Respiratory Therapists pay range in Boulder
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $106,780 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Boulder earn between $83,420 and $105,690.
- $73K10th
- $83K25th
- $92KMedian
- $106K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,150 | $7,762 | $44.78 |
| Median | $91,880 | $7,657 | $44.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,420 | $6,952 | $40.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,690 | $8,808 | $50.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Boulder vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Boulder earn 5% more than the Colorado average ($88,300) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $93,150 | $91,880 | $72,600 | $106,780 | 130 |
| Colorado | $88,300 | $86,220 | $66,560 | $109,070 | 2,110 |
| 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 Boulder
On the average salary of $93,150, a single filer in Boulder takes home about $70,971 a year, or $5,914 a month and $2,730 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Boulder a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boulder area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.2), so the average $93,150 buys what about $88,544 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Boulder ($69,580). A typical home costs $727,954, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Colorado cities
Boulder ranks 1st of 6 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boulder$93,150
- Colorado Springs$89,910
- Denver$88,360
- Grand Junction$85,910
- Fort Collins$85,010
- Pueblo$83,860
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 Boulder: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Boulder?
$44.79 an hour on average, and $44.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Boulder?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Boulder?
About $70,971 a year ($5,914 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,150. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Boulder than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Boulder, CO (14500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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