What respiratory therapists earn in Illinois and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country (May 2025 BLS data).
a year, or $40.43 an hour. That is 2% more than the national median of $82,280.
The middle half of respiratory therapists in Illinois earn $77,440 to $96,260.
Illinois pays respiratory therapists more than 32 of the other 49 states. Highest: New York ($107,810).
0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the state, 0.89× the U.S. concentration.
Metro and rural (nonmetropolitan) areas as BLS defines them, including metro areas that cross into neighboring states.. Click a column to sort.
| Area | Pay a year | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $41.86 | 3,620 | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $38.08 | 1,260 | |
| Peoria, IL | $37.34 | 210 | |
| Rockford, IL | $37.33 | 160 | |
| Springfield, IL | $37.66 | 140 | |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $34.57 | 140 | |
| East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $35.32 | 140 | |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $37.25 | 140 | |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $35.90 | 120 | |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36.28 | 100 | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $32.17 | 90 | |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $36.59 | 80 | |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $36.89 | 80 | |
| Bloomington, IL | $36.29 | 70 | |
| Kankakee, IL | $40.62 | 60 |
Respiratory Therapists in Illinois earned a median of $84,090 a year ($40.43 an hour) in May 2025, 2% more than the national median of $82,280. The middle half earned $77,440 to $96,260.
Among areas in Illinois, pay was highest in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $87,060.
Illinois ranks #18 of 50 states for respiratory therapists pay. New York pays the most, at $107,810 a year. Pay figures don't account for differences in cost of living.
About 4,880 people worked as respiratory therapists in Illinois in May 2025, or 0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the state.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Median pay is the middle wage; where BLS publishes no median, the average (mean) is shown, marked "(avg)". Values marked "+" are above the most BLS reports exactly. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.