Probably the first thing someone looking to enter the field of respiratory therapy asks is, “How much does a Respiratory therapist make?”
Well the answer to that question is, “That depends”. The salary of a respiratory therapist will vary by education levels, number of years of experience and geographic location.
As an example, a respiratory therapist practicing in downtown New York will make more than one working in Tulsa because of the cost of living difference.
The number of years of experience you have also influences how much money you can make just like any other profession and someone with an advanced degree will naturally make more as a result.
One thing to consider when considering a career in respiratory therapy is the fact that the job outlook for certified therapists will continue to grow by over 20% until at least 2018 which means that no matter where you live and work your pay will probably be above average compared to other professions where demand is not as great.
So, How Much Does A Respiratory Therapist Make?
According to the U.S. Government there were 109,270 working respiratory therapists in 2010 and the mean wages for them were $55,200. This means that half made less than that and half made more.
The lowest 10% made $39,990 and these were most likely recent graduates just entering the work-force and the top 10% earned $73,410. These are most likely people living in high cost of living areas, people with advanced degrees or respiratory department managers.
What is interesting to note is how the pay breaks out by industry. The lowest salaries, $52,950, were paid to therapists working in a doctor’s office and those working in a general hospital made $54,840.
The highest wages, $57,920, were paid to respiratory therapists that worked in a nursing care facility and those holding down multiple jobs can make up to $100,000 year.
Respiratory Therapist Pay By State
To give you an idea of how the average pay can vary depending on where you live here are a few state averages:
California – $67,970
Texas – $52,320
Florida – $51,040
New York – $63,770
Ohio – $51,030
Kentucky – $44,110
Tennessee – $47,060
Mississippi – $49,910
West Virginia – $44,910
Indiana – $51,430
So you see the answer to “How Much Does A Respiratory Therapist Make?” really depends on several factors but the part of the country you live in is probably the biggest determining factor followed by years of experience.