Respiratory Therapists pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,040 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Nashville earn between $72,140 and $83,660.
- $65K10th
- $72K25th
- $79KMedian
- $84K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,370 | $6,614 | $38.16 |
| Median | $78,700 | $6,558 | $37.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,140 | $6,012 | $34.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,660 | $6,972 | $40.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Nashville earn 10% more than the Tennessee average ($72,300) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $79,370 | $78,700 | $65,040 | $97,040 | 1,070 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $79,370, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $64,667 a year, or $5,389 a month and $2,487 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $79,370 buys what about $82,387 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 1st of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Nashville: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Nashville?
$38.16 an hour on average, and $37.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Nashville?
About $64,667 a year ($5,389 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,370. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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