Salaries › Respiratory Therapist › California
Respiratory Therapist Salary in California (2026)
$50.40 per hour · take-home ≈ $76,899/year ($6,408/month) for a single filer
California is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Respiratory Therapists (3rd of 51), with a median about 22% above the national average. Of the 18,650 Respiratory Therapist jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $104,820 a year — though pay ranges from $77,010 for newcomers to $145,510 at the top.
Respiratory Therapist pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $77,010 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $87,750 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $104,820 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $129,010 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $145,510 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 18,650 Respiratory Therapist jobs in California (occupation code 29-1126, “Respiratory Therapists”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Respiratory Therapist salary of $104,820 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $76,899 — an effective tax rate of 26.6%.
| Gross (median) | $104,820 |
| Federal income tax | −$14,230 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$8,019 |
| California state income tax | −$5,672 |
| Take-home (annual) | $76,899 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $6,408 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Respiratory Therapist make in California?
- The median Respiratory Therapist salary in California is $104,820 per year ($50.40 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $87,750 and $129,010.
- What is the take-home pay for a Respiratory Therapist in California?
- On the median salary of $104,820, a single filer in California takes home about $76,899 per year ($6,408 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 26.6%.
- How many Respiratory Therapist jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 18,650 Respiratory Therapist jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Respiratory Therapists
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.