Respiratory Therapists Salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Median annual salary $85,680 +6.5% vs national
Median hourly $41.19
10th percentile $70,150
90th percentile $101,570
Employed locally 2,740
National median $80,450

Compare Respiratory Therapists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $70,150
    25th
    $76,160
    50th (median)
    $85,680
    75th
    $97,340
    90th
    $101,570

    Philadelphia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $89,273 2023 • Census ACS
    Respiratory Therapists salary vs area income 96% Median Respiratory Therapists salary is 4% 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
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $112,430
    Napa, CA $104,670
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $92,220
    Lexington Park, MD $83,160
    Reading, PA $81,440
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $81,270

    Related occupations in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $99,210
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $67,150
    Pharmacy Technicians $39,450
    Physicians, All Other $179,220
    Pharmacists $137,960
    Nurse Practitioners $131,590

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Respiratory Therapists make per hour in Philadelphia?

    The median hourly wage for Respiratory Therapists in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $41.19, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $49.83 or more per hour.

    Is Philadelphia above or below average for Respiratory Therapists salaries?

    The median Respiratory Therapists salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is 6.5% 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 Philadelphia?

    Entry-level Respiratory Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $70,150 per year in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $76,160.