Respiratory Therapists pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,050 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Knoxville earn between $63,280 and $75,860.
- $54K10th
- $63K25th
- $65KMedian
- $76K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,610 | $5,634 | $32.50 |
| Median | $64,800 | $5,400 | $31.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,280 | $5,273 | $30.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,860 | $6,322 | $36.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Knoxville earn 6% less than the Tennessee average ($72,300) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $67,610 | $64,800 | $54,300 | $77,050 | 460 |
| Tennessee | $72,300 | $72,140 | $57,860 | $88,060 | 3,440 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $67,610, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $56,394 a year, or $4,699 a month and $2,169 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $67,610 buys what about $73,037 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 6th of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($79,370).
- Nashville$79,370
- Clarksville$76,110
- Chattanooga$72,610
- Memphis$71,510
- Kingsport$70,190
- Knoxville$67,610
- Jackson$64,300
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Knoxville?
$32.50 an hour on average, and $31.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $56,394 a year ($4,699 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,610. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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