Respiratory Therapists pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,430 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Lexington earn between $67,450 and $91,770.
- $63K10th
- $67K25th
- $80KMedian
- $92K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,710 | $6,559 | $37.84 |
| Median | $80,040 | $6,670 | $38.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $67,450 | $5,621 | $32.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $91,770 | $7,648 | $44.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Lexington earn 9% more than the Kentucky average ($72,470) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $78,710 | $80,040 | $62,910 | $98,430 | 430 |
| Kentucky | $72,470 | $72,750 | $58,330 | $92,540 | 2,530 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $78,710, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $59,401 a year, or $4,950 a month and $2,285 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $78,710 buys what about $84,736 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 1st of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lexington$78,710
- Louisville$75,290
- Elizabethtown$73,050
- Paducah$73,050
- Bowling Green$70,240
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 Lexington: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Lexington?
$37.84 an hour on average, and $38.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $67,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Lexington?
About $59,401 a year ($4,950 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,710. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.66, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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