Respiratory Therapists Salary in Pittsburgh, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Pittsburgh, PA

Median annual salary $67,530 -16.1% vs national
Median hourly $32.46
10th percentile $59,800
90th percentile $85,640
Employed locally 1,260
National median $80,450

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Respiratory Therapists
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Pittsburgh, PA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $59,800
    25th
    $62,020
    50th (median)
    $67,530
    75th
    $76,560
    90th
    $85,640

    Pittsburgh economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $73,942 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
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $112,430
    Napa, CA $104,670
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $92,220
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $85,680
    Lexington Park, MD $83,160
    Reading, PA $81,440

    Related occupations in Pittsburgh, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $81,190
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $60,790
    Physicians, All Other $172,490
    Pharmacy Technicians $38,760
    Pharmacists $131,950
    Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $56,550

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Respiratory Therapists make per hour in Pittsburgh?

    The median hourly wage for Respiratory Therapists in Pittsburgh, PA is $32.46, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $42.67 or more per hour.

    Is Pittsburgh above or below average for Respiratory Therapists salaries?

    The median Respiratory Therapists salary in Pittsburgh, PA is 16.1% 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 Pittsburgh?

    Entry-level Respiratory Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $59,800 per year in Pittsburgh, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $62,020.