Independent salary research. Not affiliated with BLS, NBRC, AARC, or any employer. Figures are estimates based on BLS OES May 2024 data.

Home Health Respiratory Therapist Salary 2026

Home health RTs earn $60,000-$72,000/yr base, lower than hospital settings but with better work-life balance, mileage reimbursement ($0.67/mile IRS 2026), and more autonomy.

Base: $60,000-$72,000Mileage: $0.67/mile IRS 2026Day shift dominant

What Home Health RT Work Entails

Home health RTs visit patients in their homes to manage chronic respiratory conditions. Patients include those on home mechanical ventilators, tracheostomy care patients, long-term oxygen therapy patients, and CPAP/BiPAP users with complex needs. The RT drives between patient homes, often covering a geographic territory of 20-50 miles.

Home mechanical ventilator setup and management
Tracheostomy care education and supplies
Oxygen concentrator and liquid oxygen setup
CPAP/BiPAP setup, troubleshooting and resupply
Patient and family education and training
Documenting visits for Medicare/Medicaid billing
Coordination with physicians and home health nurses
On-call emergency response for equipment failure

Pay Breakdown

Base salary

$60,000-$72,000/yr

Lower than hospital but no nights/weekends typically

Mileage reimbursement

$0.67/mile

IRS rate 2026. RTs driving 15,000 mi/yr earn ~$10,050 tax-free

On-call stipend

$2-4/hr standby

Plus full rate when called in. Varies by employer.

Employer Types in Home Health

Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Companies

Examples: Apria Healthcare, Lincare, Rotech Medical

The largest home health RT employer category. DME companies supply and service home oxygen, ventilators, and PAP devices. RTs serve as clinical specialists for complex equipment setups and patient education. High volume of patient visits.

Home Health Agencies

Examples: Amedisys, LHC Group, Kindred at Home

Agency-based home health RTs focus on skilled clinical assessments, care plan management, and coordination with physicians. Typically higher clinical acuity and documentation burden than DME. More likely to work alongside home health nurses.

Hospice Providers

Examples: VITAS Healthcare, Enhabit Home Health & Hospice

Home hospice RTs provide palliative respiratory care for end-of-life patients. Emotionally demanding but highly meaningful work. Strong patient relationships with less equipment-management focus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is home health RT salary lower than hospital?
Home health RT salaries are lower primarily because night and weekend differentials are rare or absent (most home health visits are daytime), and DME and home health agency margins are tighter than hospital system budgets. The lifestyle trade-off is real: most home health RTs work Monday-Friday daytime shifts, have minimal on-call, and have strong patient relationships. The mileage reimbursement adds $8,000-$12,000/yr effectively tax-free for high-mileage roles.
Do home health RTs need the RRT credential?
Yes. All major DME companies and home health agencies require the RRT for their clinical RT roles. The RRT is non-negotiable for home health clinical positions. No specialty credential is required, though CPFT helps for RTs focused on oxygen assessments and pulmonary function testing in the home.
What is the mileage reimbursement situation for home health RTs?
Most home health employers reimburse mileage at or near the IRS standard business mileage rate ($0.67/mile in 2026). An RT driving 15,000 miles per year in patient visits earns approximately $10,050 in tax-free reimbursement. High-mileage rural territories can generate $12,000-$15,000/yr in mileage reimbursement, significantly boosting total compensation above the base salary.
Can home health RTs do part-time or per diem work?
Yes. Per diem and part-time home health RT positions are common at DME companies and home health agencies. Per diem rates are typically $35-55/hr, substantially higher than hourly staff rates, compensating for lack of benefits. Many hospital RTs do per diem home health work on their off days for supplemental income without the complexity of a travel contract.
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