Respiratory Therapists pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,900 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Santa Maria earn between $103,600 and $129,180.
- $81K10th
- $104K25th
- $109KMedian
- $129K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $109,100 | $9,092 | $52.45 |
| Median | $108,600 | $9,050 | $52.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $103,600 | $8,633 | $49.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $129,180 | $10,765 | $62.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Santa Maria earn about the same as the California average ($109,440) and 25% more than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $109,100 | $108,600 | $80,730 | $134,900 | 130 |
| 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 Santa Maria
On the average salary of $109,100, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $79,528 a year, or $6,627 a month and $3,059 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 Santa Maria a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Maria area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.8), so the average $109,100 buys what about $100,278 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 9th 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
- 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Respiratory Therapists salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Santa Maria?
$52.45 an hour on average, and $52.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $103,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $79,528 a year ($6,627 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $109,100. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.