Respiratory Therapists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,100 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in San Francisco earn between $106,330 and $148,650.
- $95K10th
- $106K25th
- $130KMedian
- $149K75th
- $158K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $128,490 | $10,708 | $61.77 |
| Median | $130,220 | $10,852 | $62.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $106,330 | $8,861 | $51.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $148,650 | $12,388 | $71.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in San Francisco earn 17% more than the California average ($109,440) and 47% more than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +58% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $128,490 | $130,220 | $95,450 | $158,100 | 2,010 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $128,490, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $91,231 a year, or $7,603 a month and $3,509 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 San Francisco a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $128,490 buys what about $111,138 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 4th 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
- Redding$108,270
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 San Francisco: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in San Francisco?
$61.77 an hour on average, and $62.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $106,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $91,231 a year ($7,603 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $128,490. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 47% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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