Respiratory Therapist
State-by-state licensing requirements, salary data, and career ROI
What Is a Respiratory Therapist?
Respiratory Therapists treat patients with breathing disorders — asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and trauma-related lung injuries — using ventilators, oxygen therapy, and aerosol medications. They work in hospitals, ICUs, pulmonary rehab centers, and home health. Becoming an RT requires an associate's or bachelor's degree and passing the TMC and clinical simulation exams.
The Landscape
Alaska stands out as a unique outlier, paying a high median salary of $94,210 despite being the only state not requiring a state-specific license; here, employers typically mandate active NBRC certification, which is also a common requirement for license renewal even in states without explicit state CE. While nearly all states mandate licensure, the practical implications vary, with some like Hawaii and Colorado relying on NBRC certification to fulfill CE, effectively standardizing a national competency benchmark even without direct state CE requirements.
Beyond salary, state-to-state differences manifest significantly in continuing education (CE) requirements, ranging from minimal state-specific hours to a demanding 30 hours every two or three years in states like New York and California. Most states now require criminal background checks, and many have specific CE mandates such as child abuse identification, HIV/AIDS training, or state jurisprudence exams, underscoring a commitment to public safety and specialized professional development across the board.
Respiratory Therapist by State
Click any state for detailed requirements, salary percentiles, and ROI analysis.
| State | License Required | Median Salary | vs. National | Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | $64,010 | -20.4% | 2-4 years |
| Alaska | No | $94,210 | +17.1% | 2 years (Associate degree) or 4 years (Bachelor's degree) |
| Arizona | Yes | $79,290 | -1.4% | 6-8 weeks for application processing |
| Arkansas | Yes | $67,960 | -15.5% | 2-4 years |
| California | Yes | $102,120 | +26.9% | Varies (initial license issued for 13-24 months) |
| Colorado | Yes | $80,690 | +0.3% | 2-4 years |
| Connecticut | Yes | $83,250 | +3.5% | 2 years (Associate degree) or 4 years (Bachelor's degree) |
| Delaware | Yes | $87,380 | +8.6% | 2-4 years |
| District of Columbia | Yes | $104,240 | +29.6% | 2-4 years |
| Florida | Yes | $79,710 | -0.9% | 2-4 years |
| Georgia | Yes | $81,890 | +1.8% | 4-6 weeks for application processing |
| Hawaii | Yes | $94,670 | +17.7% | 2-4 years (education) + exam/application processing |
| Idaho | Yes | $75,510 | -6.1% | 2-4 years |
| Illinois | Yes | $81,310 | +1.1% | 2-4 years (based on degree program) |
| Indiana | Yes | $77,820 | -3.3% | 2-4 years (education) + application processing time |
| Iowa | Yes | $68,790 | -14.5% | 2-4 years |
| Kansas | Yes | $73,580 | -8.5% | 2-4 years |
| Kentucky | Yes | $65,670 | -18.4% | 2-4 years |
| Louisiana | Yes | $70,140 | -12.8% | 2-4 years |
| Maine | Yes | $79,330 | -1.4% | 2 years (Associate degree) |
| Maryland | Yes | $85,570 | +6.4% | 3-6 weeks for application processing |
| Massachusetts | Yes | $96,940 | +20.5% | 2-4 years |
| Michigan | Yes | $77,460 | -3.7% | 2-4 years |
| Minnesota | Yes | $88,040 | +9.4% | 2 years (Associate degree) |
| Mississippi | Yes | $61,320 | -23.8% | 2-4 years |
| Missouri | Yes | $73,880 | -8.2% | 2 years (Associate degree) + exam and application processing |
| Montana | Yes | $80,950 | +0.6% | 2-4 years |
| Nebraska | Yes | $78,880 | -2.0% | Varies (typically 2-4 years for education, plus application processing time) |
| Nevada | Yes | $79,510 | -1.2% | 2-4 years |
| New Hampshire | Yes | $83,620 | +3.9% | 2-4 years |
| New Jersey | Yes | $98,020 | +21.8% | 2-4 years |
| New Mexico | Yes | $66,460 | -17.4% | 2-4 years |
| New York | Yes | $103,820 | +29.0% | 2-4 years |
| North Carolina | Yes | $77,050 | -4.2% | 2 years (Associate degree) |
| North Dakota | Yes | $76,660 | -4.7% | 2-4 years |
| Ohio | Yes | $78,400 | -2.5% | 2-4 years |
| Oklahoma | Yes | $76,080 | -5.4% | 2-4 years |
| Oregon | Yes | $96,130 | +19.5% | — |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | $76,160 | -5.3% | 2-4 years (Associate degree) |
| Rhode Island | Yes | $83,600 | +3.9% | 2 years (Associate degree) |
| South Carolina | Yes | $75,960 | -5.6% | 2 years (Associate degree) + application processing time |
| South Dakota | Yes | $64,720 | -19.6% | 2-4 years |
| Tennessee | Yes | $65,000 | -19.2% | 2-4 years |
| Texas | Yes | $77,550 | -3.6% | 2-4 years |
| Utah | Yes | $78,990 | -1.8% | 2-4 years (education) + application processing time |
| Vermont | Yes | $78,760 | -2.1% | 2-4 years |
| Virginia | Yes | $79,600 | -1.1% | 6-8 weeks for application processing |
| Washington | Yes | $97,150 | +20.8% | Varies (2+ years for education, plus application processing time) |
| West Virginia | Yes | $66,370 | -17.5% | 2-4 years |
| Wisconsin | Yes | $82,160 | +2.1% | 2-4 years |
| Wyoming | Yes | $75,900 | -5.7% | 2-4 years |
Highest-Paying States for Respiratory Therapists
| # | State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $104,240 | 360 |
| 2 | New York | $103,820 | 6,780 |
| 3 | California | $102,120 | 18,310 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $98,020 | 3,200 |
| 5 | Washington | $97,150 | 1,850 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $96,940 | 2,140 |
| 7 | Oregon | $96,130 | 1,410 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $94,670 | 310 |
| 9 | Alaska | $94,210 | 170 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $88,040 | 1,190 |