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.
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 #44 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 |
| 44 | Chicago, IL | $87,060 | $65,912 | $63,625 |
*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 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 #44 of 61 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%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $226,060
- Family Medicine Physician — $225,080
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $208,000
- Pediatricians, General — $188,340
- Dentists, General — $156,100
- Veterinarian — $148,730
- Optometrist — $145,630
- Pharmacist — $140,880