The average salary for a respiratory therapist in California is around $104,820 per year.
Avg Salary
Respiratory therapists earn an average yearly salary of $104,820.
Wages typically start from $77,010 and go up to $145,510.
34% above national average Updated in 2025
Respiratory therapist earnings by seniority
Top-level respiratory therapist earnings begin at:
$69.96 per hour
$145,510 per year
Senior-level respiratory therapist earnings begin at:
$62.03 per hour
$129,010 per year
Mid-level respiratory therapist earnings begin at:
$50.40 per hour
$104,820 per year
Junior-level respiratory therapist earnings begin at:
$42.19 per hour
$87,750 per year
Starting level respiratory therapist earnings begin at:
$37.02 per hour
$77,010 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Respiratory therapist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $98,710 |
| Alaska | $97,950 |
| New Hampshire | $95,940 |
| Hawaii | $94,210 |
| Delaware | $91,080 |
| Maryland | $88,960 |
| Rhode Island | $86,900 |
| Colorado | $86,220 |
| Nevada | $85,480 |
| Connecticut | $85,230 |
| Wisconsin | $84,210 |
| Illinois | $84,090 |
| Vermont | $83,820 |
| Georgia | $83,700 |
| Virginia | $82,910 |
| Maine | $82,470 |
| Nebraska | $81,590 |
| North Dakota | $81,230 |
| Montana | $81,190 |
| Florida | $81,160 |
| Utah | $80,650 |
| North Carolina | $80,090 |
| Ohio | $79,920 |
| Michigan | $79,850 |
| Arizona | $79,780 |
| Indiana | $79,730 |
| Texas | $79,540 |
| Wyoming | $79,330 |
| Oklahoma | $78,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,490 |
| Idaho | $78,460 |
| Missouri | $78,390 |
| South Carolina | $77,740 |
| Kansas | $76,970 |
| Louisiana | $75,240 |
| Iowa | $74,760 |
| Arkansas | $73,870 |
| Kentucky | $72,750 |
| Tennessee | $72,140 |
| New Mexico | $68,870 |
| West Virginia | $68,670 |
| South Dakota | $68,240 |
| Alabama | $66,150 |
| Mississippi | $63,270 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,870 |
| District of Columbia | $111,950 |
| New York | $107,810 |
| California | $104,820 |
| Massachusetts | $102,170 |
| Washington | $101,130 |
| New Jersey | $100,810 |
| Oregon | $100,560 |
How do respiratory therapist salaries compare to similar careers?
Respiratory therapists earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than diagnostic medical sonographers but more than midwives.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic medical sonographer salary | $129K |
| Counseling psychologist salary | $116K |
| MRI technologist salary | $124K |
| Radiologic technologist salary | $121K |
| Audiologist salary | $115K |
| Respiratory therapist salary | $105K |
| Nurse educator salary | $82K |
| Cardiovascular technologist salary | $78K |
| Orthotist salary | $92K |
| Midwife salary | $76K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)