How much does a respiratory therapist make in California?
$104,800a year
Median yearly pay for respiratory therapists in California. That is $50.39 an hour or $8,735 a month.
- Hourly
- $50.39
- Vs. national median
- +27%
- Rank among states
- 3 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 18,650
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $77,010Median: $104,800Highest 10%: $145,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $77,010 | $37.02 | |
| 25th | $87,750 | $42.19 | |
| Median | $104,800 | $50.39 | |
| 75th | $129,000 | $62.02 | |
| 90th | $145,500 | $69.96 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $149,700 |
| Vallejo, CA | $136,200 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $134,900 |
| Sacramento, CA | $134,400 |
| San Francisco, CA | $130,200 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $123,200 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $112,400 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $108,600 |
| San Diego, CA | $105,000 |
| Napa, CA | $104,700 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $104,600 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,900 |
| Redding, CA | $103,800 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $102,800 |
| Oxnard, CA | $102,300 |
| Stockton, CA | $102,100 |
| Merced, CA | $101,800 |
| Riverside, CA | $100,500 |
| Fresno, CA | $83,340 |
| Visalia, CA | $82,030 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for respiratory therapists.
| 1. District of Columbia | $112,000 |
| 2. New York | $107,800 |
| 3. California | $104,800 |
| 4. Massachusetts | $102,200 |
| 5. Washington | $101,100 |
| 6. New Jersey | $100,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $50.39 ($104,800 a year).
Do respiratory therapists make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $104,800 against $82,280 nationally, 27% more.
Where does California rank for respiratory therapist pay?
California ranks 3 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays respiratory therapists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $149,700 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.