Today’s society has a vital role for respiratory therapists in healthcare. Patients with difficulty breathing such as those suffering from chronic diseases like asthma or emphysema, are provided care by respiratory therapists. It makes sense that there is a growing demand for respiratory therapy services due to the ageing Baby Boomer generation. Many of them were smokers back in those days. The employment numbers have been rising and according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) Outlook Handbook, respiratory therapist employment is expected to grow much faster than the average with an additional 27,900 jobs for respiratory therapists from 2018 to 2028. This represents a 21% increase.
We’ve used occupational data from the Bureau of Labour Statistics to compile a summary of the average salary for respiratory therapists in each state of the U.S.
Ten States where Respiratory Therapists Make the Most Money
According to the BLS, the national average annual salary of a respiratory therapist at $62,500 is slightly more than the $51,960 average annual wage for all occupations in America. The salary of a respiratory therapist can vary greatly depending on where you live. The average salary for a respiratory therapist in the highest-paying state is $17,000 higher than the national average. Here is a list with the top 10 highest-paid states for respiratory therapists.
- California’s average salary for a respiratory therapist: $79,000.
- Alaskan average respiratory therapist salary $76,610
- New York Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $74,890
- Average Massachusetts respiratory therapist salary $73,660
- Nevada Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $73,530
- New Jersey Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $73,390
- Hawaii Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $71,460
- Connecticut Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $70.410
- Washington Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $69,000.
- Oregon Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $69,000
California is home to the highest average salary for respiratory therapy professionals, but there are other states that can also be proud of their top performers. The average salary for a respiratory therapist in New York has increased significantly over the past five years, as an example. The average salary for a respiratory therapist rose 14.3% from $65,520 in 2013 and $74,890 by 2018. No. No.
Ten States where Respiratory Therapists Make the Most Money
The U.S. South and the Upper Midwest are the two states with the lowest salaries for respiratory therapists. The average salary for respiratory therapists in Mississippi is almost $13,000 lower than the U.S. average. This makes it the state with the lowest pay. Here are the 10 worst states where respiratory therapist salaries are:
- Mississippi Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $59,000
- Kentucky Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $48,890
- West Virginia Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: 50,420
- Alabama Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: 50,770
- Tennessee Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $51,400
- South Dakota Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $51,510
- Arkansas Average Respiratory Therapist Salary: $52,050
- Louisiana respiratory therapist average salary: $53,510
- Iowa respiratory therapist average salary: $53,870
- Oklahoma respiratory therapist average salary: $54,540
These states also have a very low rate of wage growth. The average Mississippi respiratory therapist salary has barely changed, with a 0.6% increase in 2018 from 2013. Louisiana also did poorly, with an average respiratory therapist salary that rose by less than 1% between 2013 and 2018.
What is the Average Salary of Respiratory Therapists in Every State?
Below is the average annual salary for respiratory therapists across all 50 states between 2013 and 2018.