Respiratory Therapists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,100 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Chicago earn between $81,080 and $96,830.
- $75K10th
- $81K25th
- $87KMedian
- $97K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $88,400 | $7,367 | $42.50 |
| Median | $87,060 | $7,255 | $41.86 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,080 | $6,757 | $38.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,830 | $8,069 | $46.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($84,920) and about the same as the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $88,400 | $87,060 | $74,560 | $100,100 | 3,620 |
| Illinois | $84,920 | $84,090 | $64,480 | $100,100 | 4,880 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $88,400, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $66,785 a year, or $5,565 a month and $2,569 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $68,397 | $5,700 |
| Working in IL | $66,785 | $5,565 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $88,400 buys what about $85,332 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 7 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$88,400
- Kankakee$84,170
- Springfield$81,810
- Champaign$80,720
- Bloomington$79,850
- Rockford$79,090
- Peoria$77,810
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 Chicago: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Chicago?
$42.50 an hour on average, and $41.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $66,785 a year ($5,565 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $88,400.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.3%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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