Respiratory Therapists pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $130,790 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Los Angeles earn between $85,130 and $117,520.
- $75K10th
- $85K25th
- $105KMedian
- $118K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,570 | $8,548 | $49.31 |
| Median | $104,640 | $8,720 | $50.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,130 | $7,094 | $40.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $117,520 | $9,793 | $56.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Los Angeles earn 6% less than the California average ($109,440) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +27% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $102,570 | $104,640 | $75,000 | $130,790 | 7,010 |
| California | $109,440 | $104,820 | $77,010 | $145,510 | 18,650 |
| United States | $87,300 | $82,280 | $63,660 | $118,050 | 139,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Respiratory Therapists salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $102,570, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $75,541 a year, or $6,295 a month and $2,905 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $102,570 buys what about $90,318 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 9.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 16th of 20 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($146,490).
- San Jose$146,490
- Santa Cruz$133,510
- Vallejo$133,510
- San Francisco$128,490
- Sacramento$124,410
- Santa Rosa$120,450
- Napa$115,620
- Stockton$109,200
- Santa Maria$109,100
- Los Angeles$102,570
Highest-paying cities for respiratory therapists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($146,490).
- San Jose, CA$146,490
- Santa Cruz, CA$133,510
- Vallejo, CA$133,510
- San Francisco, CA$128,490
- Sacramento, CA$124,410
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Respiratory Therapists salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Los Angeles?
$49.31 an hour on average, and $50.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $75,541 a year ($6,295 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,570. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more than the U.S. average for this job ($87,300).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1126; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.24, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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