Respiratory Therapists Pay Range in Tennessee
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$57,860
- 25th Percentile — Junior$63,660
- 50th Percentile — Median$72,140
- 75th Percentile — Senior$78,640
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$88,060
Half of Respiratory Therapists in Tennessee earn more than $72,140. The top 10% make $88,060 or more, while entry-level workers start around $57,860.
Respiratory Therapists in Tennessee: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Tennessee ranks 47th of 51 states for Respiratory Therapists pay, at $72,300 per year (17.2% below the U.S. average of $87,300).
- 3,440 people work as Respiratory Therapists in Tennessee — 2.5% of all U.S. Respiratory Therapists jobs.
- Location quotient 1.17: Respiratory Therapists jobs are more concentrated in Tennessee than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $57,860; the top 10% earn over $88,060.
- Hourly equivalent: $34.76 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New York at $110,200.
- Among healthcare jobs in Tennessee, Surgeons All Other pays the most ($408,230).
Respiratory Therapists Job Market in Tennessee
Key factors affecting compensation
Tennessee's key industries are Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism, and its job market is rated strong. Respiratory Therapists here earn $72,300 on average, placing the state 47th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Tennessee salary of $72,300 is roughly equivalent to $82,159 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Iowa ($74,260), New Mexico ($73,720), Arkansas ($72,740) 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 Tennessee
Related career salary benchmarks
- Surgeons All Other $408,230/yr Tennessee +464.6% vs this role
- Dermatologists $359,260/yr Tennessee +396.9% vs this role
- Anesthesiologists $323,070/yr Tennessee +346.8% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $312,220/yr Tennessee +331.8% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $296,570/yr Tennessee +310.2% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $284,650/yr Tennessee +293.7% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $238,020/yr Tennessee +229.2% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $218,870/yr Tennessee +202.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Respiratory Therapists salary in Tennessee?
The average Respiratory Therapists salary in Tennessee is $72,300 per year (median $72,140), which is 17.2% below the national average of $87,300.
How does Tennessee rank for Respiratory Therapists pay?
Tennessee ranks 47th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is New York ($110,200/yr).
How much do entry-level Respiratory Therapists make in Tennessee?
The lowest-paid 10% of Respiratory Therapists in Tennessee earn about $57,860 per year and the 25th percentile is $63,660.
How much do Respiratory Therapists make per hour in Tennessee?
About $34.76 per hour, based on the $72,300 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Respiratory Therapists work in Tennessee?
BLS counts 3,440 Respiratory Therapists jobs in Tennessee (OEWS May 2025).
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