Respiratory Therapist Salary in New York (2026)
New York respiratory therapists earn a mean of $91,100/yr (BLS OES May 2024), 11% above the national mean of $82,430.
Mean: $91,100Median: $88,900Hourly: $43.80/hrEmployed: 7,800
New York vs National Average
New York Mean$91,100
National Mean$82,430
Percentile range in New York: $65,300 (10th) to $118,000 (90th).
Cost of Living Context
New York has a cost of living index of 130 (national baseline: 100). The COL-adjusted salary equivalent is approximately $70,100, 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.
New York Metro Area Breakdown
BLS OES May 2024 mean annual wages by metropolitan statistical area.
#1New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
$97,400#2Albany-Schenectady-Troy
$74,200#3Buffalo-Cheektowaga
$69,800#4Rochester
$71,500#5Syracuse
$68,900Top RT Employers in New York
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
NYU Langone Health
Mount Sinai Health System
Northwell Health
Montefiore Medical Center
University of Rochester Medical Center
New York Licensure Requirements
- Licensing Board
- New York State Department of Health - Office of Health Insurance Programs
- Initial Fee
- $120 initial application
- CE Hours Required
- 30 hours per 3-year renewal including 3 hours infection control
- Renewal Cycle
- Every 3 years
All New York 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: New York
How much do entry-level RTs earn in New York?
New graduate RTs in New York City earn $68,000 to $78,000; upstate New York positions typically start at $55,000 to $65,000. The pay gap between NYC metro and upstate is larger in respiratory therapy than in most healthcare fields due to the concentration of high-acuity academic medical centers in Manhattan and the Bronx.
Which New York metro pays RTs the most?
The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area leads at $97,400 mean annual (BLS May 2024), roughly 7% above the New York state mean. Positions at academic medical centers like NYU Langone, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Mount Sinai tend to pay at or above the metro average.
Does New York require the RRT credential?
New York requires RTs to pass the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) exam and hold either the CRT or RRT credential to obtain a state licence. Most New York City hospital systems now mandate the RRT for new hires. The state is considering requiring RRT for all new licensure applicants.
Are New York RTs in a union?
A significant portion of New York City hospital RTs are represented by 1199SEIU or hospital-specific unions. Union contracts at major academic medical centers include structured pay scales, premium shift differentials, and strong health and pension benefits. Union RTs in NYC typically earn 10-15% more than non-union counterparts in similar roles.