Respiratory Therapists pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $98,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $178,580 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in San Jose earn between $131,520 and $168,980.
- $98K10th
- $132K25th
- $150KMedian
- $169K75th
- $179K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $146,490 | $12,208 | $70.43 |
| Median | $149,680 | $12,473 | $71.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $131,520 | $10,960 | $63.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $168,980 | $14,082 | $81.24 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in San Jose earn 34% more than the California average ($109,440) and 68% more than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +82% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $146,490 | $149,680 | $98,000 | $178,580 | 1,060 |
| 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 San Jose
On the average salary of $146,490, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $101,860 a year, or $8,488 a month and $3,918 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% 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 San Jose a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $146,490 buys what about $132,663 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 11.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 20 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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
- Redding$108,270
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 San Jose: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in San Jose?
$70.43 an hour on average, and $71.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $98,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $131,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in San Jose?
About $101,860 a year ($8,488 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $146,490. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 68% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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