What are the main factors that influence a Respiratory Care Technician's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Respiratory Care Technician's salary?

A Respiratory Care Technician's salary grows with experience: starting around $72,031 for beginners, reaching about $73,160 at mid-level, and approach $76,004 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Respiratory Care Technician?

Respiratory Care Technician salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Respiratory Care Technician roles are District of Columbia $82,100, California $81,700, Massachusetts $80,700. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Respiratory Care Technician roles make?

Salaries for Respiratory Care Technician level roles vary by specialization: Director of Respiratory Care: $120,621; Respiratory Care Manager: $109,790; Respiratory Care Supervisor: $95,170; Transport Respiratory Care Therapist: $76,950; Respiratory Therapy Technician: $74,090.

How do different companies affect a Respiratory Care Technician's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Respiratory Care Technician roles. Large, established industry leaders like New York Police Department ($97,099) and State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority ($95,962) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $75,106.

Respiratory Care Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Respiratory Care Technician make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Respiratory Care Technician in the United States is $74,100 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, a Respiratory Care Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $85,181
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,800 to $79,900
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,064

10% $62,064

50% (Median) $74,100

90% $85,181

Respiratory Care Technician Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$79,900	$6,658	$1,537	$38
Average	$74,100	$6,175	$1,425	$36
25th Percentile	$67,800	$5,650	$1,304	$33

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Key Factors That Influence Respiratory Care Technician Salaries

A Respiratory Care Technician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Respiratory Care Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Respiratory Care Technician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $72,031
Early Career (1-2 years): $72,501
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $73,160
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $74,273
Expert (over 8 years): $76,004

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Respiratory Care Technician	$72,031
Intermediate Level Respiratory Care Technician	$72,501
Senior Level Respiratory Care Technician	$73,160
Specialist Level Respiratory Care Technician	$74,273
Expert Level Respiratory Care Technician	$76,004

View as Graph

How Do Respiratory Care Technician Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Respiratory Care Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $82,100.
California: $81,700.
Massachusetts: $80,700.

District of Columbia $82,100 California $81,700 Massachusetts $80,700 Washington $80,400 New Jersey $80,300 Alaska $80,200 Connecticut $79,200 New York $78,800

Hawaii $77,500 Rhode Island $76,800 Maryland $76,400 Minnesota $75,800 Colorado $75,600 Illinois $75,500 Oregon $75,300 Delaware $75,100

New Hampshire $74,900 Virginia $74,600 Pennsylvania $73,800 Nevada $73,400 North Dakota $73,200 Michigan $73,000 Wisconsin $72,900 Vermont $72,700

Maine $72,300 Texas $72,300 Arizona $72,200 Ohio $72,200 Georgia $71,500 Indiana $71,100 Wyoming $71,100 Utah $71,000

Iowa $70,900 Kansas $70,600 Louisiana $70,500 Missouri $70,400 North Carolina $70,400 Florida $70,100 Montana $70,000 Nebraska $69,800

Kentucky $69,700 South Carolina $69,400 Tennessee $69,300 Idaho $69,200 New Mexico $68,600 Oklahoma $68,500 Alabama $68,100 South Dakota $67,400

Arkansas $67,000 West Virginia $66,700 Mississippi $66,100

Top Paying Cities for Respiratory Care Technicians

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $93,500
San Francisco: $92,400
Oakland: $90,500

