Respiratory Therapists pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,320 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Madison earn between $80,520 and $98,300.
- $76K10th
- $81K25th
- $82KMedian
- $98K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,260 | $7,188 | $41.47 |
| Median | $81,530 | $6,794 | $39.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,520 | $6,710 | $38.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,300 | $8,192 | $47.26 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Madison earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($86,230) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $86,260 | $81,530 | $75,960 | $100,320 | 350 |
| Wisconsin | $86,230 | $84,210 | $70,520 | $100,320 | 1,940 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $86,260, a single filer in Madison takes home about $65,902 a year, or $5,492 a month and $2,535 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 (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $86,260 buys what about $88,665 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 4th of 8 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Milwaukee pays the most ($90,430).
- Milwaukee$90,430
- Racine$88,000
- Appleton$87,710
- Madison$86,260
- Janesville$84,180
- Eau Claire$83,310
- Green Bay$83,020
- Kenosha$80,010
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 Madison: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Madison?
$41.47 an hour on average, and $39.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Madison?
About $65,902 a year ($5,492 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,260.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Madison 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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