Respiratory Therapist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Respiratory Therapists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $104,640 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,582 take-home, or $6,298 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,191
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,488
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,517
- California income tax$5,502
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,360
- Take-home pay$75,582
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,000 | $36.06 | $57,830 | $4,819 |
| 25th percentile | $85,130 | $40.93 | $63,925 | $5,327 |
| Median (50th) | $104,640 | $50.31 | $75,582 | $6,298 |
| 75th percentile | $117,520 | $56.50 | $83,278 | $6,940 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,790 | $62.88 | $91,027 | $7,586 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $104,640 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $75,582 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,553 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.2× the national concentration of respiratory therapist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for respiratory therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $104,640 a year, or about $50.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,130 and $117,520.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $104,640 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $75,582 a year ($6,298 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,862 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,553 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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