Respiratory Therapist Salary in California (2026)
California respiratory therapists earn a mean of $103,800/yr (BLS OES May 2024), 26% above the national mean of $82,430.
Mean: $103,800Median: $100,200Hourly: $49.90/hrEmployed: 14,200
California vs National Average
California Mean$103,800
National Mean$82,430
Percentile range in California: $73,100 (10th) to $139,200 (90th).
Cost of Living Context
California has a cost of living index of 138 (national baseline: 100). The COL-adjusted salary equivalent is approximately $75,200, representing the purchasing power of this salary in a hypothetical average-cost US market. The high cost of living reduces the effective value of the above-average nominal salary.
California Metro Area Breakdown
BLS OES May 2024 mean annual wages by metropolitan statistical area.
#1San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward
$125,420#2San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
$124,820#3Santa Rosa-Petaluma
$113,030#4Vallejo-Fairfield
$112,950#5Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
$109,780#6Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
$95,200#7San Diego-Carlsbad
$94,800Top RT Employers in California
Kaiser Permanente
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
UCLA Health
Stanford Health Care
UCSF Medical Center
Sutter Health
California Licensure Requirements
- Licensing Board
- California Department of Consumer Affairs - Respiratory Care Board
- Initial Fee
- $325 initial application
- CE Hours Required
- 30 hours per 2-year renewal
- Renewal Cycle
- Every 2 years
All California applicants must hold an NBRC credential (CRT or RRT) and provide proof of completion of a CoARC-accredited programme. Background check required.
Frequently Asked Questions: California
How much do entry-level RTs earn in California?
New graduate RTs in California typically earn $73,000 to $82,000 in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, compared to $65,000 to $72,000 in the Central Valley and inland areas. California has the highest RT starting salaries in the nation, partly due to mandatory nurse-to-patient ratio legislation that drives up all clinical staffing wages.
Which California metro pays RTs the most?
The San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metro area leads California and the nation at $125,420 mean annual salary (BLS May 2024). San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is close at $124,820. Both Bay Area metros pay 20-25% above the California state mean.
Does California require the RRT credential?
California does not require the RRT at the state level to obtain a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) licence, but the vast majority of California hospital systems and medical centres now require or strongly prefer the RRT for all new hires. Community college entry-level positions may still accept CRT.
Are California RTs in a union?
Many California hospital RTs are represented by SEIU-UHW (Service Employees International Union). Union contracts at Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and county hospitals typically include above-average shift differentials, automatic step increases, and strong retirement benefits. Union representation is more common in Northern California than Southern California.