BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Respiratory Therapists in Illinois

$84,920 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$40.83 per hour

▼ 2.7% below U.S. average21st of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$84,920per year
Median$84,090per year
Hourly$40.83per hour
10th – 90th percentile$64,480 – $100,100per year

Respiratory Therapists Pay Range in Illinois

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$64,480
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$77,440
  • 50th Percentile — Median$84,090
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$96,260
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$100,100

Half of Respiratory Therapists in Illinois earn more than $84,090. The top 10% make $100,100 or more, while entry-level workers start around $64,480.

Respiratory Therapists in Illinois: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Illinois ranks 21st of 51 states for Respiratory Therapists pay, at $84,920 per year (2.7% below the U.S. average of $87,300).
  • 4,880 people work as Respiratory Therapists in Illinois — 3.5% of all U.S. Respiratory Therapists jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.89: Respiratory Therapists jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $64,480; the top 10% earn over $100,100.
  • Hourly equivalent: $40.83 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is New York at $110,200.
  • Among healthcare jobs in Illinois, Surgeons All Other pays the most ($372,060).

Respiratory Therapists Job Market in Illinois

Key factors affecting compensation

Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Respiratory Therapists here earn $84,920 on average, placing the state 21st nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $84,920 is roughly equivalent to $80,876 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Georgia ($88,340), Colorado ($88,300), Virginia ($87,310) are the closest alternatives for Respiratory Therapists weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Respiratory Therapists salary in Illinois?

The average Respiratory Therapists salary in Illinois is $84,920 per year (median $84,090), which is 2.7% below the national average of $87,300.

How does Illinois rank for Respiratory Therapists pay?

Illinois ranks 21st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is New York ($110,200/yr).

How much do entry-level Respiratory Therapists make in Illinois?

The lowest-paid 10% of Respiratory Therapists in Illinois earn about $64,480 per year and the 25th percentile is $77,440.

How much do Respiratory Therapists make per hour in Illinois?

About $40.83 per hour, based on the $84,920 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Respiratory Therapists work in Illinois?

BLS counts 4,880 Respiratory Therapists jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).

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