Respiratory Therapists pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $92,510 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Louisville earn between $66,180 and $78,740.
- $62K10th
- $66K25th
- $77KMedian
- $79K75th
- $93K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,290 | $6,274 | $36.20 |
| Median | $76,560 | $6,380 | $36.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,180 | $5,515 | $31.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,740 | $6,562 | $37.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Louisville earn 4% more than the Kentucky average ($72,470) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $75,290 | $76,560 | $62,100 | $92,510 | 840 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $75,290, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $57,623 a year, or $4,802 a month and $2,216 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $59,568 | $4,964 |
| Working in KY | $57,623 | $4,802 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $75,290 buys what about $80,893 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 2nd 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 Louisville: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Louisville?
$36.20 an hour on average, and $36.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Louisville?
About $57,623 a year ($4,802 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,290. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.36, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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