San Jose, CA $93,500

San Francisco, CA $92,400

Oakland, CA $90,500

New York, NY $85,300

Paramus, NJ $84,300

Queens Village, NY $84,300

Passaic, NJ $84,200

Bergenfield, NJ $84,200

Huntington, NY $84,000

Stamford, CT $84,000

Newark, NJ $83,500

Bridgeport, CT $83,300

Vallejo, CA $83,200

New Brunswick, NJ $83,100

Petaluma, CA $83,100

Middlesex, NJ $83,000

Somerset, NJ $82,900

Santa Cruz, CA $82,800

Boston, MA $82,400

Monterey, CA $82,100

Seattle, WA $81,900

Santa Rosa, CA $81,900

Los Angeles, CA $81,900

Juneau, AK $81,700

Washington, DC $81,600

Orange, CA $81,300

Santa Ana, CA $81,200

Anaheim, CA $81,100

Long Beach, CA $81,100

Anchorage, AK $81,000

Santa Maria, CA $80,800

Everett, WA $80,800

Danbury, CT $80,500

Bremerton, WA $80,400

Tacoma, WA $80,200

New Suffolk, NY $80,200

Sacramento, CA $80,100

Santa Barbara, CA $80,100

Trenton, NJ $80,000

San Diego, CA $80,000

Brockton, MA $79,900

Fairbanks, AK $79,700

Lompoc, CA $79,500

Lowell, MA $79,500

Ventura, CA $79,400

Nashua, NH $79,400

Stockton, CA $79,400

Modesto, CA $78,900

Poughkeepsie, NY $78,700

New Haven, CT $78,600

Olympia, WA $78,600

Kennewick, WA $78,600

Lawrence, MA $78,300

Hartford, CT $78,200

Riverside, CA $78,200

New Bedford, MA $78,100

Richland, WA $78,100

San Bernardino, CA $78,000

New London, CT $78,000

Atlantic City, NJ $78,000

Bakersfield, CA $78,000

New Britain, CT $78,000

Norwich, CT $77,900

Portsmouth, NH $77,900

Boulder, CO $77,800

Portland, OR $77,700

Worcester, MA $77,600

Minneapolis, MN $77,400

Philadelphia, PA $77,300

Honolulu, HI $77,100

Saint Paul, MN $77,000

Vineland, NJ $77,000

Providence, RI $76,800

Chicago, IL $76,600

Bellingham, WA $76,500

Springfield, MA $76,400

Baltimore, MD $76,400

Chico, CA $76,200

Pittsfield, MA $76,000

Manchester, NH $75,900

Spokane, WA $75,600

Denver, CO $75,600

Albany, NY $75,200

Troy, NY $75,200

Nassau, NY $75,100

Schenectady, NY $75,000

Wilmington, DE $75,000

Burlington, VT $74,900

Salem, OR $74,800

Portland, ME $74,600

Yakima, WA $74,500

Rochester, MN $74,300

Reno, NV $74,300

Fresno, CA $74,300

Milwaukee, WI $74,200

Detroit, MI $74,100

Ann Arbor, MI $74,100

Allentown, PA $74,100

Colorado Springs, CO $74,000

Carson City, NV $73,900

Syracuse, NY $73,900

Houston, TX $73,800

Eugene, OR $73,800

Gary, IN $73,700

Springfield, OR $73,600

Bismarck, ND $73,600

Galveston, TX $73,600

Medford, OR $73,500

Austin, TX $73,400

Concord, NH $73,400

Fort Collins, CO $73,400

Mesa, AZ $73,200

Reading, PA $73,200

Phoenix, AZ $73,200

Dallas, TX $73,200

Saint Cloud, MN $73,100

Madison, WI $73,000

Utica, NY $72,800

Raleigh, NC $72,700

Des Moines, IA $72,700

Rochester, NY $72,700

Atlanta, GA $72,600

Battle Creek, MI $72,600

Salt Lake City, UT $72,500

Lancaster, PA $72,400

Harrisburg, PA $72,300

Pittsburgh, PA $72,200

Boca Raton, FL $72,200

Columbus, OH $72,200

Fort Worth, TX $72,200

Champaign, IL $72,200

Kansas City, KS $72,200

Kansas City, MO $72,200

Richmond, VA $72,100

Indianapolis, IN $72,100

Cleveland, OH $72,100

Las Vegas, NV $72,000

Cincinnati, OH $72,000

Petersburg, VA $71,900

Huntsville, AL $71,800

Lansing, MI $71,700

Lebanon, PA $71,700

Pueblo, CO $71,700

Appleton, WI $71,700

Buffalo, NY $71,700

Dayton, OH $71,700

Gastonia, NC $71,600

Elkhart, IN $71,600

York, PA $71,600

Charlotte, NC $71,600

Racine, WI $71,600

Saint Louis, MO $71,600

Billings, MT $71,500

Beaumont, TX $71,500

Lorain, OH $71,500

Benton Harbor, MI $71,500

Toledo, OH $71,500

Elyria, OH $71,400

Fargo, ND $71,400

Springfield, IL $71,400

Rock Hill, SC $71,400

Rockford, IL $71,400

Binghamton, NY $71,400

Flagstaff, AZ $71,300

Fort Lauderdale, FL $71,300

Duluth, MN $71,200

Miami, FL $71,200

Grand Forks, ND $71,200

Cheyenne, WY $71,200

Bangor, ME $71,000

Hialeah, FL $70,900

Grand Rapids, MI $70,900

Cedar Rapids, IA $70,900

Durham, NC $70,900

Louisville, KY $70,900

Casper, WY $70,800

Scranton, PA $70,700

Akron, OH $70,600

New Orleans, LA $70,600

Virginia Beach, VA $70,600

Sarasota, FL $70,500

Peoria, IL $70,500

Nashville, TN $70,400

Omaha, NE $70,400

Green Bay, WI $70,400

Baton Rouge, LA $70,400

Charleston, SC $70,400

Tucson, AZ $70,300

Saint Petersburg, FL $70,300

Davenport, IA $70,300

Jamestown, NY $70,300

Tampa, FL $70,200

Evansville, IN $70,200

Port Arthur, TX $70,200

Bradenton, FL $70,200

Santa Fe, NM $70,000

Orlando, FL $69,900

Clearwater, FL $69,900

High Point, NC $69,700

Newport News, VA $69,700

Albuquerque, NM $69,700

Canton, OH $69,700

La Crosse, WI $69,700

Ogden, UT $69,600

Corpus Christi, TX $69,600

Saginaw, MI $69,500

Rock Island, IL $69,500

Jacksonville, FL $69,500

