Respiratory Therapists earn $73,230/yr average

But clinical setting, certifications, and shift choices can swing that from $55,000 to $100,000 or more. Find out where you stand.

$73k MedianHospital RTs: $78kTravel RTs: $95k+14% Job Growth
Calculate Your Earning Power

RT Salary Calculator

Select your state, clinical setting, certifications, and shift to estimate your earning potential.

Estimated Annual Salary

$73,894

Range: $65,027 to $84,239

$0$130k

Hourly Rate

$35.53/hr

Shift Differential Value

+$0/yr

Certification Premium

+$5,474/yr

vs National Median ($73,230)

+$664

Top 10 Highest-Paying States for RTs

Median respiratory therapist salary by state. These figures represent base pay before shift differentials and overtime.

#1
California$90,890
#2
Hawaii$84,510
#3
New York$82,760
#4
Connecticut$79,640
#5
New Jersey$79,480
#6
Washington$78,530
#7
Massachusetts$78,120
#8
Alaska$76,820
#9
Oregon$74,620
#10
Nevada$73,640

Salary by Clinical Setting

Where you work matters as much as where you live. NICU and critical care RTs earn the most, while home health and long-term care offer different lifestyle trade-offs.

NICU / Critical Care

$78,000/yr avg

Highest-paying RT setting. Requires advanced airway management and ventilator expertise. NPS or ACCS credentials strongly preferred. High acuity, fast-paced, emotionally demanding.

Hospital (General / ICU / ER)

$72,000/yr avg

The most common RT employer. Work includes ventilator management, bronchodilator therapy, arterial blood gas analysis, and rapid response. Steady hours with shift rotation.

Sleep Lab

$70,000/yr avg

Polysomnography and titration studies. Primarily night shifts. Lower physical demands than acute care. SDS credential is a plus. Predictable workload.

Home Health

$68,000/yr avg

Managing patients on home ventilators, CPAP/BiPAP, and oxygen therapy. More autonomy than hospital work. Requires strong patient education skills. Mileage reimbursement typical.

Long-Term Acute Care

$66,000/yr avg

Weaning chronically ventilated patients. Slower pace than ICU but complex cases. Good for RTs who prefer relationship-based care over acute interventions.

Shift Differentials

Off-hours shifts pay a premium. Differentials stack, so a night shift on a holiday weekend pays the highest combined rate.

ShiftHourly BonusAnnual Value
Evening (3pm-11pm)$2 - $4/hr$4,160 - $8,320
Night (11pm-7am)$3 - $5/hr$6,240 - $10,400
Weekend$2 - $4/hr$2,080 - $4,160
Holiday$5 - $10/hrVaries

Example: An RT earning $35/hr base who works three 12-hour night shifts per week earns an extra $7,800 to $10,400 per year from night differential alone.

Travel RT vs Staff: The Full Picture

Travel contracts can nearly double your income, but the trade-offs are real. Here is an honest side-by-side comparison.

Staff RT

Annual Pay

$65,000 - $80,000

  • + Full benefits (health, dental, vision)
  • + Employer-matched retirement (403b/401k)
  • + Paid time off and sick leave
  • + Familiar team and consistent schedule
  • + Tuition reimbursement at many hospitals
  • - Lower gross hourly rate
  • - Less schedule flexibility

Travel RT

Weekly Pay (13-week contracts)

$1,500 - $2,500/week

  • + Tax-free housing and meal stipends
  • + Higher gross pay ($78k - $130k/yr)
  • + See different cities and facilities
  • + Crisis pay can be even higher
  • - No employer benefits
  • - Must maintain licenses in multiple states
  • - Gaps between contracts reduce annual income
  • - Credentialing delays at new facilities

Certification ROI

Every NBRC specialty credential costs the same to sit for, but the salary return varies significantly depending on your clinical setting.

CertificationCostSalary Premium
RRT$300 exam fee+$5,000 - $8,000/yr
ACCS$300 exam fee+$3,500 - $5,500/yr
NPS$300 exam fee+$3,000 - $5,000/yr
RPFT$300 exam fee+$2,500 - $4,000/yr
SDS$300 exam fee+$2,000 - $3,500/yr

Bottom line: The RRT credential is the single biggest salary lever. CRT-to-RRT upgrade adds $5,000 to $8,000 per year on average. Every other specialty credential pays for itself within the first year.

Career Path: New Grad to Director

Respiratory therapy has a clear advancement ladder. Each step requires experience, credentials, and often additional education.

Step 1

New Grad RT

0-2 years

$50,000 - $58,000

$24 - $28/hr

Entry-level position after completing your associate or bachelor's degree and passing the NBRC exams. Working under supervision to build clinical skills across multiple patient populations.

Step 2

Experienced RT

2-5 years

$60,000 - $75,000

$29 - $36/hr

Competent in all standard RT procedures. May begin specialising in critical care, neonatal, or pulmonary function testing. Pursuing additional credentials like ACCS or NPS.

Step 3

Lead / Senior RT

5-8 years

$70,000 - $85,000

$34 - $41/hr

Serving as shift lead or charge therapist. Mentoring new graduates, assisting with protocol development, and acting as clinical resource for the department.

