Respiratory Therapists pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,950 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Detroit earn between $77,410 and $85,970.
- $66K10th
- $77K25th
- $81KMedian
- $86K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,360 | $6,697 | $38.63 |
| Median | $80,790 | $6,732 | $38.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,410 | $6,451 | $37.22 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $85,970 | $7,164 | $41.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Detroit earn about the same as the Michigan average ($78,550) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $80,360 | $80,790 | $65,850 | $90,950 | 1,910 |
| Michigan | $78,550 | $79,850 | $64,770 | $90,210 | 4,520 |
| 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 Detroit
On the average salary of $80,360, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $60,405 a year, or $5,034 a month and $2,323 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 (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $80,360 buys what about $80,121 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 3rd of 8 Michigan metro areas for this job; Monroe pays the most ($81,280).
- Monroe$81,280
- Ann Arbor$80,840
- Detroit$80,360
- Battle Creek$78,630
- Lansing$76,400
- Grand Rapids$76,230
- Flint$75,790
- Kalamazoo$72,810
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 Detroit: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Detroit?
$38.64 an hour on average, and $38.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Detroit?
About $60,405 a year ($5,034 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,360. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). 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). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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