Norfolk, VA $69,500

Laramie, WY $69,500

Salisbury, NC $69,400

Boise, ID $69,400

Moline, IL $69,400

Fort Myers, FL $69,400

Memphis, TN $69,400

Tulsa, OK $69,300

Waterloo, IA $69,300

Spartanburg, SC $69,200

Lincoln, NE $69,200

Provo, UT $69,100

Fort Wayne, IN $69,100

Cedar Falls, IA $69,000

San Antonio, TX $69,000

Greensboro, NC $69,000

South Bend, IN $69,000

Savannah, GA $68,900

Muskegon, MI $68,900

Birmingham, AL $68,900

Winston Salem, NC $68,800

Greenville, SC $68,600

Augusta, GA $68,600

Lake Charles, LA $68,600

Anderson, IN $68,600

Lexington, KY $68,600

Tuscaloosa, AL $68,500

Lima, OH $68,500

Wichita, KS $68,500

Columbia, SC $68,500

Springfield, OH $68,400

Bloomington, IN $68,300

Asheville, NC $68,300

Knoxville, TN $68,000

Shreveport, LA $68,000

Wilmington, NC $67,900

Roanoke, VA $67,900

Topeka, KS $67,800

Frankfort, KY $67,800

Oklahoma City, OK $67,700

Chillicothe, OH $67,700

Longview, TX $67,700

Melbourne, FL $67,700

Sioux Falls, SD $67,500

Mobile, AL $67,500

Terre Haute, IN $67,500

Altoona, PA $67,500

Amarillo, TX $67,400

Killeen, TX $67,400

Chattanooga, TN $67,300

Fayetteville, AR $67,300

Sioux City, IA $67,200

Idaho Falls, ID $67,200

Lynchburg, VA $67,200

Gainesville, FL $67,100

Portsmouth, OH $67,000

Little Rock, AR $67,000

Lafayette, LA $67,000

Youngstown, OH $67,000

Daytona Beach, FL $66,900

Clarksville, TN $66,900

Pensacola, FL $66,900

Temple, TX $66,900

Hopkinsville, KY $66,700

Erie, PA $66,700

Florence, SC $66,700

Great Falls, MT $66,500

Charleston, WV $66,500

Waco, TX $66,400

Fayetteville, NC $66,400

Tallahassee, FL $66,400

Macon, GA $66,400

Helena, MT $66,300

Pine Bluff, AR $66,300

Vincennes, IN $66,200

Lubbock, TX $66,200

Alamogordo, NM $66,100

Twin Falls, ID $66,100

Rapid City, SD $66,000

Jackson, MS $65,900

Huntington, WV $65,900

Greenville, MS $65,900

Parkersburg, WV $65,800

Montgomery, AL $65,800

Wichita Falls, TX $65,700

Springfield, MO $65,700

Biloxi, MS $65,700

Johnstown, PA $65,600

Monroe, LA $65,600

Sumter, SC $65,500

Columbus, GA $65,500

Pascagoula, MS $65,400

Abilene, TX $65,400

Kingsport, TN $65,200

Albany, GA $65,200

Gulfport, MS $65,200

Alexandria, LA $64,900

Fort Smith, AR $64,700

El Paso, TX $64,500

Las Cruces, NM $64,200

Harlingen, TX $64,000

Pocatello, ID $64,000

Florence, AL $63,900

Brownsville, TX $63,900

Mcallen, TX $63,700

Dothan, AL $63,600

Columbus, MS $63,200

Altus, OK $62,900

Lawton, OK $62,700

Pierre, SD $62,500

Respiratory Care Technician Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Respiratory Care Technician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $78,571. While startup companies pay approximate $66,965.

Respiratory Care Technician Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$66,965
Growth Stage	51~500	$70,694
Established	501~5000	$75,981
Enterprise	5000+	$78,571

Respiratory Care Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Respiratory Care Technician roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 16% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 8% above the average. Conversely, Respiratory Care Technician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Respiratory Care Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Respiratory Care Technician

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare	$80,028	$38.0	8%

Respiratory Care Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Respiratory Care Technician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$67,800

Average $74,100/year

$79,900

$5,650

Average $6,175/month

$6,658

$1,304

Average $1,425/week

$1,537

$33

Average $36/hour

$38

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$79,900	$6,658	$1,537	$38
Average	$74,100	$6,175	$1,425	$36
25th Percentile	$67,800	$5,650	$1,304	$33

Respiratory Care Technician Salary Growth & Career Path

Respiratory Care Technician

Next Role

HBO Technician

For a Respiratory Care Technician, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the HBO Technician role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $45,500 - a projected growth of -39% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Respiratory Care Technician

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Respiratory Care Technician

Here are companies hiring for Respiratory Care Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

N $97,099/per year

New York Police Department Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $95,962/per year

State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $94,615/per year

US Department of Transportation Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $93,141/per year

