMC high-cut score plus passing the CSE earns the RRT.
Which state pays respiratory therapists the most?
California pays the most, with a state mean over $100,000/yr (BLS May 2024). The San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metro area leads nationally at $125,420. New York, Alaska, Washington, and Hawaii round out the top five. When adjusted for cost of living, Nevada and Washington offer excellent purchasing power.
How much do travel respiratory therapists make?
Travel RTs typically earn $1,800 to $2,800 per week on 13-week contracts ($93,000-$145,000 annualised), including taxable hourly pay plus tax-free housing and meal stipends. However, RT is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so individual state licences are required for each assignment state, typically taking 2-6 weeks each.
Is respiratory therapy a good career financially?
Yes. The national median is $80,450/yr (BLS May 2024) with 13% projected job growth 2024-2034, well above average. The 2-4 year education requirement is short relative to the salary. Experienced critical care RTs with night differentials and specialty credentials can reach $95,000 to $120,000+ without leaving a staff position.
Do night shift RTs make more?
Yes. Night differential adds $3 to $5 per hour, which is $6,240 to $10,400 per year for a full-time schedule. Weekend differentials stack at $2 to $4/hr, and holiday pay adds $5 to $10/hr. A night RT working on a holiday weekend stacks all three differentials simultaneously.
What certifications increase RT salary the most?
The RRT credential adds approximately $5,400/yr. ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist) adds $3,500-$5,500/yr and is essential for ICU positions. NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist) adds $3,000-$5,000/yr and is required for NICU work. RPFT adds $2,500-$4,000/yr for pulmonary function lab and outpatient roles.
How much do NICU respiratory therapists make?
NICU RTs earn an average of $72,676/yr (Salary.com range: $64,919-$78,754). With the NPS credential and night differential, NICU RTs in California and New York can earn $95,000 to $115,000+. NICU work requires the RRT credential plus NPS (preferred or required within 1-2 years of hire).

Explore More

RT vs RN Salary

Median RT $80,450 vs RN $93,600. NPV analysis shows the gap narrows with credential stacking.

Associate vs Bachelor's

Associate: $58-65k median. Bachelor's: $70-85k median. 10-year cumulative gap: ~$100k.

Credential ROI Guide

RRT, NPS, ACCS, RPFT, SDS. Each pays back within the first year. See the full analysis.

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Updated 2026-04-27