Respiratory Therapists pay range in Bakersfield
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,770 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Bakersfield earn between $83,500 and $108,790.
- $70K10th
- $84K25th
- $103KMedian
- $109K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,860 | $8,238 | $47.53 |
| Median | $102,760 | $8,563 | $49.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,500 | $6,958 | $40.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $108,790 | $9,066 | $52.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Bakersfield vs. California and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Bakersfield earn 10% less than the California average ($109,440) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $98,860 | $102,760 | $69,810 | $125,770 | 370 |
| California | $109,440 | $104,820 | $77,010 | $145,510 | 18,650 |
| 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 Bakersfield
On the average salary of $98,860, a single filer in Bakersfield takes home about $73,276 a year, or $6,106 a month and $2,818 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Bakersfield a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bakersfield area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $98,860 buys what about $97,992 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Bakersfield ($47,470). A typical home costs $364,264, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other California cities
Bakersfield ranks 17th of 20 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($146,490).
- San Jose$146,490
- Santa Cruz$133,510
- Vallejo$133,510
- San Francisco$128,490
- Sacramento$124,410
- Santa Rosa$120,450
- Napa$115,620
- Stockton$109,200
- Santa Maria$109,100
- Bakersfield$98,860
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 Bakersfield: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Bakersfield?
$47.53 an hour on average, and $49.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Bakersfield?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Bakersfield?
About $73,276 a year ($6,106 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,860. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Bakersfield than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Bakersfield-Delano, CA (12540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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