US General Services Administration Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

L $92,342/per year

Los Angeles County Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

D $92,011/per year

Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $91,967/per year

US Department of Commerce Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $91,755/per year

US Department of Energy Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

F $91,673/per year

Federal Bureau of Investigation Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $90,276/per year

Naval Sea Systems Command Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

T $88,975/per year

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $88,721/per year

San Diego County Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

T $88,664/per year

The TTB Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

L $87,569/per year

Lutheran Services Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

M $85,066/per year

Maryland Inc Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $83,780/per year

State University of New York Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $82,969/per year

New York State Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

P $82,703/per year

Puerto Rico Department of Education Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $80,526/per year

US Central Command Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

H $80,286/per year

Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

A $79,270/per year

Air Force Reserve Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

A $78,505/per year

American Automobile Association (AAA) Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $76,678/per year

State of Florida - Department of Health Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $75,183/per year

New York State Department Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $75,106/per year

State University System of Florida Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

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FAQ about Respiratory Care Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Respiratory Care Technician?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Respiratory Care Technician roles, with salaries approximately 8% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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Respiratory Care Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Respiratory Care Technician make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Respiratory Care Technician Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Respiratory Care Technician Salaries?

How Do Respiratory Care Technician Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Respiratory Care Technicians

Respiratory Care Technician Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Respiratory Care Technician Salary by Company Size

Respiratory Care Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industry for a Respiratory Care Technician

Respiratory Care Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Respiratory Care Technician Salary Growth & Career Path

Most common benefits for Respiratory Care Technician

Common company salaries for Respiratory Care Technician

Find Your Next Respiratory Care Technician Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Respiratory Care Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Respiratory Care Technician?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Respiratory Care Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Respiratory Care Technician make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Respiratory Care Technician Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Respiratory Care Technician Salaries?

How Do Respiratory Care Technician Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Respiratory Care Technicians

Respiratory Care Technician Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Respiratory Care Technician Salary by Company Size

Respiratory Care Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industry for a Respiratory Care Technician

Respiratory Care Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Respiratory Care Technician Salary Growth & Career Path

Salaries of Jobs related to Respiratory Care Technician

Most common benefits for Respiratory Care Technician

Common company salaries for Respiratory Care Technician

Find Your Next Respiratory Care Technician Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Respiratory Care Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Respiratory Care Technician?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?