Respiratory Therapist Salary in Massachusetts (2026)
Massachusetts respiratory therapists earn a mean of $86,400/yr (BLS OES May 2024), 5% above the national mean of $82,430.
Mean: $86,400Median: $84,200Hourly: $41.54/hrEmployed: 3,100
Massachusetts vs National Average
Massachusetts Mean$86,400
National Mean$82,430
Percentile range in Massachusetts: $61,900 (10th) to $113,000 (90th).
Cost of Living Context
Massachusetts has a cost of living index of 125 (national baseline: 100). The COL-adjusted salary equivalent is approximately $69,100, 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.
Massachusetts Metro Area Breakdown
BLS OES May 2024 mean annual wages by metropolitan statistical area.
#1Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
$95,600#2Springfield, MA
$76,200#3Worcester, MA-CT
$78,400#4Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
$77,100Top RT Employers in Massachusetts
Massachusetts General Hospital
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston Children's Hospital
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
UMass Memorial Medical Center
Lahey Hospital
Massachusetts Licensure Requirements
- Licensing Board
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health - Board of Registration of Respiratory Care
- Initial Fee
- $100 initial application
- CE Hours Required
- 30 hours per 2-year renewal
- Renewal Cycle
- Every 2 years
All Massachusetts 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: Massachusetts
How much do entry-level RTs earn in Massachusetts?
New graduate RTs in Boston typically earn $68,000 to $78,000. Positions outside Boston (Springfield, Worcester) start $10,000 to $15,000 lower. Massachusetts has a high cost of living, so the $86,400 state mean translates to roughly $69,000 in national purchasing power, similar to states like Texas or Ohio with lower gross salaries.
Which Massachusetts metro pays RTs the most?
The Boston-Cambridge-Nashua metro leads at $95,600 mean annual (BLS May 2024), roughly 10% above the Massachusetts state mean. Academic medical centers in Boston's Longwood Medical Area (Mass General, Brigham and Women's, Boston Children's) are the top-paying RT employers in the state.
Does Massachusetts require the RRT credential?
Massachusetts requires RTs to pass the NBRC TMC exam (CRT or RRT level) for state licensure. All major Boston hospital systems require the RRT for new clinical hires. Boston Children's Hospital and Mass General are known for requiring specialty credentials (NPS for NICU, ACCS for critical care) within 1-2 years of hire.
Are Massachusetts RTs in a union?
Some Massachusetts hospital RTs, particularly at larger academic medical centers and public hospitals, are represented by unions affiliated with SEIU or hospital-specific bargaining units. Union representation is less universal than in California but more common than in most Southern states.