Respiratory Therapist Salary in Baltimore, MD
Respiratory Therapists in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $88,020 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,935 take-home, or $5,578 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$10,534
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,457
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,276
- Maryland income tax$3,817
- Take-home pay$66,935
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.75% state
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,310 | $32.84 | $54,005 | $4,500 |
| 25th percentile | $81,920 | $39.38 | $62,933 | $5,244 |
| Median (50th) | $88,020 | $42.32 | $66,935 | $5,578 |
| 75th percentile | $99,480 | $47.83 | $74,453 | $6,204 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,430 | $51.17 | $79,012 | $6,584 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $88,020 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $66,935 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,060 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 less concentrated in Baltimore, MD than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for respiratory therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #42 of 61 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $149,680 | $101,936 | $92,314 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $134,430 | $93,129 | $87,306 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $130,220 | $90,698 | $78,449 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $104,220 | $82,149 | $73,919 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $110,490 | $81,081 | $72,032 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $95,520 | $71,694 | $71,652 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $104,580 | $77,393 | $71,484 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $100,920 | $74,488 | $71,061 |
| 42 | Baltimore, MD | $88,020 | $66,935 | $64,060 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 61 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Baltimore, MD?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $88,020 a year, or about $42.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,920 and $99,480.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $88,020 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $66,935 a year ($5,578 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,817 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,060 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #42 of 61 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $218,770
- Dentists, General — $172,110
- Veterinarian — $162,930
- Physician Assistant — $138,790
- Pharmacist — $138,110
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,990
- Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other — $128,610
- Dental Hygienist — $116,130
- Physical Therapist — $105,810
- Occupational Therapist — $105,490