Salaries › Respiratory Therapist › Kentucky
Respiratory Therapist Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$34.98 per hour · take-home ≈ $57,463/year ($4,789/month) for a single filer
Kentucky ranks 45th of 51 states for Respiratory Therapist pay, with a median about 15% below the national average. Of the 2,530 Respiratory Therapist jobs BLS counts in Kentucky, the typical worker earns $72,750 a year — though pay ranges from $58,330 for newcomers to $92,540 at the top.
Respiratory Therapist pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $58,330 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $63,110 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $72,750 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $79,730 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $92,540 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 2,530 Respiratory Therapist jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 29-1126, “Respiratory Therapists”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Respiratory Therapist salary of $72,750 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $57,463 — an effective tax rate of 21.0%.
| Gross (median) | $72,750 |
| Federal income tax | −$7,175 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$5,565 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$2,546 |
| Take-home (annual) | $57,463 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,789 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Respiratory Therapist make in Kentucky?
- The median Respiratory Therapist salary in Kentucky is $72,750 per year ($34.98 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $63,110 and $79,730.
- What is the take-home pay for a Respiratory Therapist in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $72,750, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $57,463 per year ($4,789 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 21.0%.
- How many Respiratory Therapist jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 2,530 Respiratory Therapist jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Respiratory Therapists
Other salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky.