Average Salary of a Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory therapists evaluate and provide treatment for patients with breathing problems. They work with all sorts of patients, from premature babies whose lungs are still developing to children with asthma to adults with emphysema or other disorders.
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Starting Salary
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According to the PayScale salary survey website, the median starting salary for respiratory therapists as of 2009 is about $19 an hour, with an increase to about $22.50 with five years experience.
Average Salary
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows average salary for respiratory therapists in 2008 at about $25.50 per hour, or $53,000 annually.
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General Range
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About 80 percent of respiratory therapists in 2008 were making between $18 and $34 per hour. Narrowing it further, the middle 50 percent, or median, were earning $21 to $30 per hour.
Primary Employer
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Most respiratory therapists work for hospitals, where the pay is about average, at close to $25.50 an hour in 2008, or $53,000 a year.
Geography
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The highest-paying geographical areas are the San Jose, Salinas and Oakland metropolitan areas in California, where respiratory therapists are making between $74,000 and $78,000 on average; and the Bethesda and Salisbury, Md.,, metropolitan areas, at about $71,000 average.
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