Respiratory Therapists pay range in Bowling Green
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $92,390 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Bowling Green earn between $63,460 and $74,800.
- $61K10th
- $63K25th
- $68KMedian
- $75K75th
- $92K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,240 | $5,853 | $33.77 |
| Median | $68,490 | $5,708 | $32.93 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,460 | $5,288 | $30.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,800 | $6,233 | $35.96 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Bowling Green vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Bowling Green earn 3% less than the Kentucky average ($72,470) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $70,240 | $68,490 | $60,940 | $92,390 | 90 |
| Kentucky | $72,470 | $72,750 | $58,330 | $92,540 | 2,530 |
| 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 Bowling Green
On the average salary of $70,240, a single filer in Bowling Green takes home about $54,498 a year, or $4,542 a month and $2,096 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Is Bowling Green a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bowling Green area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $70,240 buys what about $77,890 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Bowling Green ($45,040). A typical home costs $267,047, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Kentucky cities
Bowling Green ranks 5th of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Lexington pays the most ($78,710).
- Lexington$78,710
- Louisville$75,290
- Elizabethtown$73,050
- Paducah$73,050
- Bowling Green$70,240
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 Bowling Green: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Bowling Green?
$33.77 an hour on average, and $32.93 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Bowling Green?
About $54,498 a year ($4,542 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,240. Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Bowling Green than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less 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 Bowling Green, KY (14540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.28, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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