Respiratory Therapists pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $128,610 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Seattle earn between $85,230 and $121,190.
- $78K10th
- $85K25th
- $104KMedian
- $121K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $103,200 | $8,600 | $49.62 |
| Median | $104,220 | $8,685 | $50.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,230 | $7,102 | $40.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,190 | $10,099 | $58.26 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Seattle earn 3% more than the Washington average ($99,740) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +27% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $103,200 | $104,220 | $78,450 | $128,610 | 1,130 |
| Washington | $99,740 | $101,130 | $76,080 | $127,520 | 1,860 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $103,200, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $81,431 a year, or $6,786 a month and $3,132 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $103,200 buys what about $92,862 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 2 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Seattle$103,200
- Kennewick$94,050
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 Seattle: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Seattle?
$49.61 an hour on average, and $50.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Seattle?
About $81,431 a year ($6,786 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $103,200. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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