Respiratory Therapists Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$77,010
- 25th Percentile — Junior$87,750
- 50th Percentile — Median$104,820
- 75th Percentile — Senior$129,010
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$145,510
Half of Respiratory Therapists in California earn more than $104,820. The top 10% make $145,510 or more, while entry-level workers start around $77,010.
Respiratory Therapists in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 51 states for Respiratory Therapists pay, at $109,440 per year (25.4% above the U.S. average of $87,300).
- 18,650 people work as Respiratory Therapists in California — 13.3% of all U.S. Respiratory Therapists jobs.
- Location quotient 1.14: Respiratory Therapists jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $77,010; the top 10% earn over $145,510.
- Hourly equivalent: $52.62 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New York at $110,200.
- Among healthcare jobs in California, Psychiatrists pays the most ($315,380).
Respiratory Therapists Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Respiratory Therapists here earn $109,440 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $109,440 is roughly equivalent to $77,070 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New York ($110,200), District of Columbia ($108,020), Massachusetts ($100,580) are the closest alternatives for Respiratory Therapists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Psychiatrists $315,380/yr California +188.2% vs this role
- Radiologists $309,990/yr California +183.3% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $283,780/yr California +159.3% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $273,270/yr California +149.7% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $272,520/yr California +149.0% vs this role
- Surgeons All Other $255,620/yr California +133.6% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $252,930/yr California +131.1% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $249,620/yr California +128.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Respiratory Therapists salary in California?
The average Respiratory Therapists salary in California is $109,440 per year (median $104,820), which is 25.4% above the national average of $87,300.
How does California rank for Respiratory Therapists pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is New York ($110,200/yr).
How much do entry-level Respiratory Therapists make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Respiratory Therapists in California earn about $77,010 per year and the 25th percentile is $87,750.
How much do Respiratory Therapists make per hour in California?
About $52.62 per hour, based on the $109,440 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Respiratory Therapists work in California?
BLS counts 18,650 Respiratory Therapists jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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