Respiratory Therapists Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $76,340 -5.1% vs national
Median hourly $36.70
10th percentile $56,050
90th percentile $88,800
Employed locally 240
National median $80,450

Compare Respiratory Therapists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Des Moines, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Respiratory Therapists
in
Des Moines, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $56,050
    25th
    $65,140
    50th (median)
    $76,340
    75th
    $78,730
    90th
    $88,800

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Respiratory Therapists salary vs area income 91% Median Respiratory Therapists salary is 9% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Respiratory Therapists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $137,080
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $134,880
    Vallejo, CA $132,520
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $131,320
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $129,640
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $129,180

    Nearby metros — Respiratory Therapists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $105,560
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $105,320
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $104,890
    District of Columbia $104,240
    California $102,120
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $96,620

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses$78,970
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,120
    Pharmacy Technicians$43,610
    Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$47,630
    Medical Records Specialists$52,370
    Physical Therapists$98,110

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Respiratory Therapists make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Respiratory Therapists in Des Moines, IA is $36.70, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.51 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Respiratory Therapists salaries?

    The median Respiratory Therapists salary in Des Moines, IA is 5.1% below the national median of $80,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Respiratory Therapists in Des Moines?

    Entry-level Respiratory Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $56,050 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $65,140.