Respiratory Therapist Salary in Chicago, IL
Respiratory Therapists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $87,060 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,912 take-home, or $5,493 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,323
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,398
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,262
- Illinois income tax$4,165
- Take-home pay$65,912
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,560 | $35.85 | $57,737 | $4,811 |
| 25th percentile | $81,080 | $38.98 | $62,001 | $5,167 |
| Median (50th) | $87,060 | $41.86 | $65,912 | $5,493 |
| 75th percentile | $96,830 | $46.55 | $72,302 | $6,025 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,100 | $48.13 | $74,440 | $6,203 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $87,060 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $65,912 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,625 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Respiratory Therapist jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for respiratory therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $110,490 | $81,081 | $72,032 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $95,520 | $71,694 | $71,652 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $88,790 | $68,568 | $66,860 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $104,640 | $75,582 | $66,553 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $80,450 | $65,427 | $66,336 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $84,080 | $67,980 | $65,943 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $87,060 | $65,912 | $63,625 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $79,760 | $63,156 | $61,129 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: respiratory therapists
Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.5% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Chicago, IL?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $87,060 a year, or about $41.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,080 and $96,830.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $87,060 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $65,912 a year ($5,493 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,165 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,625 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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