Step 4

RT Supervisor

8-12 years

$78,000 - $95,000

$38 - $46/hr

Managing daily departmental operations, staff scheduling, and quality assurance. Bridging clinical staff and management. Often requires a bachelor's degree minimum.

Step 5

RT Manager

10-15 years

$85,000 - $110,000

Salaried

Overseeing budget, staffing, equipment procurement, and regulatory compliance for the respiratory care department. Bachelor's or master's degree typically required.

Step 6

RT Director

15+ years

$100,000 - $140,000

Salaried

Senior leadership overseeing all respiratory services across a hospital system. Strategic planning, policy development, and executive-level decision making. Master's degree strongly preferred.

Job Outlook: 14% Growth Through 2032

Respiratory therapy is growing faster than most healthcare occupations. Here is what is driving demand.

Ageing Population

Adults over 65 are the fastest-growing demographic. COPD, pneumonia, and other respiratory conditions are far more prevalent in older adults, driving demand for RTs in hospitals, long-term care, and home health.

Sleep Apnea Prevalence

An estimated 30 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea, with the majority still undiagnosed. As awareness and screening increase, sleep labs and home sleep testing programmes need more respiratory therapists.

Post-Pandemic Respiratory Awareness

COVID-19 dramatically raised public and institutional awareness of respiratory care. Hospitals expanded their RT departments and are maintaining those staffing levels as respiratory illness volumes remain elevated.

Expanding Scope of Practice

Many states are expanding the RT scope of practice to include arterial line insertion, intubation, and chronic disease management. This creates new roles and higher-paying positions for experienced therapists.

14%

Projected Growth

~130k

Practising RTs

11,500+

New Jobs by 2032

How to Become a Respiratory Therapist

1. Earn a Degree

Complete an associate (2 years) or bachelor's degree (4 years) in respiratory therapy from a CoARC-accredited programme. Associate degrees are sufficient for entry-level positions, but a bachelor's degree is increasingly preferred by employers and required for advancement into leadership roles.

2. Pass the NBRC Exams

All respiratory therapists must pass the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) exam administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care. A low-cut score earns the CRT credential. A high-cut score on the TMC plus passing the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE) earns the RRT credential. Most employers now require or strongly prefer the RRT.

3. Get Licensed

Nearly all states require a state licence or registration to practise. Requirements vary but typically include passing the NBRC exams, submitting a background check, and paying a licensing fee ($50 to $200). Some states require continuing education credits for renewal.

4. Gain Experience and Specialise

Start in a general hospital position to build a broad clinical foundation. After 1 to 2 years, pursue specialty certifications (NPS for NICU, ACCS for critical care, RPFT for pulmonary function, SDS for sleep). Specialisation is the fastest path to higher pay and career advancement.

5. Continuing Education

NBRC credentials require renewal every 5 years, which involves earning continuing education credits or retaking exams. Many states also require CE hours for licence renewal. Staying current with ventilator technology, pharmacology updates, and evidence-based protocols is essential for career growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the starting salary for a respiratory therapist?
A new graduate respiratory therapist typically earns between $50,000 and $58,000 per year, depending on the state and clinical setting. Hospital positions in metropolitan areas tend to pay on the higher end. Holding the RRT credential at hire can add $3,000 to $5,000 over a CRT-only starting salary.
How much more do RRTs make than CRTs?
Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs) earn $5,000 to $8,000 more per year than Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRTs) on average. Most hospitals now require or strongly prefer the RRT credential, and many states are phasing out the CRT as the entry-level standard.
Which state pays respiratory therapists the most?
California pays respiratory therapists the most, with a median salary of $90,890 per year. New York ($82,760), Hawaii ($84,510), Connecticut ($79,640), and New Jersey ($79,480) round out the top five. When adjusted for cost of living, states like Texas and Nevada also offer strong purchasing power.
How much do travel respiratory therapists make?
Travel respiratory therapists typically earn $1,500 to $2,500 per week on 13-week contracts, which works out to $78,000 to $130,000 per year. This includes taxable hourly pay plus tax-free stipends for housing and meals. Crisis and high-demand assignments can pay even more.
Is respiratory therapy a good career financially?
Yes. Respiratory therapy offers a strong financial return on a relatively short educational investment. Most RTs complete a degree in 2 to 4 years and earn a median salary of $73,230. Job growth is projected at 14% through 2032, well above the national average.
Do night shift RTs make more?
Yes. Night shift respiratory therapists earn an additional $3 to $5 per hour in shift differential pay, which adds $6,240 to $10,400 per year to base salary. Weekend differentials add another $2 to $4 per hour, and holiday pay can add $5 to $10 per hour.
What certifications increase RT salary the most?
The RRT credential has the biggest impact, adding $5,000 to $8,000 per year. The ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist) adds $3,500 to $5,500 per year. The NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist) adds $3,000 to $5,000 and is essential for NICU positions.
How much do NICU respiratory therapists make?
NICU respiratory therapists earn $75,000 to $95,000 per year on average, roughly 8 to 15% more than general hospital RTs. NICU RTs with the NPS credential and night shift differential can earn above $100,000 in high-paying states like California and New York.