Respiratory Therapists pay range in Riverside
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $128,730 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Riverside earn between $81,740 and $105,390.
- $71K10th
- $82K25th
- $100KMedian
- $105K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,200 | $8,183 | $47.21 |
| Median | $100,480 | $8,373 | $48.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,740 | $6,812 | $39.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,390 | $8,782 | $50.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Riverside vs. California and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Riverside earn 10% less than the California average ($109,440) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | $98,200 | $100,480 | $70,970 | $128,730 | 2,200 |
| 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 Riverside
On the average salary of $98,200, a single filer in Riverside takes home about $72,873 a year, or $6,073 a month and $2,803 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 Riverside a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Riverside area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.4), so the average $98,200 buys what about $92,257 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Riverside ($48,400). A typical home costs $585,378, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other California cities
Riverside ranks 18th 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
- Riverside$98,200
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 Riverside: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Riverside?
$47.21 an hour on average, and $48.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Riverside?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Riverside?
About $72,873 a year ($6,073 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,200. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Riverside than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (40140). 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.43, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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