Respiratory Therapists pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $122,190 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Salem earn between $101,260 and $122,190.
- $89K10th
- $101K25th
- $104KMedian
- $122K75th
- $122K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $107,350 | $8,946 | $51.61 |
| Median | $104,360 | $8,697 | $50.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,260 | $8,438 | $48.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $122,190 | $10,182 | $58.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Respiratory Therapists salary after taxes in Salem
On the average salary of $107,350, a single filer in Salem takes home about $76,259 a year, or $6,355 a month and $2,933 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $107,350 buys what about $103,571 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 1st of 4 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Salem: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Salem?
$51.61 an hour on average, and $50.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Salem?
About $76,259 a year ($6,355 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $107,350. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($88,829).
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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.4%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are 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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