Have you ever wondered what are the best states to work as a respiratory therapist? That’s a question I get asked quite often.
The “best state” is not necessarily the same for everyone, because we are all different. We all think independently and have different opinions of where the best state to live is. And that’s a good thing because it’s definitely not all about the money. As a respiratory therapist, you’ll be able to get value out of the fact that you are saving people’s lives on a daily basis. And that’s really what it’s all about.
But just for the sake of this article, we are going to refer to the “best state” as the one that pays the highest salary.
What are the highest paying states for respiratory therapists?
After doing some research, I was able to find the highest and lowest paying states for respiratory therapists. As it turns out, location is the biggest factor that influences the salary and wages of a respiratory therapist. Sure, there are other factors that come into play, such as experience, but none as big as the state that you live in.
That’s why it’s important to compare the wages of the best and worst states to work as a respiratory therapist. Although for many, money is not an issue. But for a lot of us, the salary amount is a huge factor in where we choose to work and live.
So if you are a new graduate still searching for your first job, or even if you are a student but you’re looking ahead to try to decide where you want to work once you graduate, this list will help you see which states you will be able to earn the most money in. Let’s take a look at the lists of the highest and lowest paying state, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational & Wages database.
Best States to Work as a Respiratory Therapist
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $73,323 |
| Nevada | $69,540 |
| Connecticut | $67,890 |
| New Jersey | $67,670 |
| Alaska | $67,220 |
| Massachusetts | $66,430 |
| Delaware | $66,190 |
| Hawaii | $65,960 |
| New York | $64,380 |
| Washington | $63,380 |
As you can see, California offers the highest, and a very nice salary for respiratory therapists, exceeding the national average by 40%. Nevada and Connecticut also offer competitive rates,
Worst States to Work as a Respiratory Therapist
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | $45,460 |
| Alabama | $45,770 |
| West Virginia | $46,600 |
| Tennessee | $47,640 |
| Arkansas | $47,680 |
| North Dakota | $47,720 |
| Mississippi | $48,260 |
| South Dakota | $49,160 |
| Oklahoma | $49,160 |
| Missouri | $49,680 |
These states may be great in their own respective ways, but if you’re wanting to earn a high salary as a respiratory therapist, maybe they’re not for you.
As you can see, Kentucky comes in with the lowest salary for respiratory therapists, followed by Alabama and West Virginia. Also, the state where I am currently work come in on the list as one of the lowest paying states. I love my job and I’m content with the salary I earn, which goes to show that it really isn’t all about the money. But it’s still nice to see the average earnings from other states, just as a reference.
Now that we what the highest and lowest paying states, let’s take a look and see all the other remaining states:
Respiratory Therapist Salary by State
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,770 |
| Alaska | $67,220 |
| Arizona | $52,670 |
| Arkansas | $47,680 |
| California | $73,320 |
| Colorado | $56,640 |
| Connecticut | $67,890 |
| DC | $57,540 |
| Delaware | $66,190 |
| Florida | $53,720 |
| Georgia | $51,430 |
| Hawaii | $65,960 |
| Idaho | $53,770 |
| Illinois | $53,210 |
| Indiana | $51,340 |
| Iowa | $50,680 |
| Kansas | $50,150 |
| Kentucky | $45,460 |
| Louisiana | $51,580 |
| Maine | $53,950 |
| Maryland | $62,010 |
| Massachusetts | $66,430 |
| Michigan | $52,370 |
| Minnesota | $61,460 |
| Mississippi | $48,260 |
| Missouri | $49,680 |
| Montana | $52,340 |
| Nebraska | $51,280 |
| Nevada | $69,540 |
| New Hampshire | $61,080 |
| New Jersey | $67,670 |
| New Mexico | $52,860 |
| New York | $64,380 |
| North Carolina | $52,040 |
| North Dakota | $47,720 |
| Ohio | $52,150 |
| Oklahoma | $49,670 |
| Oregon | $60,560 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,050 |
| Rhode Island | $59,730 |
| South Carolina | $52,810 |
| South Dakota | $49,160 |
| Tennessee | $47,640 |
| Texas | $54,190 |
| Utah | $55,960 |
| Vermont | $57,700 |
| Virginia | $55,960 |
| Washington | $63,380 |
| West Virginia | $46,600 |
| Wisconsin | $56,270 |
| Wyoming | $53,660 |
Final Thoughts
So where does your state fall on the list?
Now you know the best states to work as a respiratory therapist, according to salary and wages in different areas. Hopefully, if you’re still searching for your first respiratory therapy job, this list will help you decide which state might be right for you.
