Respiratory Therapists · Pennsylvania

Respiratory Therapists Salary in Pennsylvania

Respiratory Therapists in Pennsylvania earn a median annual wage of $78,490 —4.6% below the national median of $82,280. That ranks PA #37 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$78,490
Median hourly
$37.74
Entry level (P10)
$62,440
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$95,520
90th percentile
Employment
6,530
1.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-4.6%
U.S. $82,280

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$62,440
$66,940
$78,490
$87,620
$62,440$78,490$95,520
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $78,490.

Employment is 1.20× as concentrated as the national average, making Pennsylvania a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for respiratory therapists

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Pennsylvania is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$111,950$53.824300.69
2New York$107,810$51.837,0100.81
3California$104,820$50.4018,6501.14
4Massachusetts$102,170$49.122,2200.68
5Washington$101,130$48.621,8600.58
6New Jersey$100,810$48.473,3500.87
7Oregon$100,560$48.341,3400.76
8Minnesota$98,710$47.461,2500.47
9Alaska$97,950$47.091800.62
10New Hampshire$95,940$46.133600.59

Related occupations in Pennsylvania

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Pennsylvania.

OccupationPennsylvania medianU.S. median
Registered Nurses$96,430$97,550
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,940$64,400
Pharmacy Technicians$40,040$45,750
Physicians, All Other$217,310$265,930
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$51,680$62,930
Nurse Practitioners$130,140$132,300

Frequently asked questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Pennsylvania?

The median annual wage for respiratory therapists in Pennsylvania is $78,490, or $37.74 per hour. That is 4.6% below the national median of $82,280.

What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Pennsylvania?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $62,440 per year ($30.02/hour). The 25th percentile is $66,940.

How many people work as respiratory therapists in Pennsylvania?

About 6,530 people work in this occupation in Pennsylvania, or 1.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Pennsylvania a good state for respiratory therapists?

Pennsylvania ranks #37 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.20x as concentrated as the national average, making Pennsylvania a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays respiratory therapists the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $111,950 per year, followed by New York ($107,810) and California ($104,820).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes