Respiratory Therapists pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,150 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Paducah earn between $63,320 and $79,610.
- $58K10th
- $63K25th
- $76KMedian
- $80K75th
- $93K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,050 | $6,088 | $35.12 |
| Median | $76,100 | $6,342 | $36.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,320 | $5,277 | $30.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,610 | $6,634 | $38.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Paducah vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Paducah earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($72,470) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | $73,050 | $76,100 | $57,650 | $93,150 | 80 |
| 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 Paducah
On the average salary of $73,050, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $56,321 a year, or $4,693 a month and $2,166 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $56,746 | $4,729 |
| Working in KY | $56,321 | $4,693 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $73,050 buys what about $84,859 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 2.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 4th 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 Paducah: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Paducah?
$35.12 an hour on average, and $36.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Paducah?
About $56,321 a year ($4,693 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,050. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Paducah, KY-IL (37140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.85, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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