Respiratory Therapists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $161,250 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Santa Cruz earn between $100,040 and $161,250.
- $100K10th
- $100K25th
- $135KMedian
- $161K75th
- $161K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $133,510 | $11,126 | $64.19 |
| Median | $134,880 | $11,240 | $64.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $100,040 | $8,337 | $48.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $161,250 | $13,438 | $77.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Santa Cruz earn 22% more than the California average ($109,440) and 53% more than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +64% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $133,510 | $134,880 | $100,040 | $161,250 | 70 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $133,510, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $94,196 a year, or $7,850 a month and $3,623 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 Santa Cruz a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $133,510 buys what about $121,488 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 2nd 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 Santa Cruz: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$64.19 an hour on average, and $64.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $100,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $94,196 a year ($7,850 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $133,510. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 53% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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