Respiratory Therapists pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,900 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Rochester earn between $80,720 and $97,820.
- $75K10th
- $81K25th
- $83KMedian
- $98K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,410 | $7,284 | $42.02 |
| Median | $82,990 | $6,916 | $39.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,720 | $6,727 | $38.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,820 | $8,152 | $47.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Rochester earn 21% less than the New York average ($110,200) and about the same as the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $87,410 | $82,990 | $74,580 | $100,900 | 410 |
| New York | $110,200 | $107,810 | $81,270 | $131,500 | 7,010 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $87,410, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $66,120 a year, or $5,510 a month and $2,543 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $87,410 buys what about $90,081 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 9th of 9 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($113,400).
- New York$113,400
- Kiryas Joel$106,910
- Kingston$103,730
- Binghamton$100,020
- Utica$91,640
- Syracuse$89,860
- Albany$88,710
- Buffalo$88,460
- Rochester$87,410
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 Rochester: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Rochester?
$42.03 an hour on average, and $39.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Rochester?
About $66,120 a year ($5,510 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,410. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Rochester 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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