| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,950 | $53.82 | 430 |
| New York | $107,810 | $51.83 | 7,010 |
| California | $104,820 | $50.40 | 18,650 |
| Massachusetts | $102,170 | $49.12 | 2,220 |
| Washington | $101,130 | $48.62 | 1,860 |
| New Jersey | $100,810 | $48.47 | 3,350 |
| Oregon | $100,560 | $48.34 | 1,340 |
| Minnesota | $98,710 | $47.46 | 1,250 |
| Alaska | $97,950 | $47.09 | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $95,940 | $46.13 | 360 |
| Hawaii | $94,210 | $45.30 | 510 |
| Delaware | $91,080 | $43.79 | 500 |
| Maryland | $88,960 | $42.77 | 1,800 |
| Rhode Island | $86,900 | $41.78 | 260 |
| Colorado | $86,220 | $41.45 | 2,110 |
| Nevada | $85,480 | $41.10 | 1,270 |
| Connecticut | $85,230 | $40.98 | 1,370 |
| Wisconsin | $84,210 | $40.48 | 1,940 |
| Illinois | $84,090 | $40.43 | 4,880 |
| Vermont | $83,820 | $40.30 | 210 |
| Georgia | $83,700 | $40.24 | 5,150 |
| Virginia | $82,910 | $39.86 | 3,340 |
| Maine | $82,470 | $39.65 | 520 |
| Nebraska | $81,590 | $39.22 | 840 |
| North Dakota | $81,230 | $39.06 | 270 |
| Montana | $81,190 | $39.03 | 390 |
| Florida | $81,160 | $39.02 | 8,820 |
| Utah | $80,650 | $38.77 | 1,170 |
| North Carolina | $80,090 | $38.51 | 4,630 |
| Ohio | $79,920 | $38.42 | 6,640 |
| Michigan | $79,850 | $38.39 | 4,520 |
| Arizona | $79,780 | $38.36 | 3,500 |
| Indiana | $79,730 | $38.33 | 3,170 |
| Texas | $79,540 | $38.24 | 12,130 |
| Wyoming | $79,330 | $38.14 | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $78,800 | $37.88 | 2,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,490 | $37.74 | 6,530 |
| Idaho | $78,460 | $37.72 | 820 |
| Missouri | $78,390 | $37.69 | 3,030 |
| South Carolina | $77,740 | $37.38 | 1,960 |
| Kansas | $76,970 | $37.01 | 1,450 |
| Louisiana | $75,240 | $36.17 | 2,520 |
| Iowa | $74,760 | $35.94 | 910 |
| Arkansas | $73,870 | $35.51 | 1,400 |
| Kentucky | $72,750 | $34.98 | 2,530 |
| Tennessee | $72,140 | $34.68 | 3,440 |
| New Mexico | $68,870 | $33.11 | 840 |
| West Virginia | $68,670 | $33.01 | 1,140 |
| South Dakota | $68,240 | $32.81 | 430 |
| Alabama | $66,150 | $31.81 | 2,350 |
| Mississippi | $63,270 | $30.42 | 1,670 |
— = estimate missing or suppressed by BLS; # = suppressed for insufficient reporting units; * = estimate not comparable.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,660 | $30.61 |
| 25th | $74,520 | $35.83 |
| 50th (median) | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| 75th | $98,730 | $47.47 |
| 90th | $118,050 | $56.75 |
— = estimate missing or suppressed by BLS; # = suppressed for insufficient reporting units; * = estimate not comparable.
Respiratory therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing—for example, because of conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Their patients range from premature infants with undeveloped lungs to older adults whose lungs are diseased.
Respiratory therapists typically do the following: interview and examine patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders; consult with physicians about patients' conditions and developing treatment plans; perform diagnostic tests; treat patients using a variety of methods; monitor and record patients' progress; and teach patients how to take medications and use equipment.
Respiratory therapists work closely with registered nurses, physicians and surgeons, and medical assistants. They use various tests to evaluate patients. For example, respiratory therapists administer pulmonary function tests to assess lung capacity by having patients breathe into an instrument that measures the volume and flow of oxygen when they inhale and exhale. Therapists also may take blood samples and use a blood gas analyzer to test oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 release. A wage shown as $239,200 or More means the estimate falls in BLS's highest, open-ended wage interval and is a lower bound, not a maximum. In tables, — means the estimate is missing or suppressed by BLS; # means suppressed because of insufficient reporting units; * means the estimate is not comparable.
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