Respiratory Therapists Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$80,450
↑ 45.6% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Respiratory Therapists — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Respiratory Therapists — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 45.6% since 2011 ($55,250 → $80,450)
🏆Peak year: 2024 at $80,450
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 2.4% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately -1%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $80,450 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $77,960 | +10.5% |
| 2022 | $70,540 | +14.1% |
| 2021 | $61,830 | -1.6% |
| 2020 | $62,810 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | $61,330 | +1.7% |
| 2018 | $60,280 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | $59,710 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | $58,670 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | $57,790 | +1.9% |
| 2014 | $56,730 | +0.8% |
| 2013 | $56,290 | +0.8% |
| 2012 | $55,870 | +1.1% |
| 2011 | $55,250 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.