Respiratory Therapists Salary in Milwaukee, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Median annual salary $83,010 +3.2% vs national
Median hourly $39.91
10th percentile $68,050
90th percentile $97,210
Employed locally 650
National median $80,450

Compare Respiratory Therapists salary & buying power

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Respiratory Therapists
in
Milwaukee, WI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $68,050
    25th
    $81,200
    50th (median)
    $83,010
    75th
    $93,730
    90th
    $97,210

    Milwaukee economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,404 2023 • Census ACS
    Respiratory Therapists salary vs area income 109% Median Respiratory Therapists salary is 9% above 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
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $96,480
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $92,220
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $85,680
    Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $83,510
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $83,300
    Kenosha, WI $82,990

    Related occupations in Milwaukee, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $83,990
    Pharmacy Technicians $46,100
    Physicians, All Other $218,460
    Nurse Practitioners $129,760
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $62,320
    Dental Hygienists $82,540

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Respiratory Therapists make per hour in Milwaukee?

    The median hourly wage for Respiratory Therapists in Milwaukee, WI is $39.91, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $48.37 or more per hour.

    Is Milwaukee above or below average for Respiratory Therapists salaries?

    The median Respiratory Therapists salary in Milwaukee, WI is 3.2% above 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 Milwaukee?

    Entry-level Respiratory Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $68,050 per year in Milwaukee, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $81,200.