Respiratory Therapist salary in California
What respiratory therapists earn in California and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country.
Median pay$104,820$50.40 per hour
vs U.S.+27%U.S. median $82,280
Middle half earn$87,750 – $129,010Top 10%: $145,510+
Jobs18,6501.14× the U.S. concentration
Respiratory Therapist pay in California cities
Metro areas as BLS defines them. Click a column to sort.
| Metro area | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,640 | $50.31 | 7,010 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,480 | $48.31 | 2,200 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,220 | $62.61 | 2,010 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $105,040 | $50.50 | 1,430 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $134,430 | $64.63 | 1,140 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $149,680 | $71.96 | 1,060 |
| Fresno, CA | $83,340 | $40.07 | 580 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $102,760 | $49.40 | 370 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $102,050 | $49.06 | 350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,250 | $49.16 | 310 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,870 | $49.94 | 270 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $123,220 | $59.24 | 200 |
| Vallejo, CA | $136,200 | $65.48 | 190 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $108,600 | $52.21 | 130 |
| Visalia, CA | $82,030 | $39.44 | 120 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $100,650 | $48.39 | 120 |
| Redding, CA | $103,830 | $49.92 | 90 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $112,430 | $54.06 | 90 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $105,070 | $50.51 | 80 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $134,880 | $64.85 | 70 |
| Napa, CA | $104,670 | $50.32 | 60 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $101,860 | $48.97 | 60 |
| Merced, CA | $101,810 | $48.95 | 40 |
Hospitals and jobs in California
Respiratory Therapist pay in similar states
New York · $107,810 Massachusetts · $102,170 Washington · $101,130 New Jersey · $100,810 Oregon · $100,560 Minnesota · $98,710
Other healthcare salaries in California
Home Health and Personal Care Aides · $34,320 Registered Nurses · $140,270 Medical Assistants · $49,660 Nursing Assistants · $47,630 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses · $79,750 Dental Assistants · $50,110 Pharmacy Technicians · $55,110 Pharmacists · $164,610 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians · $76,010 Physical Therapists · $124,190 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other · $60,390 Physicians, All Other · $281,590
Questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in California?
Respiratory Therapists in California earned a median of $104,820 a year ($50.40 an hour) in May 2025, 27% more than the national median of $82,280. The middle half earned $87,750 to $129,010.
Where in California do respiratory therapists earn the most?
Among areas in California, pay was highest in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $149,680.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.